Ellen Pauline (Miller) Sprouse

Ellen Pauline (Miller) Sprouse, age 100, of Smithville, MO, and formerly of Polo and Cowgill, passed away Friday morning, July 3, 2020, at Lee's Summit Pointe Health and Rehabilitation in Lee's Summit. Ellen was born on Sept. 25, 1919, in rural Caldwell County near Cowgill, to Charles M. and Addie (Stephens) Miller. 

She attended Excelsior Grade School one mile south of their home and graduated from Cowgill High School in 1938. On July 9, 1939, she was united in marriage to James A. “Nippy” Sprouse. To this union, five children were born. The family belonged to the First Baptist Church of Cowgill. Ellen and Nippy owned and operated a general store in the area of Caldwell County know as Gould Farm. She later worked at the shoe factory in Hamilton. Ellen was also an Avon saleswoman for a number of years. She was a hard worker and always “well put together.”  Ellen volunteered at Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry and loved playing cards and visiting at the Caldwell County Nutrition Center. She also served on the board of directors for the Caldwell County Nutrition Center. Ellen will be dearly missed. 

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Nippy; parents; sisters, Edith Alspach, Dorothy Diment and Ruby Ely; brother, Stephen Miller; son, Jim Sprouse; granddaughter, Angela Van Ness; and grandson, Aaron Sprouse.  

Survivors include her daughter, Marilyn (Donald) Bowman of Smithville; son, Jerry (Rhonda) of Polo; daughter, Betty Sprouse of Kansas City; son, Bill (Lori) Sprouse of Kansas City; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and 7 great great-grandchildren.

Private family services will be held due to COVID-19. Burial will be at Cowgill Cemetery in Cowgill. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, at Stith Family Funeral Home in Polo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry or the Caldwell County Nutrition Center in care of the funeral home. Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Stith Family Funeral Home in Polo. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.stithfamilyfunerals.com.

The Caldwell County News

101 South Davis
P.O. Box 218
Hamilton, MO 64644
Phone: 816-583-2116
news@mycaldwellcounty.com

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