Obituary for Ellen Shepherdson Ketcham
Ellen Shepherdson Ketcham, 99, passed away peacefully October 4, 2017, a resident of Peoria,
Illinois.
Ellen was born August 6, 1918 to Walter Dale and Genevieve Alford Shepherdson in Tremont,
Illinois. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara K. Leiter, her husband, Thomas E. Leiter of
Peoria and her son, James R. Ketcham and his wife, Jane Zarzecki of Sarasota, Florida. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Bong of Pekin, Illinois and grandchildren and great grandchildren, Elizabeth Leiter Khazzam and her husband, Alexis Khazzam, their children, Nicholas, Stella Grace and Matteo of Peoria, Illinois; Matthew T. Leiter and his wife, Meghan Leiter and their children, Louisa and Frances of Chicago; Anne Bicket Leiter of Chicago; Margaret Leiter Wellford and her husband, R. Carter Wellford V and their daughter, Leighton Grace of Chicago; Christina Ketcham Harrison of Chicago; Andrew J. Ketcham and his wife, Lale Ketcham and their son, Aydin of Chicago and John F. Ketcham of Boston, MA. Ellen was preceded in death by her sister, Genevieve Snyder, brother, Hiram Dudley Shepherdson and former husband J. Robert Ketcham. Her loving grandchildren and great grandchildren were the center of her
devotion.
Ellen was an accomplished professional legal and executive secretary for many years. She was
active in the Peoria community serving the Peoria Historical Society, Fine arts organizations, the
Symphony Guild and Opera Illinois. She was a member of PEO Chapter FB and the DAR. She
was an active member of First Federated Church where she served as a deaconess.
Cremation has been accorded and a memorial service will be held October 14, 2017 at 11:00
a.m. at First Federated Church of Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Federated Church Endowment Fund, or
OSF Hospice Care.
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Illinois.
Ellen was born August 6, 1918 to Walter Dale and Genevieve Alford Shepherdson in Tremont,
Illinois. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara K. Leiter, her husband, Thomas E. Leiter of
Peoria and her son, James R. Ketcham and his wife, Jane Zarzecki of Sarasota, Florida. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Bong of Pekin, Illinois and grandchildren and great grandchildren, Elizabeth Leiter Khazzam and her husband, Alexis Khazzam, their children, Nicholas, Stella Grace and Matteo of Peoria, Illinois; Matthew T. Leiter and his wife, Meghan Leiter and their children, Louisa and Frances of Chicago; Anne Bicket Leiter of Chicago; Margaret Leiter Wellford and her husband, R. Carter Wellford V and their daughter, Leighton Grace of Chicago; Christina Ketcham Harrison of Chicago; Andrew J. Ketcham and his wife, Lale Ketcham and their son, Aydin of Chicago and John F. Ketcham of Boston, MA. Ellen was preceded in death by her sister, Genevieve Snyder, brother, Hiram Dudley Shepherdson and former husband J. Robert Ketcham. Her loving grandchildren and great grandchildren were the center of her
devotion.
Ellen was an accomplished professional legal and executive secretary for many years. She was
active in the Peoria community serving the Peoria Historical Society, Fine arts organizations, the
Symphony Guild and Opera Illinois. She was a member of PEO Chapter FB and the DAR. She
was an active member of First Federated Church where she served as a deaconess.
Cremation has been accorded and a memorial service will be held October 14, 2017 at 11:00
a.m. at First Federated Church of Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Federated Church Endowment Fund, or
OSF Hospice Care.
To plant a tree in memory of Ellen Shepherdson Ketcham, visit the Tribute Store.
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