Ellen Jean Newkirk

Jul 24, 1948 -

May 20, 2024

Ellen Sloss Newkirk, 75, passed away on May 20, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska, following a long illness due to cancer of the peritoneum.

Ellen Jean Sloss was born on July 24, 1948, in Pasadena, Calif., to Bernadine Linnan Sloss and Donald Webster Sloss as the third of their five children. She graduated high school in 1966 from Alverno Heights Academy in Sierra Madre, Calif., and completed her training as a medical assistant at Pasadena City College in 1968. After receiving her associate degree, Ellen worked for dermatology and obstetrics/gynecology practices in Pasadena. In 1983, she relocated to Anchorage, where she continued working as a medical assistant at an obstetrics/gynecology practice and then at the Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute (AHVI). In 1999, she moved to Missoula, Mont., and was employed by an outpatient surgery center as a medical assistant. In 2002, she moved back to Anchorage, and returned to work at AHVI until her retirement in 2018.

Ellen, aka El, will be remembered as a warm, fun-loving and well-liked human being. She loved her family intensely and they adored her. She was the most kind and considerate life partner/wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend imaginable who devoted her life to her family and many friends. She experienced the joy and unconditional love of being a grandmother with Mallory and Owen over the past five years, and through providing Kayla and Jasun with a happy, healthy, comfortable and supportive home together with her longtime partner, John Duston, over the past 18 years.

Ellen was always selfless and thought of others before her own wants and needs. Her life was marked by exceptional generosity and interest in celebrating the happy occasions in the lives of her family, friends and co-workers. She exhibited an artistic, playful and fun sense of design, which she used to elevate the moods of those around her daily. This included everything from her decorative touches in their condominium and "Mountain House" to beautifully wrapped packages containing carefully chosen gifts for family and friends to celebrate special occasions. Ellen was an avid gardener who loved "playing in the dirt" and creating beautiful landscapes, gorgeous hanging flower baskets and handsome deck planters. Ellen always paid attention to, and improved upon, the details of life, both at home and at work. On top of everything else, she always managed to look like she stepped out of a fashion magazine, even throughout her illness.

Ellen received excellent medical care from her oncology team, Steven Liu, M.D.; Jeremy Rosiecki, PA-C; Joanie Mayer Hope, M.D.; Linda Smith, M.D.; Abbey Flores, RN; and Alan Skolnick, M.D. She deeply appreciated the empathy and concern shown during every visit with her core medical team and all her other medical providers throughout her treatment.

In addition to her longtime partner, John Duston, survivors include her stepdaughter, Jessica Duston Ford and husband Ian Ford, of Palmer, Alaska; and grandchildren, Mallory and Owen Ford; Kayla Duston of Ariana, Tunisia; Jasun Duston; great-granddaughter, Aurora of Anchorage; and stepdaughter, Amy Newkirk of Auckland, New Zealand. Survivors in her extended family include sister-in-law, Barbara Sloss of Modesto, Calif.; nephew, William W. Sloss of Arcadia, Calif. (wife and son of Ellen's deceased brother, William D. Sloss); sister, Anne Harrison of Anchorage; nephews, Thomas Harrison of Talkeetna, Alaska, and Daniel Harrison of St. Paul, Minn.; brother, John Sloss and wife Kathy of Overland Park, Kans.; nieces, Jane Sloss and Claire Sloss, both of Chicago, Ill.; sister, Elizabeth Sloss and husband James Korelitz of North Potomac, Md.; niece, Katherine Korelitz of Durham, N.C.; and nephew, Benjamin Korelitz of Frederick, Md.

Ellen's family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to her family members and friends for their condolences and support during her illness. Her family will hold a memorial service on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at 3 p.m., to celebrate the life of this wonderful mother, grandmother, wife and friend. It will be held at O'Malley's on the Green in Anchorage. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Ellen Newkirk at www.gofundme.com/honoring-ellen. Donations will benefit the Alaska Botanical Garden and Palmer Lifeways LLC, the daycare/preschool attended by Ellen's grandchildren.