Arietta Ellis, 71, of Sweet Home passed away Monday at her home. She was born March 16, 1942 in Lincoln, Nebraska, daughter of Lawrence Franklin amd Doris (Dunn) Start. Arietta was raised and educated in California, and on October 16, 1969 she married Earl J. P. Ellis in Carson City, Nevada and they moved to Oregon in 1973.

She worked as a clerical administrator for the states of California and Oregon a total of 33 years.

Arietta was a member of the Sweet Home Elks and VFW; the American Legion in Lebanon; and the Eagles in Albany. She enjoyed her loving kitties; going on ocean cruises and watching auto races, especially NASCAR; and on-line shopping.

Her survivors include: daughters, Connie LaCount of Hillsboro and Rose Major of Sweet Home; sons, Ken Ellis of Bakersfield, California and Andy LaCount, of Sweet Home; sisters, Barbara Chill, Maryanne Start, Kathy Ridout, Debi Start, and Alana “Petes” Johnson; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her husband; her parents; a brother, Lawrence Franklin “Joe” Start; and a grandson, William N. Cochran II.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests memorials to Safe Haven in Tangent or Paws For A Cause in Brownsville.

A celebration of life and potluck gathering will be held at the Sweet Home Elks Lodge at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2013.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.