Ellen was her formal name but she was always called “Nellie.” She was Keith’s aunt by family structure but probably more like the “only” mother he knew for he was 18 months old when his mother Grace died. Nellie is somewhat of a mystery to me, her grand niece, but she did love cats so we do have something in common!
Nellie and a Cat!
Born on th 26th of November 1870 in Chichester, she was baptized the same day. She was the only girl out of 7 boys born to Archie and Mary.
Nellie's Baptismal Record
Source: Baptism, Marriage and Burial Index, St. Alphonsus Church, 1846-1920 FHL# B11b, #1029797. Also on Ancestry.com under the Drouin Collection.
Nellie lived to the age of 76 and is buried next to her brother Ronald in the Calvary Cemetery in Yakima, Washington.
Nellie never married instead she took on the task of helping raise Ronald’s six children after the death of his wife Grace in 1911. Exactly when she joined Ronald to take on this task is not clear. Miriam implies it was right after Grace’s death but that might not be exactly true?
Her niece Miriam held her in high esteem (click on the photo and it will get bigger for easier reading):
Nellie's Story by Miriam
Nellie also provided descendant charts of both of her parents Archie and Mary that Miriam passed on to her niece. These charts will be featured in later posts. These charts are the basis of the McDonell/McDonald research.
BJ MacDonald
The Man Who Lived Airplanes 
Theresa: Ellen or rather Nellie is rather a mystery. My father and his siblings didn’t talk about her much so I really don’t have a lot about her only what I know through photos and some brief comments by her niece Miriam. Thanks for stopping by.
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As the only daughter she probably took on many roles.
Cheers,
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
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