Ellen Denise Crouse

COOKEVILLE CHAPEL - Ellen Denise Haggard Crouse passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, at Vanderbilt University Hospital on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the age of 72. She was born in Butler, Missouri, and later adopted by Harold Morton and M. Lee Haggard. After M. Lee Haggard's death, she was adopted by Mary Adele Haggard. Ellen was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Mary Haggard, her in-laws, Delbert and Lora Crouse, her aunts, Betty Field, Cecil Kilmer, Margaret Long, Frances Million, Mary Ann Wagner, and Clara Westervelt, and her uncles, “Chubby” Field, “Corky” Long, Darryl Million, Bill Walter, John Westervelt, and Purl Westervelt.

Ellen would want you to know she survived kidney failure because of one family's generous decision to give her their loved one's kidney. In turn, Ellen chose to give others her organs so they might live longer and happier lives.

Generosity, thoughtfulness, and morality were more than words for Ellen. She would help anyone who needed help. If you were alone, and you needed a friend, she was there. If you needed to talk, Ellen was there. Whatever your needs, Ellen would do her utmost to meet them.

Ellen married David Crouse on September 16, 1973, and remained happily married until her death. Ellen is lovingly remembered by her son, Isaac Crouse (Jennifer) of Murfreesboro, by her sisters, Helen Knott (Dan), Barbara Furnari (Bob), Dottie Beale (Danny), Jenny Haggard, and Pam Friedman (Arthur), her brother, David Haggard (Cathy), her aunt, Shirley Westervelt, and her brother-in-law, Steve Crouse (Cathy). Ellen leaves behind many, many nieces and nephews, a number of great nieces and nephews, and a wealth of friends.

Ellen earned three degrees in her lifetime: a B.S. in Education from Northwest Missouri State University, an M.S. in Reading from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and an Ed.S. in Special Education from Tennessee Technological University. She taught 2nd grade for one year and taught kindergarten and reading for three years in Murdock, Nebraska. Later, she taught for one year at the Cookeville Community School. She strongly believed in early intervention for children with special needs. She touched the lives of many through her work with Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) and TIPS.

She sang in Master Singers for many years, and appeared in community theater, most notably as Auntie Em in the Wizard of Oz and as part of the chorus in Fiddler on the Roof. She was a counted cross stitch designer; her Christmas star ornament patterns appeared in the 1988 volume of Cross Stitch and Country Crafts. Most recently, she was known for her primitive rug designs and felted wool penny rugs. Her work has been shown at many local shows and exhibits.

In 1989, Ellen opened her first Attic Window antique shop on Spring Street. Later shop sites were on Bunker Hill Road, Hudgens Road, and, most recently, in Algood on Main Street. Antiquing became her passion, and remained so for the rest of her life.

While heaven must be rejoicing at welcoming Ellen into its choir, those of us who are left behind mourn her death, and will continue to do so for the rest of ours.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to:  American Kidney Fund 

If you are interested in donating by mail, please send your donation to: American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852

If you are interested in donating on-line, please go to the following link: https://give.kidneyfund.org/page/71565/donate

The family will receive friends Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Hooper Huddleston & Horner Cookeville Chapel.

Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.