Zella JeannetteSeptember 25, 1932 - April 1, 2015Zella Jeannette passed away in her home in Seattle on April 1, 2015. Zella was born on September 25, 1932 to Agnes and Luther Bice in Twin Falls, Idaho. At 2 years of age, Zella moved with her parents and sister Georgia (Melvin Hale) to Nampa, Idaho. Twelve years later, two brothers, Jess (Tamyra) & Russ (Nancy) had joined the family. Zella graduated from Nampa High School in 1950, then she attended Idaho State University for one year. In 1951, Zella was married to Gene Ellis, a teacher and smoke jumper. Zella had four children, Bryan, Sue, Melissa & Andrew over the next 5 years. During summer months, they lived in McCall, Idaho at the smoke jumper camp in a trailer with only an icebox and a water pump. In 1956, the family moved to Madrid, Spain where Gene taught school at the US military base and Zella was a housewife and the base pool lifeguard. After 7 years in Spain, Zella and her children returned to Pocatello where she finished college and earned a Masters Degree in Special Education. In 1968 Zella moved to Seattle, WA where she taught Middle School for several years. She was asked by Seattle Schools to help create and act as head teacher of a new alternative high school, the Interim School. Zella was known for seeing the promise and potential in all of her students. They lovingly nicknamed her, GodZella. In 1975, Zella worked for the Seattle Schools Work Training Program where she met Peter Howard. That year, she purchased a houseboat on Seattle's Lake Union. In 1982, Zella and Peter became partners and he and his two children, Seth and Joslyn, moved into the houseboat. In 2009, Zella and Peter formally became Domestic Partners.In 1971, Zella was awarded a one year sabbatical. Peter purchased a 15 year old Volkswagon camper and they spent the majority of that year traveling throughout Mexico. When Zella retired, they began a wonderful routine of renting out their houseboat and hitting the road for a six month stay in Mexico. For many years, they stayed at a very funky beach front hotel, Casa La Playa in Zihuatanejo. They explored many areas of Mexico, spending extended periods of time in Playa Zipolite and the city of Oaxaca, Eventually they settled in the colonial mountain puebla of Patzquaro in a home with a view of the lake. Zella, well known for her gracious hospitality, always had a fresh pot of coffee brewing or a cold beer at the ready. In addition to their time in Mexico, they traveled by car, train & cruise ship throughout the US and Europe. House exchanges enabled them to live for extended periods in Cambridge and Amsterdam. At home in Seattle, Zella loved spending time with friends and family at their home on the water. She was actively engaged in the houseboat community and was a board member for the DOX Cooperative. Their houseboat exudes there love of art from the Northwest and Mexico. Peter thanks the friends and family who supported her during her final month of life. Any donations in Zella's memory are requested to be made to the . Zella was a prolific and eclectic reader and film buff. She and Peter shared a life of art, travel and family. Zella will be deeply missed and forever loved.