Ellen Louise Mahurin went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Jan. 27, 2023 at the age of 80, with her son and daughter by her side at Abundant Care in Santa Barbara.

She was born Ellen Louise Schulze on June 26, 1942 in San Francisco, California, to her parents Margie Louise Antles and Earl Cecil Schulze.

Ellen spent her younger years attending schools in Long Beach, California, but later moved to Santa Barbara to live with her beloved grandmother. Following in the footsteps of her relatives, she attended Santa Barbara High School and graduated in 1960.

After graduation, she worked as a candy-striper volunteer at Cottage Hospital; it was here where she discovered her love for nursing and caring for others.

While working at the hospital,  she met Henry Mahurin, who introduced her to his son, Leonard “Dutch” Mahurin. After a short courtship, Dutch and Ellen were married in May 1961. Within two years, their children Sharlae and Mark were born, and Ellen put her nursing career on hold to be a stay-at-home mom.

When her children were teenagers, Ellen decided it was time to revisit the possibility of a nursing career. Special thanks to Dr. Richard Hammond in the dermatology department at the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic (now Sansum), for giving her a chance to re-enter the workforce in the late 1970s.

Soon after, she enrolled in the nursing program at SBCC and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1983. Over the course of nearly 20 years, she worked at St. Francis Hospital, numerous skilled nursing facilities in Santa Barbara, and was certified as a director of staff development and instructor.

In 2001, Ellen retired from nursing and headed off to bible school in Pensacola, Florida, where she received a degree in pastoral theology and hospital chaplain certification. In 2004, she became a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God Church.

When she returned home to Santa Barbara, she immersed herself in the prayer ministry at SOUTHCOAST Church, under the leadership of Pastor Rino Dattilo.

Ellen was diagnosed with rapidly progressing Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021, and when it became clear she could no longer live alone, she moved to Abundant Care, an assisted living home. We are eternally grateful for the love and tender care she received while living there.

Ellen is survived by daughter Sharlae Jenkins (Greg); son Mark Mahurin; niece Cheryle Bauer Garber; grandchildren Joshua Jenkins, Kristen Mahurin, Timothy Jenkins (Kimberly), Samantha Mahurin, Jeremy Mahurin; and great-grandchildren Zachary, Abby, Westley, Amaya, Daisy and Paloma.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4 at SOUTHCOAST Church, 5814 Cathedral Oaks Road, Goleta. A barbecue lunch will be served after the service. Casual attire, please.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Abundant Care, Inc., 5506 Somerset Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, or The Juvy Project, P.O. Box 8845, Goleta, CA 93118.