Ellen Mae Stone-Babcock, died Sunday, June 23, 2019, at Aspirus Langlade Hospital in Antigo. She was 34 years old. She was born on April 29, 1985, in Jackson, Wyoming. She married Peter Babcock on June 21, 2019, in Kenosha.
She was raised in Holton, Michigan. During her years there, she volunteered with the local Head Start program, the Let’s TALK program, and became a junior troop leader of the Girl Scouts. She graduated from High School in Danville, Illinois and received a bachelors degree from Illinois Institute of the Arts in Chicago, Illinois.
Ellen and her husband Peter lived in Waukegan, Illinois, Fort Collins, Colorado before moving to Antigo in August 2017.
She was a gifted artist and colorful person. She worked in many mediums, and had a rare eye for creative use of colors.
She received the Volunteer of the Year award for her over 400 hours of volunteer time at Loveland Classical Schools, Loveland, Colorado. Much of her volunteer time was passing on her love of the arts to kindergarten students. She was a member of the Antigo Visual Arts Association.
Ellen was born with a genetic disorder Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome. She endured many surgeries and hospital stays without complaining. She defied many odds when told things were not possible. She was able to give the gift of vision by being a cornea donor, and helped cancer patients by her hair being donated to Locks of Love.
Survivors include her husband Peter, her mother Melanie Stone (Sandy Higgins) of Moberly, MO; father and mother-in-law, Tim and Sara Babcock of Jefferson, WI; a sister, Deanie (Scott) Anderson of San Antonio, Texas; a brother, Eldon Barick; step-brother, AJ Caldwell of Alabama.
A memorial gathering will be held Friday June 28, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Holton American Legion in Holton, Michigan. A memorial gathering in Antigo will be announced later this summer.
In lieu of gifts and flowers, donations in Ellen’s name would be greatly appreciated to a charity of your choice. Ellen’s family recommends the American Lung Association, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or your local humane society.