Ellen (Lorraine) Cloudt Kothmann, age 67, passed away peacefully in her home in Mason, Texas, and went to her heavenly home on November 15, 2019.

Ellen was born on January 29, 1952 in Rocksprings, Texas, to Frank Otis Cloudt and Ruth Allison (Fraser) Cloudt. She was the youngest of 3 children, and readily kept up with her two older brothers. From rhythm band in 1 ^st grade and impeccable penmanship in 2 ^nd grade, then on to high school track, basketball, cheerleading, twirling, yearbook staff, and barrel racing, Ellen was a girl of many talents. She was also a skilled seamstress from a young age. She made her own prom dresses and even clothes for her dolls.

After high school, Ellen attended Angelo State University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Business. She married the love of her life, Don Wayne Kothmann, on May 25, 1974, in a backyard ceremony in Rocksprings, Texas. The newlyweds moved to College Station so Don could finish school, and Ellen worked hard to support the new family. In 1976, they moved to Katy, where they welcomed their two beautiful children—Will Graham and Katie Cloudt—into the world and raised their family for the next 27 years. In 2003, Ellen and Don moved back to the family ranch in Mason, Texas, where she joyfully lived out the rest of her days here on Earth.

Throughout her life, Ellen always had a servant's heart. True to her nature, she would do anything for her family. Her kindness and generosity coupled with a gentle and quiet spirit, captured everyone's heart who came in contact with her. After becoming a mother to Katie and Will, she devoted her life to raising her children and running the household. Homecooked meals, a clean and organized home, and perfectly folded laundry were non-negotiables in the Kothmann house. Manners were of the upmost importance and all the neighborhood kids knew that you only say "yes ma'am" or "no ma'am" to Mrs. Kothmann. Ellen was a savant with numbers, dates, and names; she heard something one time and remembered it always. Ellen was the first to volunteer as "room mom" at school and freely contributed countless hours to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and The American Cancer Society.

After her children grew up and moved out of the house, Ellen's favorite pastime became traveling with Don, her husband and lifelong best friend. Trips to Europe, ski trips to Telluride, Colorado, horse racing trips to Ruidoso, New Mexico, and "escape the extreme weather in Texas" trips to Ajijic, Mexico, were among her favorites. And of course, a top priority during fall months was Aggie Football tailgating with "The Good Timing Aggies" crew.

One of Ellen's greatest joys in life was becoming "Emmy" to her four beautiful grandchildren—Elizabeth "Betsy" Margaret Skinner, Ford Otis Skinner, Leighton June Kothmann, and Grant Cloudt Kothmann.

Ellen's infectious smile, witty spirit, and love for her family and friends will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Ellen was preceded in death by her mother and father, her older brother Frankie Cloudt, her dearly loved Uncles Chester Cloudt and D.L. Cloudt, her sister-in-law Dava Cloudt, and her mother and father-in-law Sue and Victor Kothmann and late Jewell Grosse Kothmann and Teddy Kothmann.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Don Kothmann of Mason; her son and daughter-in-law, Will and Michelle Kothmann of Brownwood, Texas; her daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Nathan Skinner of Dallas, Texas; her grandkids: Leighton Kothmann, Grant Kothmann, Betsy Skinner and Ford Skinner; her brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Kari Cloudt of Rocksprings, Texas; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joan and Dean Kothmann of Leawood, Kansas; her nieces and nephews: Eric and Lia Cloudt of Pipe Creek, Texas, Rebecca and Glenn Gomes of Henderson, Nevada, Peggy and Caleb Kothmann of Manhattan, Kansas, and Hannah and Andrew Kothmann of Leawood, Kansas; and countless friends from all over the state of Texas.

Pallbearers are Joe Andrews, G.T. Bohmfalk, Zeke Bradford, Jerry Fields, Fred Guidry, and Marty Walker.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 18, 2019 from 5-7pm at the Mason Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at the River of Life Church in Mason, Texas on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society in honor of Ellen Kothmann