Ellen Usry served as chair of the Nexus and Community Service committees.  She and Bob organize RYLA and Secret Santa. She worked on the infamous "Haunted House", served on the 25 year anniversary committee, and served on Glenda Thomas’s District Conference committee.

A favorite quote of Ellen’s is “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

The thing she enjoys most about Sooner Rotary is working with different people.  She likes to work and that is how she socializes and has made many friends that way.

She works for the City Manager, the City Council, and the public. She likes her job because it is fast paced and she learns something new every day.  Nothing stays the same and she has a lifelong group of friends with her co-workers.

Her spouse is also her best friend of 43 years.  Her children are Bobby and Jaime.  Bobby’s children are Jake, 13 and Sam, 9.  Jaime’s wife is Kori and children are Annie, 5 and Lainey, 7 months.

A book Ellen enjoyed is Cane River because it is based on a true story of slavery in the south.  A favorite childhood book is To Kill A Mockingbird.  Ellen loves history.

Ellen describes herself with these three words: sarcastic, non-judgmental, and adaptable.

She loves to enjoy friends with games, shopping, or having dinner.  When by herself, she enjoys reading, computer games, and watching movies.

Television shows she enjoys include: “Parenthood”, “The Good Wife”, “The Closer”, and “Friday Night Lights”.

She would like her Rotary friends to know that she truly cares about people and that she tries to see both sides of every situation.  She is very intuitive and a pretty good judge of character and unfortunately, tends to be right about a first impression.

She says there is no telling what she will be when she grows up.  She always surprises herself.

Her favorite singer is Ronnie Dunn and Sugarland is her favorite group.  Favorite teams include the Thunder.  Recent reading includes: Half Broke HorsesWinter’s BoneDead Reckoning, and Live Wire.  A recent movie is "The Help".

If she could study something it would be anything to do with history.  She loves Native American and Black American Studies.  Chemistry would not be on the list.

Interesting places Ellen has visited include: Paris, Louisville,KY, Victoria, Canada, Asheville, NC.  She would live in Florida or Arizona if she could.  She would love to travel to Italy.  Dallas is her favorite place to run away to.

Her favorite meal includes pasta or some type of Asian food.  Her favorite game is anything but Monopoly. She loves girls Softball and basketball.  She belongs to CrossPointe Church.

Someone Ellen admires is David Boren because he is from her home town, Seminole.  He has achieved great things and is a down-to-earth, good man.

Two favorite weekend activities are to spend time with her grandchildren and to go somewhere special with Bob.  One responsibility she has is to be the guardian of her sister, who is 53 years old and has cerebral palsy.  She is a sweetheart and lives in a group home in OKC.  Ellen is blessed that her sister is healthy and happy because she knows that could change suddenly.

Ellen dreams of going to the beach or New England.  If she could go back two years, advice she would give herself is “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”.  When describing herself as a friend, she says she is a good listener.  Three things Ellen does well are research, proofread, and type.  One wish Ellen has is that she and Bob could both retire.

Ellen would like her Rotary friends to know that even though she can’t make all the meetings because of her work, she still loves them.