McGINNIS, MARIE ELEANOR "ELLIE" passed from this life peacefully on March 7, 2021 at the age of 89 following extensive health challenges. She grew up in Royal Oak, MI, graduated from Dondero High School and shortly afterward married her high school sweetheart James "Jim" McGinnis. They had recently celebrated 69 years of marriage. After a short stint in Colorado Springs while Jim was in the US Army, they made their homes in Royal Oak, Auburn Hills and Clarkston, MI. For the past 35 years while living in Clarkston, they enjoyed their house in the woods surrounded by Ellie's beautiful flower gardens. Ellie worked for many years in sales and management at Miner's Bagley Inn in Bloomfield Hills until her retirement. She maintained numerous friendships from high school, her neighborhood, and her long career at the Bagley Inn. Although a home body at heart, she enjoyed several wonderful trips, including Australia and New Zealand, Jamaica, London, Hawaii, and vacations in Naples, Fl. She loved reading, antiquing for collectibles at flea markets, walking the beach in Florida to collect shells, and her many cats over the years but her greatest joy was gardening. She would often be out "working" in her flower gardens all day and said she felt closest to God while she was tending her gardens. They were so lush and beautiful that they could have easily been photographed and published in magazines. Even in recent years with declining health, she couldn't wait until the weather was warm enough that she could go outside and "sit in the dirt." Ellie leaves behind, husband, Jim of Clarkston, MI and two children: son Mike (Sue) McGinnis of Clarkston, MI and daughter Debra (the late Brian) Delaney of Austin, TX. Also grandchildren: Eric (Katy) McGinnis, Beth (Keith) Benhke, Jennifer (Anthony) McGinnis, Dawn Delaney, and Jenna Delaney, and four great grandchildren Lucas and Arianna McGinnis, and Blake and Lilah Benhke. One of the last things Ellie said when she was having a bad day was that, "things will be better tomorrow nothing ever stays the same." She had an optimism despite adversity. Her better day has come. She is witnessing the most astounding flower gardens in all creation: God's gardens! And that joy will never end. Funeral arrangements are being handled by COATS FUNERAL HOME-CLARKSTON. Services will be held a later date with internment at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI.