Ellie Grace Sogard, 10

Ellie Grace Sogard gave and received much love during her ten years on earth. Ellie was born on April 14, 2010, in Denver, Colo., and passed away on July 2, 2020, in Tabernash, Colo. She was born early and sick, and spent 61 days in the NICU fighting hard for her life every day. Though Ellie had many health struggles, she had the sweetest disposition and smile that could light up the world. Ellie passed away suddenly on a family vacation and was surrounded by her parents and siblings.

Ellie was loved thoroughly and is survived by her parents, Matt and Abbie, her sister Kate (16), brother Luke (14), brother Dan (12), and brother Caleb (2). Ellie is also survived by both Grandpa and Grandma Sogard (Jim and Donna) and Papa and Grandma Brown (Jim and Gretchen) as well as her aunts and uncles and 12 cousins (soon to be 13). Ellie wasn’t able to talk, but if she could – and now she can – we think this is what she would say…

“Caleb, please stop almost falling on me and dropping your toys on me. My favorite super hero is Spider-man, but you always want to be him too! Thanks for making me smile.”

“Dan, thank you so much for taking care of me at school. I loved that you wanted to have me in specials each day and that your friends were kind to me.”

“Luke, I loved how you always used to lay by me and hold my hand. You are a great big brother and thanks for helping mom and dad take care of me.”

“Kate, you are the best sister! I loved that you would help Mom with my hair and clothes. Thanks for loving me so much and being proud of me.”

“Mom, thanks for your millions of kisses. Thanks for sitting with me at all the games as we cheered on my siblings and watched Dad coach. Thanks for your heart of service, truly a gift from God, that allowed you to do the day-after-day food and medicine and changing and all of the other mundane that was such an act of love. Also, I’m glad I don’t have to watch Twilight again.”

“Dad, you made it so easy for me to believe in Our Father in Heaven. You took the most loving care of me and always made sure I had what I needed. Thanks for being strong and carrying me in so many different ways. Please be nice to Mom by being on time for the funeral.”

“Grandpas and Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles, thank you for reading to me and holding me and making sure I knew I was special to you.”

“Cousins, I so wished I could have joined you guys in dodge ball, swimming, gaming and all the fun you had together. I’ll get the games ready for us in heaven.”

“Teachers/paras, thank you for loving me so well at school and making sure I was included and loved by my classmates!”

“Friends, thank you for including me. Thanks for paying attention to me and talking to me even when I couldn’t talk back.”

“Jesus, thank you for my life. Thank you for taking care of me here on Earth, but thank you even more for giving me full healing here in heaven. You are a good, good Father. Please be with my family and friends and help them to know that You were anxiously awaiting my return. Thank you Jesus that you longed to see me and have brought me into your presence.”

Ellie will be missed tremendously and leaves a hole in our hearts for the rest of our lives, but we take great comfort that she’s with Jesus in heaven with a healed body, a sharp mind, and a joyful spirit.

A visitation to greet family and friends will be held at Christ Community Church, 14200 Kenneth Road, Leawood, Kan. 66224, from 6 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, July 7. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday July 8, also at the church. Due to Covid19 guidelines, attendance on Wednesday morning will be limited to 120 attendees for the service. Masks are required. Registration is required for attendance, please see the church website for registration - https://christcommunitykc.org. The funeral will also be streamed at https://christcommunitykc.org.

Memorial Contributions in honor Ellie can be directed to the Circle Of Hope NICU Foundation, Post Office Box 14301, Lenexa, Kan. 66285-4301; The Hope Center, 2800 E. Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, Mo. 64128, and or Epilepsy Foundation Of Missouri and Kansas, 6400 Prospect Ave Suite 300 B, Kansas City, Mo. 64132. Arrangements: Signature Funerals www.signaturefunerals.com. Kansas City. 816-214-5174.

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