Cori Brooks Ellis

Cori Brooks Ellis, 38, formerly of Kewanee, died Sunday, September 10, 2017 in Rock Island, IL.

Friends are invited to join our family in remembering Cori at a memorial service and balloon release to be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Windmont Park in Kewanee, IL. Cremation has been accorded. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

Cori was born to Jackie (Ellis) Mitchell in Peoria, Illinois on January 31, 1979. She was raised in Texas and spent her summers in Kewanee with her grandparents, cousins and friends. Cori was a 2000 graduate of Bradley University with a B.S. in Public Relations and Mass & Speech Communications and a 2002 graduate of Illinois State University with a M.S. in Mass Communication. During her time at both Universities and in the years to follow, Cori’s ultimate passion was the art of communication, specifically forensic speech competition. When she competed at the collegiate level, Cori was a National Forensics Semi-Finalist for the Bradley University Speech Team. After earning her degrees, Cori went on to hold faculty positions in Communications at Orange Coast College, Mt. SAC College, Northwestern University and Monmouth College, where she instilled her knowledge and passion to several national forensics champions and finalists. After completing her Master’s degree, Cori also received her degree in Cosmetology from Paul Mitchell in Costa Mesa, CA.

Cori is survived by her grandfather, Bill Oliver; her brothers, Travis, Ty and Tray; her sister Charlyn; her uncle Kevin Swanson; her nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jackie, and her grandmother, Charlotte Oliver.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Cori will be missed by many people. You may send online condolences to the family to www.ruxfuneralhome.com.

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