The Excelsior Standard, Feb. 27, 2026

Ellen Schoettger

Ellen Frances Richardson Schoettger of Excelsior Springs passed away peacefully Feb. 11, 2026, at Lawson Manor. She was born Dec. 16, 1949, to James William (Bill) Richardson and Frances Elaine (Elaine) Williams Richardson in Kirksville, where her father studied music education at Truman State University. The family moved to Concordia when her father started teaching music, and then to Excelsior Springs after her father’s completion of graduate school. Ellen loved all kinds of artistic and creative activities from a young age. She was active in the Girl Scouts, with whom her mom was a Scout leader, and especially loved riding horses at camp. Ellen also enjoyed music and played the flute in the band, as well as singing in the United Methodist Youth Choir with her dad, the choir director.

She graduated from Excelsior Springs High School and went on to study art at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

Ellen fulfilled her passion for the arts in the field of photography. She was extremely talented in the predigital photography age, retouching photos, restoring photos and creating oil-painted photo portraits.

She hit her creative stride when she became a full-time portrait photographer. Ellen was a special genius at taking photos of babies and young children.

Ellen married David Scott Schoettger, her husband of 32 years, on Aug. 16, 1980, in Columbia, where they lived for several years before moving in 1982 to the Excelsior Springs area.

They had three beautiful children: Megan Elizabeth, Kathleen Rebecca and Aaron Christopher Schoettger.

David was an avid outdoorsman. Ellen and David enjoyed escaping with the family, boating at the Lake of the Ozarks, summer stays at the Schoettger lake house, as well as camping and photographing nature on their trips.

When they moved to Excelsior Springs, Ellen opened Heirloom Photography, where she continued her portrait photography, and photographing weddings and all kinds of community events.

Ellen enjoyed participating in hometown community groups and the First United Methodist Church activities, especially the choir.

In the summer of 2000, David’s work took them to Columbia, where they found their home in Millersburg. Ellen began working for Lifetouch Studios and quickly began to rise in the ranks, and she began work as the manager and head photographer in Columbia.

During the family’s free time, the couple met many wonderful friends, who remain friends to this day.

In 2005, the family moved to Wood Heights, where Ellen continued to work for Lifetouch Studios in Independence.

David’s work then took them to the Gig Harbor, Wash., moving the family in 2007 from Wood Heights to the Pacific Northwest. Ellen continued her work in photography, and the family was able to explore the amazing mountains, ocean, and rain forests. Ellen was always drawn back to her hometown, where they returned in 2011.

After returning, Ellen opened the Artisan Gallery in Excelsior Spring’s historic downtown, featuring an art gallery and her photo studio. Her daughter Megan joined her as a graphic designer. The two of them loved the fun of hosting art openings, especially with live music.

Ellen is survived by her daughter, Megan Elizabeth Schoettger of Excelsior Springs; and son, Aaron Christopher Schoettger of Puyallup, Wash., and his wife, Ally Maree Schoettger, and their children, Theodore, Evie and Phillip Schoettger. Other survivors include her son-in-law, Paul Russell (Russell) Lupien of Tacoma, Wash.; sister, Rebecca Jane Richardson, and her husband, Michael Lehman Froehlich, of Kansas City; and brother, Christopher James Richardson of Excelsior Springs.

She also is survived by her mother-in-law, Lorraine Schoettger of Sedona, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Lisa M. Schoettger-Price, and her husband, C.B. Price, of Sedona, and their children – Ian Price of Kansas City, Alisha Price of Chicago and Christian Price of Sedona.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Scott Schoettger of Excelsior Springs; daughter, Kathleen Rebecca Schoettger-Lupien of Gig Harbor; and parents, James William Richardson and Frances Elaine Williams Richardson of Excelsior Springs. She also was preceded in death by her brother, Robin William Richardson of Excelsior Springs; infant sister, Sara Jo Richardson of Concordia; and father-in-law, Dr. Richard Aaron Schoettger of Columbia.

A celebration of life service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the First United Methodist Church of Excelsior Springs, 1650 Rainbow Blvd., followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.

The family wishes to thank the kind caregivers at Lawson Manor and Ascend Hospice.

The family suggests donations to the Good Samaritan Center Food Pantry of Excelsior Springs, where Ellen used to volunteer; or the Community Impact Fund of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which provides community art engagement.

Arrangements are in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.