The Girls part 2 Kathleen Margaret Ellis

 Kathleen Margaret Ellis

Kathy Ellis, with whom Agnes joined at the hip until Debbie Reynolds was a California girl born and raised. Kathleen Margaret Ellis was born in San Francisco, California, on October 25, 1916. Her father, Edward Bayfield Ellis, was a salesman for a truck company. Edward was born in Los Gatos in 1889, and his wife, Gladys Harriet Faulkner, was born in Solano, California. Kathy had a brother, John Faulkner Ellis, a medical professional. She also had one sister named Beverly May Ellis. The Ellis family fared quite well, at least until 1926. Gladys died unexpectedly in 1926. By December 1927, the family home purchased in 1925 was foreclosed upon, and Edward seems to have abandoned his family. By 1930, both Kathy and Beverly were living with their father's parents in Los Gatos, California. Kathy attended Los Gatos High School and then San Jose College. During her college years, Kathy performed in school productions.

This is where the story of Kathy Ellis becomes hard to pick apart. Allegedly, she married in 1940 and moved to New York, yet we see photographs of her with Agnes all during the time she supposedly lived in New York. Kathy Ellis, in New York, married Chester Bud Wilkenson, with whom she is said to have several children. How does that fit together with being Agnes’ stand-in for twenty years? The twenty-year time range comes from Agnes’ divorce in 1958, where Kathy testified for Agnes to confirm all the actions that happened before and during the divorce proceedings with Robert. How can you testify to something if you aren’t there? There is more to refine here, but these are the facts to date:

1. Kathy was a constant presence in Aggie’s life until the 1960s.

2. Kathy had a close emotional relationship with Agnes

3. Kathy acted as mother to Sean when Agnes was away

4. Kathy had a significant role in the running of the acting school.

5. Kathy gave testimony in the divorce suit of Agnes and Robert

6. Kathy has a significant presence in Agnes' correspondence.

7. Kathy traveled with Agnes overseas and in the United States while filming various motion pictures.

8. Kathy traveled with Agnes during her one-woman show extravaganza.

9. Kathy stayed with Agnes when she was overseas or on tour.

10. Kathy acted as Agnes’ stand-in and dresser.

Regarding the correspondence between Kathy and Agnes, I found that Kathy, like Tanya, began with intense communication, which slowly dwindled to typical communication by the 1960s.

There were cards:

Intense

Darling L’il Sister,

Here’s hoping that your birthday is as nice as it can be,

Because you are so nice yourself

And mean so much to me.

Happy Birthday

Much love and oodles of kisses,

Kathy

Subdued

Hope you have a happy time

Now that your birthday’s here

And when your birthday’s over 

Hope you have a happy year.

Much Love,

Kathy

Subdued

As you celebrate your birthday

May God look down and bless

Your heart with deep contentment

And your life with happiness.

May we be sisters forever,

Kathy

Intense

Remembering you on your birthday

With best wishes.

Agnes Honeypot,

Because you’re such a special friend 

So thoughtful and so dear

You’re wished a world of happiness

Today and through the year.

Love and Kisses, Kathy

None of the cards are dated, so it is impossible to validate the progression.  The curious thing to me is that once Agnes attached herself to Debbie Reynolds, the cards from Kathy came to a stop. Kathy was still helping her run the school, and we can verify that because of Quint Benedetti. Kathy may have continued handling correspondence and assisting with Sean, but the cards just stopped. The relationship between the two women has run its course, and Kathy has moved on from the emotional attachment, or she had sense enough to know it had indeed gone as far as it would go. Kathy was a fixture at Aggie’s Christmas parties, but the cards stopped.

Kathy went on with her life, and Agnes went on with hers.