Ella Gant – Signed Artist Proof 1/1 Charley the Tennis Player

Ella Jane Gant, passed away in April of 2011.  The daughter of Esther and William Zimmerman, Ella lived her entire life in Millville, graduating from Millville High School when she was 16. After high school, Ella completed her nursing education at Cooper Hospital School of Nursing and worked as an RN in area hospitals, as a school nurse, and caring for friends and family all her life. In 1940, she married Charles E. Gant, who predeceased her in 2010. Throughout her long marriage, and while raising a family, Ella supported Charles in his Army, legal and political careers. They spent many happy years summering in Stone Harbor and later wintering in Delray Beach, Fla. Tennis was an important part of their lives, and Ella followed Charles in his tournament play and played herself until she was in her 70s.

In 1960, Ella discovered her creative talent as an artist at Pat Witt’s Barn Studio, and art became a consuming passion for the rest of her life. Ella spent several years studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. As a prolific and versatile artist, Ella explored painting, printmaking and later marble sculpture. She exhibited extensively, had several one-woman shows, and loved working in her home studio . Her artwork is a wonderful legacy to her family and to South Jersey.