Mr. Ellis died of natural causes at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at Shady Lawn Nursing Home in Cadiz.
He was born August 28, 1935 in Lafayette, Tenn. to Mayzell Ellis and the late Murrell Leon Ellis.
He was a member of the Old Way Missionary Baptist Church in Franklin, a United States Army veteran, a retired welder, and was a minister.
He was preceded in death by one brother, James Ellis.
Survivors include his mother, Mayzell Ellis of Franklin; one brother, Fred Ellis (and wife Susanne) of Sevierville, Tenn.; one son, Richard Ellis (and wife Molly) of Creekside, Pa.; three daughters, Barbara Fowler (and husband Earl) of Cadiz, Lore Armstrong (and husband Duck) of Russellville and Sonya Ahmadi of Bowling Green; 23 grandchildren, Brigitte and Patrick Durham, Sophia and Chris Sapp, Charlie and Suzy Rogers, Brandon and Kelli Fowler, Andrea and Scotty Hampton, Rachel, Emily and Faith Ellis, Corey and Amber Brassell, Jerry and Leslie Armstrong, Malia Carver, Jadiss Metcalfe, Brandon, Codey and Stacey Lewis; and 17 great-grandchildren, Austin, Autumn and Aubri Durham, Tyler Rogers, Tristan Sapp, Maria and Victoria Rogers, MacKenzie and Hunter Fowler, Taylor and Jordan Hampton, Nolan, Cole, Tristan, and Anakin Armstrong, Reese and Jaxen Brassell.
Music provided by Brandon Ellis.
