Mr. Howard Wayne Ellis, 69, of Hampton, passed away Tuesday, September 18, 2012, at the Life Care Center of Elizabethton after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
He was born in Carter County to the late Howard Ray and Vera Opal Johnson Ellis.
Mr. Ellis was a member of Beck Mountain Baptist Church, a previous member of Elizabethton Golf Course and a member of the 1960 Hampton State Basketball Team. He was an avid sportsman and loved the outdoors. He retired from East Tennessee State University.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Ellis, of the home; a son, Howard Wayne Ellis II and his wife, Jennifer Kyte Ellis, Elizabethton; twin grandsons, Jack Kyte Ellis and Wyatt Pierce Ellis, Elizabethton; a sister, Jean Jones and her husband, Bill, Elizabethton; a brother, Glen Ray Ellis and his wife, Joyce, Elizabethton; a brother-in-law, Dale Potter and his wife, Marissa, Elizabethton. Two nieces, Donna Hillenbrand, Birmingham, AL, Julie Scracolli, Johnson City; and two nephews, Richard Jones, Gaffney, SC, and Stephen Ellis, Unicoi, also survive.
The funeral service for Mr. Ellis will be conducted on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 7:00 PM in the Tetrick Funeral Home, Chapel of Peace, Elizabethton with Pastor Ronnie Campbell and Mr. David Siebenaler, minister, officiating. Music will be under the direction of Pastor Ronnie Campbell and Kelli Campbell.
The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday prior to the service and at the home at other times.
The committal and entombment service will be conducted on Friday, September 21, 2012, at 2:00 PM at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Mausoleum of Peace. Active pallbearers will be J.C. Campbell, Jerry White, Doug Phillips, Scotty Bunton, Bill Anderson and Bill Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Bayless, Ed McNeil, Charlie Winters, Jackie Elliott, Jim Moody, Folsom Angel and Gary White. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the funeral home at 1:15 PM on Friday to go in procession to the cemetery.
The family would like to express a special thank you for all the love and care shown to Mr. Ellis by the doctors, nurses and staff of Sycamore Shoals Hospital, ICU and 3rd Floor, Dr. Joe May, Dr. Vivian Clark, a special caregiver, Jeanette Irick, the nurses and CNAs at the Life Care Center of Elizabethton and Caris Hospice. Special appreciation also goes to Harry Ford at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Beck Mountain Baptist Church Building Fund, 2797 Siam Road, Elizabethton, Tennessee 37643; or The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is serving the family. Office 423 542-2232, Obituary line 543-4917.
May 22, 1943 – September 18, 2012
Visitation: September 21, 2012
Service: September 21, 2012
Funeral Home: Tetrick Funeral Home
Elizabethton, TN
