Obituary of Gene Gilbert Ellis

Watch the Tribute Gene Gilbert Ellis Sr. January 24, 1928 - July 20, 2011 Funeral services for Gene Gilbert Ellis Sr, 83, of Tatum will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with James Kirby officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Mr. Ellis was born on January 24, 1928 in Hobart, Oklahoma to James Soloman and Lorella Malissa (McBride) Ellis and passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Country Cottage in Hobbs, NM. He was a veteran of WWII, serving as a Medical Tech and helped prepare and transport the young soldiers who were killed in battle for their homecoming. He later worked in the oilfield as a drilling supervisor and was a mechanic and a tinker man on the side. He enjoyed his family and loved nothing better than to have a cook out and a get together with them and he especially loved his grandchildren. He was never partial and in his eyes they were all equal. He was a man of integrity and gave praise when needed and constructive criticism when needed. He married Ruth Wandell Youngblood in Lovington on Febuary 6, 1946 and after her death he married Zelma Elizabeth Armstrong Blundell in Tatum on July 9, 1994. He was preceded in death by his parents, both wives, one son, Gene G. Ellis Jr., and two grandsons, Kenneth Gene Ellis and Ricky Lee Ellis. He is survived by two sons: James and wife Ann Ellis of Tatum and Rick Ellis of San Antonio, TX; three daughters: Lola Jackson of Lovington, Wanda Jean and husband Darrel Morgan of Oldsmar, FL and Bobbie Ellis and husband Gary Coffer of Tatum, NM; two sisters: Wilma Priddy of Littlefield, TX and Iris Matthews of Hobbs, NM; 16 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Pallbearers are Micah Jackson, Everett Wilson, Matt Ellis, James Ellis, Gary Coffer Jr., Jody Lynn Salazar and honorary pallbearers are Noah Coffer and David Seawright. Visitation will be on Friday, July 22, 2011 from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am until service time.