James Ellis

James Ellis, son of the late Rollie Lee and Dorothy (Chase) Ellis, was born May 30, 1936, in Grand Junction, Colorado, and departed this life July 10, 2018, at his home north of Mountain Grove, Missouri. He was 82 years, 1 month, and 10 days of age.

James was raised in Hutchinson, Kansas. He served his country in the United States Marines as an aviation electrician. James married Michael Carol and four children were born to this union. He later married Joan Fox on June 6, 1981, in Yosemite National Park.

James worked for several aluminum foundries in California before retiring. James and Joan enjoyed riding motorcycles together. They belonged to Elsinore Valley Touring Riders while they lived in Lake Elsinore, California. They moved to their home near Mountain Grove, Missouri, in December 2004.

Besides his parents, James was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife of their home, Joan Ellis, two sons, Brian Ellis and his wife, Beth, of Hemet, California, and Brandon Ellis of Hanford, California, two daughters, Teri Bullard and her husband, Robert, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Tammy Hunt and her husband, Ron, of Pittsburg, Oklahoma, three step-sons, David Graves of Bakersfield, California, Ian Masson of Yuma, Arizona, and James Graves and his wife, Frankie, of Stockton, Missouri, three step-daughters, Penny Holster of Tustin, California, Chris Payne of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and Stephanie Pearson and her husband, Scott, of Lake Isabella, California, one sister, Elizabeth Stafford of Quenemo, Kansas, seven grandchildren, fourteen step-grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and many step-great-grandchildren.