John Paul Ellis Jr.'s Obituary
John P. Ellis, Jr., 83, of Lubbock, Texas passed away at home surrounded by all of his girls on March 1st. He was born October 22, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee to Paul and Mena Ellis. On the day John met Shirley Marie Chiles he told his grandmother he had met his future 5’2” with eyes of blue beautiful bride. Amazingly, John and Shirley will have been happily married 65 years this December. They have been an inspiration to all of their daughters and friends. John worked at Allenberg Cotton Company 45 years as a cotton merchant and Vice President. The cotton business required John to move many times between Memphis, Tennessee and Lubbock, Texas. He served as the President of the Lubbock Cotton Exchange in 1986. During retirement John loved to work in his garden, fish at his lake house, and spending time with his family. John was a wonderful and committed husband, amazing father and grandfather (Pops). He was loved and respected by all those he met due to his personality, honesty, fairness, and caring spirit. His girls loved to spoil him as much as he did them. John put his heart and soul in everything he did and never left a job uncompleted. John is survived by his wife, Shirley C. Ellis of Lubbock; his daughters, Sharon Ellis of Cordova, Tennessee, Paula Parimore of Lubbock, Texas, Donna and Chip Bilbrey of Morton, Texas; two granddaughters, Shea Noblett and Ashley Powell of Lubbock, Texas, and his sister Jean E. Minmier of Germantown, Tennessee. He is preceeded in death by his daughter Pamela E. Breland and parents Paul and Mena Ellis. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 6 between 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis, Tennessee with Deacon William N. Pettit officiating.
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