M.G. 'Jerry' Ellis (1914-2005)

ELLIS, COLLINS, CLEM, ALLBEE, SOUDERS, VANBENTHUYSEN, WALLACE, DOUGLASS, OAR, FULTON

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 12/10/2005 at 18:29:37

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Saturday, December 10, 2005.

M. G. "Jerry" Ellis, 91, of West Des Moines and formerly of Russell and Niceville, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 8, at USA Care Facility in Urbandale.
Jerry was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Garden Grove, the son of William A. and Stella M. Ellis. He was united in marriage to Margie Mary Collins on June 3, 1945. Jerry graduated from Chillicothe Business College with a degree in business, and he earned his bachelor of arts degree in education and liberal arts from Drake University. Jerry taught school for a total of 39 years and enjoyed watching his students grow in knowledge and stature. He began his career teaching in one-room country schools, but as time passed and consolidations began, he moved into the Russell and then Chariton school systems and finally retired from the Des Moines school system in 1977.
Jerry grew up on a large Guernsey dairy farm outside of Garden Grove and desired a dairy farm of his own. He and Margie raised their family on a dairy farm southeast of Russell before moving to Des Moines in 1966. After he retired from teaching, he and Margie moved to Niceville, Fla., where they both enjoyed 12 years of "fun in the sun." Jerry loved fishing the gulf coast and mastered his skills at landing "big" fish almost weekly. He held the title for catching the biggest fish of the year, one of his most memorable catches. Jerry lived out the rest of his years in Des Moines, where he and Margie enjoyed spending time with their children and families. Jerry was a longtime member of the Church of Christ and served the Lord in many different capacities over his lifetime.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Margie, of West Des Moines; one son, Mitch Ellis and wife, Bonnie, of West Des Moines; three daughters, Sue and Gary Clem of Nevada, Kathy and David Allbee of Redfield, and Debbie Ellis of Ames; six grandchildren, Trevor and Amy Ellis, Michelle and David Souders, Todd and Meredith vanBenthuysen, Kyr and Lisa vanBenthuysen, Kim and Brian Wallace, and Dustin Douglass; and nine great-grandchildren, Samantha, Nick and Joe Ellis, Austin Souders, Ryk and Talon vanBenthuysen, Nicole and Kealey vanBenthuysen, and Kennedy Wallace.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Zelma Oar, Cleo Fulton and Hazel Ellis.
Jerry's family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec.13. Visitation and funeral services will be held at Hamilton's Westown Funeral Home, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Society in honor of a very dear family member.

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