Gerald Lee Ellis

LINN, MO- Gerald Lee Ellis, former Leadbelt Area businessman and resident, passed away Saturday August 16, 2014 at the Community Care Nursing Center in Linn, MO. Gerald was born December 8, 1937 at Elvins, son of the late Thomas William and Alice Frances (Adams) Ellis. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Ann (Aubuchon) Ellis, and a brother Gary W. Ellis. Gerald grew up in the Leadbelt Area and attended school at Elvins. On May 2, 1964 he was married to Shirley Ann Aubuchon at St. Joseph Church in Bonne Terre. In 1975 Gerald opened Ellis Excavating and quickly grew the business becoming the exclusive grave excavator for all of St. Francois County as well as several surrounding communities. In 1980 he teamed up with Ditch Witch Equipment Inc. and helped to design the Ditch Witch Grave Excavator, becoming the first to use it exclusively as grave excavating equipment. Gerald retired from the excavating business in June of 2010 and moved to the Jefferson City Area to be closer to his family. Gerald will be remembered by the local funeral homes as being cantankerous at times, but also as an honest hard-working funeral professional. Gerald was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and enjoyed raising quarter horses in his spare time and was proud of his horses. He was also a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Farmington, Knights of Columbus Council 1088 and a past vendor member of the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him including his daughters, Donna Kay (& Kevin) Shafer of Farmington and Deborah Sue (& Warren) Muenks of Bonnots Mill, six grandchildren Myranda Shafer of Fredericktown, Brittany Thompson of Westphalia and Renata, Macy, Max, and Quin Muenks all of Bonnots Mill and a great-granddaughter Addison Thompson, two brothers Lynn (&Judy) Ellis of Bismarck and Robert (&Randi) Ellis of Spearfish, South Dakota, six sisters Carol (& Robert) Womack of Bismarck, Mary Ann George of Park Hills, Janet (& Danny) Nicholson of Park Hills, Nola (& Kirk) McElrath of Farmington, Brenda (& Jimmy) Maxfield of York, Pennsylvania, and Resa Bloom of Farmington. He is also survived by a sister-in-law Debbie Ellis, his long-time business associate and friend Michael Feltz of Libertyville as well as his many friends in the area funeral businesses and numerous other relatives and neighbors. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2014 at the Cozean Memorial Chapel & Crematory. A Parish Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. in the Cozean Chapel. Visitation will resume on Saturday at the Cozean Chapel from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Farmington with Father James Dyer officiating. Burial will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Leadington. Memorials may be made to Masses or The Women of Mary at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Farmington. View tribute video, share your memories and leave condolences online at cozeanfuneralhome.com Visitation

Cozean Memorial Chapel & Crematory

Friday, August 22, 2014 04:00 PM - 08:00 PM 217 W. Columbia St. Farmington, MO 63640 Directions Holy Rosary Friday, August 22, 2014 06:00 PM Interment Service

Woodlawn Cemetery

Saturday, August 23, 2014 Leadington, MO Directions Mass of Christian Burial

St. Joseph Catholic Church of Farmington

Saturday, August 23, 2014 10:00 AM 10 North Long Street Farmington, MO 63640 Directions