Alan Ashley Ellis Sr., 78, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.
He was born in Plant City, Florida to the late Arthur and Elizabeth "Hiers" Ellis and has lived in Columbia County most of his adult life. He was a member of Pipeliners Local 798 until his retirement. He worked all over the world on gas pipelines as a welder and inspector in places such as Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Egypt, Trinidad, the North Sea, and helped construct the Alaskan Pipeline. After retiring from pipeline welding, he spent his time at his farm out on Pinemount Road and planted a pecan orchard in 1979. He worked countless hours caring for his pecan trees and loved tending to them. He was a faithful member of Southside Baptist Church and a former Deacon of Fellowship Baptist Church. Daddy loved his family dearly and his grandchildren were the light of his life. He was a Christian with very strong faith and often spoke of waiting for the rapture and told everyone he met to be ready, that Jesus was coming again soon. Daddy will be greatly missed by his family and friends but will be seen again in heaven. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Dr. Roy Ellis, DDS and Dr. John Ellis, DDS of Plant City, FL.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Virginia Ellis; son, Ashley Jr. (Karen) Ellis of Lake City, FL,; daughters, Deborah (Jim) Stephenson of Plant City, FL; Donna Ellis of Colorado Springs, CO, and Jennifer (Bruce) Staten of Lake City, FL; 6 grandchildren, Bubba, Chris, and John Ellis, Tiffany Waters, Madison and Megan Staten; 6 great grandchildren, Sara, Tyson, Sasha, Simone, Aaliyah, and Brooklyn Ellis; sister, Sara Harrell of Lakeland, FL.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., at Southside Baptist Church with Dr. Ralph Rodriguez officiating. Interment will follow in Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery in Wellborn, FL. with Rev. Herman Hampton officiating. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to service time (10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.) at the church. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Suwannee Valley Care Center ( Haven Hospice), 6037 W. US 90, Lake City, FL 32055
GATEWAY-FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, 3596 South U.S. Hwy 441, Lake City, Florida 32025. (386) 752-1954. Please leave words of comfort at www.gatewayforestlawn.com