John Merdith Ellis, 85, of Lake City, passed away peacefully on Monday evening, July 18, 2022 at the Haven Hospice – Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City after a brief illness. He was born in Scott County, Tennessee on April 3, 1937 to the late Rev. Leonard M. Ellis and Linda Sexton Ellis. He has made Lake City his home for the past 5 ½ years, moving here from Lancing, Tennessee. He worked for General Motors for over 30 years, retiring in mid to late 1999; and in his spare time, enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family, children and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Faye Ellis in 2017; daughters, Teresa Ann Looper and Angela "Angel" Fowler; brother, William "Bill" Ellis and his sister and brother-in-law, Geneva & Sam Jones.

He is survived by his sons, Preston Ellis (Laura) of Lake City and Johhny M. Ellis, Jr. (Sandy) of Maryville, TN; and his daughter, Valerie Ellis-Hodson of Anderson, IN; sister-in-law, MaryJo Ellis of Tennessee; Cousin, June Atkinson of Tennessee along with ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.

A family graveside service was held on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Lake City with Rev. Robert Bass officiating. Interment followed next to his beloved wife. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations please be considered to Haven Hospice, 6037 West US Highway 90, Lake City, FL, 32055.