Obituary of Joseph John Ellis
Joseph John “Joe” Ellis passed away peacefully on August 11, 2022, at the age of 91. Born on October 26, 1930, in Houston, Texas, Joe was the youngest child of Matt and Julia Rick Ellis, and little brother to Mary George, Tommy Ellis and Barbara Kergosien.
Joe attended Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, Arkansas, returning to graduate early from St. Thomas High School at the age of 16. His education was interrupted to serve four years in the U.S. Navy after which he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Houston. From there, Joe embarked on a 30-year career as one of the first adult probation officers for Harris County followed by involvement in a variety of entrepreneurial activities.
Owing to his strong Catholic faith, Joe was a humble man who was exceedingly generous. He attended daily mass and was known to slip a ten to the cashier at Walmart, leave a six pack for the garbage collectors and provide untold aid to family, friends or a complete stranger in need.
Moreover, family was everything to Joe. He married the love of his life, Lea Opal Grimes, on September 1, 1956, who he first laid eyes on in an elevator in her office building. When the door opened to her floor, he exited behind her and threatened to climb up on her desk and sing until she agreed to go on a date. Joe took Lea for a coke at Prince’s Hamburgers and the rest was history. Together, they had six children, and Joe was blessed to become a grandfather at the young age of 52.
Joe loved God, Lea and the 36 members of the family they created with all of his heart. While he showed this through his actions, he freely made it known with words. At his most recent birthday party, Joe gathered his family to say, “The two most important words in the English language and in my life are…the family.” There will never be another quite like Joe Ellis, Papa Joe, Papo, Pops.
We will remember Joe, who when not working on his farm in Moulton, eating ice cream and drinking a cold Dr. Pepper, as a man with a pep in his step, a toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth, hard candy in his pocket and a constant grin accompanied by a tidbit of wisdom, and a joke or two. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and granddaughter, Emily Hart Henderson.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Lea; six children: Teri McAfee and her husband, Mike, Kim McConn and husband, Terry, Carol Sebastian, Mark Ellis and his wife, Vicki, Jan Henderson and her husband, Bruce and John Ellis and his wife, Vanessa; seventeen grandchildren: Ashley McAfee, Katie Ball and her husband, Grant, Michael McAfee and his wife, Meghan, Molly McAfee, Ellis McConn and his wife, Lauren, Terrence McConn and his wife, Ashley, Justin McConn, Samantha Sebastian, Kimberly Kaskel and her husband, Alex, Julia Henderson, Sarah Henderson, Hannah Henderson, Grace Ellis, Collier Ellis and Carolina Ellis; and four great grandchildren, Harper McConn, Walker McConn, Georgia McConn and Carter Ball.
A visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 15, 2022 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell Street in Houston, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2022 also at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Joseph Ellis will be laid to rest at Forest Park Westheimer cemetery in Houston, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to CURESEARCH in the name of Emily Hart Henderson at www.curesearch.org.