Jeff Ellis, 1958-2007

Published Monday, June 4, 2007

Jeffrey Carroll "Jeff" Ellis, 48, passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2007, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after a lengthy illness.

At his request there will be no services. A private memorial will take place this summer in Florida.

Mr. Ellis, formerly of Kansas City, was born in Columbia.

An avid gardener, Mr. Ellis also enjoyed working with animals, fishing, computers, photography, music, interacting with peoples of all nationalities and reading the Bible. "He was a people magnet and made friends quickly and easily. Wherever he went, people walked up and just started talking to him. They were total strangers, but yet they seemed to share some sort of common bond. The kindness and gentleness shown to him by these strangers was an awesome thing to see and something I will never forget," said his aunt, Sue Ellis.

He was a member of, and until his illness was employed by, Kansas City Baptist Temple in Raytown. He took great joy in serving as a youth counselor for the young members of his church and in helping those in need.

He is survived by his grandmother, Elsie Fluff Ellis of Columbia; three aunts, Sue Ellis of Columbia, Ella Thomas of Nokomis, Fla., and Barbara Ellis of Federal Way, Wash.; an uncle, Tom Ellis of Columbia; and several cousins in Federal Way.

Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by his father, Robert Carroll Ellis; and his paternal grandfather, Murray Ellis.