John Watson Ellinghausen

John Watson Ellinghausen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Shelly Claxton Ellinghausen, devoted father of Victoria Wells Ellinghausen of Mandeville, and proud stepfather of Robert Claxton (Hannah) and Andrew Claxton, both of Virginia. He is also survived by his sisters, Maria America "Mary" Ellinghausen Bienvenu (David) and Ann Morrow Ellinghausen Ecuyer (Michael), and his brother, Edwin A. Ellinghausen III (Margie), along with countless family members and friends who enriched his life and will cherish his memory always.

Born and raised in New Orleans, John attended Christian Brothers School and De La Salle High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1981, where he was a proud and loyal LSU Tiger and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After earning his Juris Doctorate, John built a distinguished legal career spanning more than four decades, specializing in insurance defense and corporate law. He served as a partner with Kinney & Ellinghausen before establishing The Law Office of John W. Ellinghausen in 2024, where he continued to serve his long-valued clients and organizations with dedication and integrity.

John will be remembered for his sharp wit, generous spirit, and unwavering love for his family. His warmth and humor brought joy to everyone fortunate enough to know him. A lifelong LSU fan, he especially loved tailgating with friends and family before Tiger games—a tradition filled with laughter, good food, and camaraderie that perfectly reflected his zest for life.

He shared with Shelly a great love for Mardi Gras and it was through that shared passion that they met. A founding member of Le Krewe d'État and longtime member of the Krewe of Proteus, John's contributions to carnival leave a legacy of leadership and friendship that will not be forgotten.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin A. Ellinghausen Jr. and America Waguespack Ellinghausen, and by his first wife, Leslie McKinney Ellinghausen, the mother of his daughter, Victoria.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 312 Lafitte St. in Mandeville, on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 12:00PM. A visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10:00AM. A private interment will be held in Metairie Cemetery.

John's larger-than-life personality, laughter, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit LakeLawnMetairie.com