Ethel I. Ellis

Ethel Iola Reid Ellis 82 years, departed this life, January 11, 2026. She was born on August 21, 1943 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to United States Army Corporal Quanah Parker Reid and Wineva Helen Coberly Reid. Ethel was the oldest of five siblings: Richard, Reba, Glen, Clora, and Barbara. Ethel was thirteen years old when her mother died in childbirth. She fell into the caretaking of her siblings. Ethel grew up and attended school in Tucumcari with her siblings.

On January 26, 1961, Ethel married Gene Lyle Ellis whom she had met at a dance in Nara Visa, New Mexico. When they were first married they lived in the Clayton area as Gene worked for area ranches. To this union four children were born, Rodney, Jeff, Starlyn, and Trenton. Ethel delighted in caring for her family. She supported her children throughout their school years in many different activities. Ethel took her kids to their first 4-H rodeo at Hayden, New Mexico. She especially liked holiday celebrations, birthdays, picnics, and having fun with her family. She always made sure everyone in her care was well fed.

Ethel taught herself to cook out of necessity to care for her siblings and as a form of entertainment because she truly enjoyed it. On the ranch her passion for cooking was developed caring for her own family of six and also cooking for the ranch hands. When Gene and Ethel lived at Romero, Ethel drove the bus route for the Channing School, worked as the school librarian, then drove the route home.

At Adrian, she typically cooked for 15-20 ranch hands two meals a day, twice to three times during the year for sixteen years. In between those times she kept a job waiting tables at Fran’s Café while also substitute driving a bus route for the Adrian school.

Ethel was featured in a ranch cookbook “A Taste of Texas Ranching”. She became known among the cowboys for her “peppered steak”. Each of her grandchildren has a favorite recipe that “Nana” cooked and Ethel delighted in making everyone’s favorite dish! In the cookbook she was quoted to say “cooking is in the timing, having the food ready at the right time and cooking things cowboys like to eat.” She would also say “everything just goes better if you’re well fed!”

Ethel was a SERIOUS George Strait fan! She had every album he ever produced! She attended several concerts and collected all the memorabilia! Gene used to tease her about “Georgie Crooked”! Ethel enjoyed numerous arts and crafts, she found great joy tending flowers in her yard. She was very competitive at the TV game show “Jeopardy,” often answering questions much quicker than the contestants did. Ethel can be remembered for her hospitality, always welcoming friends and family.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Quannah and Wineva Reid, her husband Gene Ellis, her sister Reba, sister-in-law La Veta, and a grandson Skylar Reid Ellis.

Ethel will be missed by her son Trent and wife Heather of Red Oak TX, daughter Starlyn Wooten of Gonzales, TX, son Jeff and wife Dawn of Walsenburg, CO, son Rodney and wife Arlene of San Jon NM, brother Richard Reid of Casper, WY, brother Glen and wife Priss of Plano, TX, sister Clora Dodson of KS, sister Barbara Burns of TX. Twelve precious grandchildren, and twenty-two precious great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.

Services will be at Amistad Church, Amistad New Mexico beginning at 11:00, with viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 mountain time on Friday January 16, 2026. Burial will follow at Amistad Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to The Little House on the Prairie at Amistad, in care of Barbara Copeland at 4383 Nara Visa Highway, Nara Visa, New Mexico 88430.