Ellis T. Samaha

Ellis T. Samaha, Jr., a resident of Zachary, LA and former resident of Pierre Part and Baton Rouge, LA, passed away peacefully while visiting his wife, Jean Adcock Samaha, at Grace Health and Rehab Center in Slaughter, LA, on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Born on August 6, 1928, in Plaquemine, LA, Ellis initially attended Plaquemine High School where he enjoyed participation as a member of the PHS Boxing Team. Following the family relocation to Baton Rouge in 1942, Ellis went on to graduate from Baton Rouge High School in 1946. It was there that he first met the former Willa Jean Adcock who would eventually become his wife of 65 years. Following high school, Ellis briefly attended SLI (formerly Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning) in Lafayette, LA, known today as UL-Lafayette and then volunteered to join the U.S. Navy during World War II. Being stricken with rheumatic fever and subsequent to his recovery, Ellis was honorably discharged as a Seaman from the U.S. Navy on December 5, 1946. Upon his return to Baton Rouge, Ellis and Jean resumed courtship and thereafter married on November 19, 1949. Ellis had few occupations before making the commitment in 1951 to become a Mason and member of the Bricklayers, Masons,&Plasterers Local Union No. 5 in Baton Rouge, LA. His devotion as a tradesman and his passion to excel would eventually become the cornerstone of his notable construction career. Ellis began as a Mason's Apprentice and quickly became proficient while achieving Journeyman Mason status. Ellis worked at this capacity for some time and eventually became a Masonry Subcontractor who worked for multiple General Contractors including most notably A. Hayes Town, Milton J. Womack, and CB Construction. Adversity struck with the passing of Ellis' father in 1965 and Ellis faced the difficult challenge of assuming his father's role as partner of Ellis' Bar and Lounge on Government Street in Baton Rouge while continuing to pursue his construction career. Concurrent to his participation in the operation of Ellis' Lounge, it was CB Construction who recognized Ellis' mastery of the Mason profession along with his broad general construction knowledge, as he initially was offered a Project Superintendent role before eventually becoming General Superintendent of the firm and moving on in the same capacity to Herlitz Construction Company in 1972. Ellis eventually closed Ellis' Bar&Lounge in 1974 having over twenty plus years of operations and becoming somewhat of a Baton Rouge icon for many locals. Those days are still recounted, as in December 2014, longtime watering hole patrons gathered again to celebrate what would be the 37th Reunion of the establishment's closing. In 1982, after having previously relocated to Belle River, LA, Ellis would further his construction career yet again as partner in S-R Construction Company and continue until his initial retirement in 1987. Though formally retired, Ellis continued with woodworking crafts, performing small carpentry and masonry projects, and assisting family and friends with construction needs. Ellis and Jean would eventually return to the Baton Rouge area becoming residents of Zachary in 1998. Ellis "set up shop" once again while Jean wanted to be closer to their growing family as they entered their Golden Years. Ellis continued with craft making as well as assisting with construction of both of his daughters/sons-in-law's several homes throughout the recent years. He continued with some type of work in progress until his final days. He is survived by his wife, Jean Adcock Samaha; his two daughters: Diane S. Guidry and her husband Donald Guidry, and Cindy S. Ferrara and her husband Peter Ferrara, Jr.; four grandchildren: Brad Thomas Guidry, Ashley Stewart, Alexi Moore, and Kacey Amorello; and six great-grandchildren: Ainsley, Addie and Brogan Stewart, Payne Guidry, Kinley Amorello, and Oliver Moore. He is also survived by his brother, Donald Samaha; and his sisters, Carolyn Dugas and Patricia Schmit. He was preceded in death by his father, Ellis T. Samaha, Sr., and his mother, Myra Marionneaux Samaha. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Sunday, February 15, 2015, from 5 pm until 8 pm, and will resume on Monday at 10am and will continue until religious service at 12 pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, 4045 North St. Serving as Pallbearers will be Brad Thomas Guidry, Jeremy Stewart, Glen Jarrell, James Moore, Nick Amorello, Glynn Samaha, Mark Samaha, Darryl Samaha and Jon Schmit. Honorary Pallbearers will be Hervy Bellard, Joe Guedry, Horace Royal, Pat Flanagan, Jean Dugas, and Brent Jarrell. The Baton Rouge community has truly lost a gentleman who was committed to his wife, family, and friends until his end; to his trade and business efforts; and to his beloved dog Rascal and the LSU Fighting Tigers. His true friends were routinely spoken of with sincere fondness, he always slowed to watch construction progress with distaste for waste and inefficiency, his pets were his confidants, his LSU Tigers could do no wrong, his family was of ultimate importance, and his soulmate, Jean, his Bride forever. Gone Fishin'!