James (Jim) Leonard Ellis, Jr., passed away on November 12th, 2025, at the age of 89. A long-time resident of Daphne, Alabama, he was born in Newark, New Jersey and remained a resident of that state until graduating from Keyport High School in 1954, finishing eighth in his small class of ninety-eight students.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Clyatt Ellis, parents, James L. Sr. and Jayne Marie.
He is survived by one daughter, Cheryl Kathleen (Frank) Barrow; one son, Charles Richard (Patricia) Ellis; three grandchildren, Corey Kathleen (Scott) Kappler, Lauren Margot (Jonathan) Lauer, and Hannah Elizabeth Ellis; four great-grandchildren, Ella Kate Kappler, Caden Scott Kappler, Liam Franklin Lauer, and Eliana Rose Lauer.
Mr. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Saint Louis University. While serving as a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program, he received the Republic Aviation Air Force Award for public speaking. Following graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and assigned to Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, Alabama. After serving three years he left active duty as a Captain and received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
Following his military tour of duty, Mr. Ellis held the position of Engineering Administrator at Gulf States Paper Corporation in Demopolis, Alabama, for three years before assuming the position of Industrial Engineer at Scott Paper Company in Mobile. He progressed to Senior Industrial Engineer then Department Manager. During his career at the Mobile plant, he was an officer in the Mobile Management Association, assisted fund raising for both United Way of Mobile and the YMCA. He subsequently led the effort as a fund raiser for the Allied Arts Council of Mobile. Mr. Ellis was a member of Toastmasters International and served as the president of the Scott Paper Company Toastmasters Club where he received recognition in various speech competitions. He also served as the Chairman of the Baldwin County Junior Miss Program which was named as the most outstanding county pageant by the Alabama Junior Miss Organization during his tenure.
A life-long musician, playing the drums in dance bands during high school and beyond, he later became known as “Mr. Jim” as a professional magician and ventriloquist. He was a member of the Society of American Magicians and in his later years recognized with awards for his skills as a ventriloquist in Senior Contests at the International Ventriloquist Convention held in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, where he also served as Emcee.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 10:30 am from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 10:00 am prior to services. Interment will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.
