Lyman Ellis Cummings

Ellis was born on September 8, 1939, in Okemah, Oklahoma, to Leola Faye Landers and David Junior Cummings. Ellis was proudly of Creek Indian ancestry as a member of the Muscogee (Mvskoke) Nation. He was raised in Long Beach, California, by his mother Faye, his stepfather William Kanak, and his beloved younger sisters Virginia and Sharon. It was there that he met the love of his life, Carolyn Lea Green when he was 8 years old and she was 5 years old.

Ellis considered it an honor to have served as a United States Navy Seabees from 1956 to 1960. As part of this dedicated group, he contributed to the vital work of building and maintaining the infrastructure that supported our naval and military operations, including in southeast Asia during the early stages leading up to the Vietnam conflict.

As a lifelong Christian, he considered his marriage to Carolyn, on October 1, 1960, at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, to be one of his greatest blessings. They shared 59 wonderful years together until her passing in 2020.

He is survived by his children, Tracy Missett (Mike) of Oceanside and Jeffrey Cummings (Donna) of Vista; and by his beloved grandchildren and great‑grandchildren, who were truly the lights of his life: Kayla (Zero) Virgin and their children, Dresden and Rowan, of Hillsboro, Oregon; McKenna (Mark) Reiner and their child, Cove, of Oceanside; Kendall Heiser of Oceanside; Andrew (Katie) Cummings of Carlsbad; and David Cummings of Vista. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia (Bill) Krames of Temecula, siblings Ingrid Tate, Dale Knapp, Marcus Cummings and Boyd Cummings; along with a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews, in‑laws, their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carol, and sister Sharon Veltz.

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” – John 5:24