Judy Ellis

Judy Ellis, 67, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2014, in Covenant Presbyterian church. Pastor John Barach will officiate. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines North in Sulphur. Visitation will be from 4-9 p.m. Sunday at the Hixson-Sulphur Memorial funeral home and from 1-2 p.m. at the church.

Judy retired in 2003 with 34 years of teaching from DeQuincy Elementary School where she was named Teacher of the year for the 1991-92 school year. During those teacher years she was an active member of the teacher honorary sorority Delta Kappa Gamma, Chapter Alpha Gamma. Judy was also a member of the Calcasieu Association of Educators and the Louisiana Association of Educators. She served on local boards, committees, and was President from 1994-1999. She represented LAE many times to the various national conventions. After her retirement she joined the Calcasieu Cameron Retired Teachers Association where again she was active on various boards and committees. She was especially proud to be one of the representatives to the Chamber of Commerce for Education.

Judy was a tremendous homemaker who loved to make crafty items and was a superior cook. Realizing her abilities, she became a member of DeQuincy's Homemakers' Club where she entertained with her annual Valentine's party and used her writing skills to get the annual yearbook printed. Judy was such a tremendous cook that after her retirement from education she decided to combine her writing skills with her recipes by writing the cookbook, "Come and Get It," that was published in 2011.

Judy was such a warm loving person with a contagious smile. She loved to be in on pranks for her friends. She had such a humor that her college roommate said that she often thought Judy should have been a "stand-up" comic. Judy was always there for her family, friends, church, and community.

Judy is survived by her husband, Leonard L. "Butch" Ellis of Sulphur; son, Benjamin Jason Ellis and wife, Sherri of Mannford, Oklahoma; grandsons, Noah and Thomas of Mannford, Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mildred Irene Arnett and father, Raymond Arnett.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Palmer Home for Children, P.O Box 746 Columbus, Miss 39703.