Ofney K Ellis

Ofney K. Ellis, born September 2, 1919 to the union of Katie Krause Ellis and Fort Ofney Ellis, passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at the age of 93. He spent his childhood and youth on a strawberry farm ENE of Ponchatoula. After graduating from Ponchatoula High School and spending six months in the Civilian Conservation Corps, he attended Southeastern Louisiana College (now Southeastern) for two years where he was president of the YMCA and Associate Editor of the college newspaper, ""The Lion's Roar"". He also was elected secretary of the Methodist Student Organization during this time. He married Bessie Harris of Ponchatoula in 1939, welcomed his first son into the world, moved to New Orleans, and worked there and in Baton Rouge until he was drafted into the armed services. By this time his wife had given birth to their second son. The fact that he was drafted with that many dependents shows how near the government was to the bottom of available manpower. He was placed in the Army Air Corps, and after training was assigned to the Eighth Air Force in Great Britain where he flew thirty-five missions over heavily fortified Germany and other European targets. During his time in the Army Air Corps, he earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the European Theater Ribbon with four battle stars. After finishing this tour of duty, the order sending him home was on VE Day. He was given many honors in his life, such as when the Baton Rouge Coin Club was reorganized in 1960 and he was elected president. He received several awards for competitive displays in shows put on by the Baton Rouge Coin Club in its ten years of existence. The accomplishments he was most happy to have taken part in were: he helped organize and was the first president of the Winbourne Methodist Church Methodist Men (This was before the Methodist Church joined with the United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church), he helped organize the Baton Rouge District United Methodist Men and was the first elected president, he helped organize and was the fourth president of the Louisiana Conference United Methodist Men. He continued to be active in local, district, and conference United Methodist Men as well as in his local church for the rest of his life. During this time, he was honored with several gifts: life membership in the United Methodist Men, which is selected by the men, Fellow Society of John Wesley (UMM), Charles Goodgame Award (LA Conference UMM), honorary membership in the United Methodist Women. He also received two standing ovations: one given by his local church Winbourne United Methodist congregation and one by the Baton Rouge District Conference. He often said these were the most humbling experiences of his life. Ofney worked at City News Stand Downtown and later retired from Greenoaks Funeral Home. He will be missed dearly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He is survived by two sons, Wayne Ellis (Darla) and Clyde Ellis (Terresa); daughter-in-law, Michele Ellis; grandchildren, Kip Ellis, Eric Ellis, Karen E. Gross (Brad), Rodney Ellis (Dana), David Ellis (Nicole), Micah Ellis (Tonya) and Katie Ellis; step-grandchildren, Robert Briscoe and Chad Sanders (Michelle); great grandchildren, Jackson Ellis, Jacob Ellis, Brett Gross, Cailyn Gross, Rebecca Ellis, Gavin Ellis, Bailey Ellis, Austin Willis; step-great grandchildren Dylan Sanders, Jordan Sanders and Emily Briscoe, and foster great grandchild, Kody Carter. He is preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Mae Harris Ellis; mother, Katie Krause Ellis; father, Fort Ofney Ellis; son, Ofney K. Ellis, Jr., and step-grandson Chris Briscoe. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Sunday, October 14, 2012 from 4pm until 7pm and resume on Monday, October 15, 2012 from 8am until funeral service at 10am. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Please visit www.greenoaksfunerals.com to leave condolences for the family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First United Methodist Church of Denham Springs, 316 Centerville NW, Denham Springs, LA 70726