Ellis Jean Smith

Ellis was born March 11, 1933, in Des Moines, Iowa to Ellis P. and Florence Virginia Smith. He graduated from Des Moines Technical High School in 1951. He attended Iowa State University first and then Missouri School of Mines (Missouri S & T) on ROTC scholarship. He graduated with honors from MSM (MS&T) in 1955 with a degree in Ceramic Engineering.

After completing his service in the US Army, Ellis worked for several steel and refractories companies before returning to Missouri to work for Harbison Walker International in Fulton, MO. In 1961 he married Carolyn Knox and in 1963 they welcomed a daughter, Leslie Smith DeVries. Shortly thereafter the family moved briefly to Cleveland Ohio and returned to Mexico, MO. Ellis joined AP Green Refractories in 1968 and remained in their employ until his retirement in 1998.

During a very active retirement full of world travel and volunteering in professional organizations, Ellis moved to Ankeny, Iowa in 2013 to be closer to his daughter Leslie, late son-in-law David DeVries and granddaughters Julia (Jordan) Sonntag and Maddy (Dan) Ryan as well as step grandchildren Baylie DeVries (Alex Bridger) and Quinn DeVries.

Ellis was well known in ceramic engineering circles, quality control organizations and a longtime and generous donor to his alma mater. He earned Eagle Scout as a youth, was a PE certified professional engineer, wrote and proctored PE exams, worked with the Missouri Quality Awards and was a longtime volunteer and member of the Columbia, MO Parents Without Partners chapter.

Ellis was a member of the MS&T Order of the Golden Shillelagh as well as a member of the Century Club. He donated funds for lab and testing equipment in conjunction with his late wife and endowed the Ellis J Smith Scholarship for Summer Programs for youth attending MS&T STEM camps. The university marked his generosity with an honorary degree which gave him the experience of “walking” for the first time at a graduation ceremony as he had graduated high school midterm and immediately reported to the military after his first degree was conferred in 1955.

Ellis passed away July 29, 2025, surrounded by family. He is preceded in death by his parents and wife Carolyn Knox Smith, son in law David P DeVries and brother-in-law and sister-in-law William L and Joan Knox Bishop. He is survived by his daughter, 4 grandchildren and niece Tanna L Bishop. Memorial donations can be directed to Kavanagh House in Des Moines, IA in recognition of their stellar and comforting hospice care in Ellis’ final days.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Debo Funeral Home in Fulton, MO. Graveside service will follow the visitation with Pastor Bruce Williamson officiating at Callaway Memorial Gardens in Fulton, MO.