Jack Ellert Ellison

Jack was born in Quinlan, Oklahoma on September 6, 1927 was the 2nd of 6 children born to Thomas and Georgette Ellison. He graduated in Dec 1944 from Moorland High School and enlisted in the US Navy on VE Day in 1945. He started boot camp in San Diego on VJ day and completed basic training on November 24, 1945, which was the longest boot camp held by the US Navy. Jack served aboard the USS Albemarle, the ship which carried the 3rd nuclear bomb under “Operation Crossroads”, the first of the open air nuclear bomb experiments in the Pacific and the longest serving ship in US Naval history.

Jack completed his military service in 1947 with an honorable discharge and returned home to northwestern Oklahoma where he soon met the love of his life, Alma Jean Cunningham in Alva, Oklahoma. Jack and Jean were married on March 30, 1952 and had 4 children, Nancy, Tom, David and Dean. Jack was employed as a mechanic, eventually moving to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where he began work as a Field Service Engineer for the Reda Pump Company. In 1962, Jack was transferred to Midland and spent 25 years with Reda Pump, retiring in 1987.

After his retirement, Jack and Jean spent a number of years traveling in their RV throughout the lower 48 states, Alaska and Canada while also volunteering time with different charitable organizations including Meals on Wheels, RSVP and Senior Citizens Services.

After the death of his beloved wife Jean in 1999, Jack continued to work with Senior Citizens and Meals on Wheels. He never really left his mechanic roots as Jack would rebuild older model vehicles for people who had a need for dependable transport. He continued his passion for mechanical work and helping people until the very end.

Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jean, both parents, 1 brother, Johnny Ellison, and 2 sisters, Emilienne Stine and Janet Nutter.

Jack is survived by his 4 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Alberta Stine and Norma Edson, 1 brother, Roger Ellison and over 30 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 6, 2015 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Ellis Funeral Home in Midland. The funeral service will be held on Saturday March 7, 2015 at 11:00AM at Ellis Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial in Midland at 1:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Allison Cancer Center or the Midland Senior Citizens Services.

Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com