Jean Houghton Ellis

Jean Houghton Ellis was born to Marion (Bud) Woodruff and Ione Woodruff in the midwestern town of Bloomington, IL on July 31, 1929. She had a close knit neighborhood and wonderful childhood on Oak Street, She was able to share her upbringing and family relationships with her 2 children, David and Debra as they would spend many summers visiting family. She married Burchell Dale Ellis in 1948 and subsequently moved south to Tuscon, AZ where Dale attended the University of Arizona and Jean established the family with a first born in 1952, David. Then in 1956, a daughter, Debra, would be given to the family. After moving to Phoenix and living there until 1957, they made their way to Odessa, TX where they would raise their children in a wonderful family-oriented neighborhood until 1970. Jean was the administrator for Dale’s new State Farm Insurance agency. The business was exceptionally successful as they built it from the ground up. The agency continues to thrive in Odessa to this day. Jean and Dale would move to Dallas, TX where the State Farm legacy would continue. Allen and Carol Pitts were treasured friends and colleagues in this success. While in Dallas, Jean attended Mountain View Community College for 2 years and loved the learning environment. Her love for reading, learning and sharing her knowledge grew throughout the remainder of her life. Then Jean, Dale and Debra would move to Indiana as they shared their gift of executive influence with the State Farm family. Finally, the journey led to California for Jean and Dale as Agency Director. This would be the final contribution for them to the company. In 1989, the Ellis’ would move to Augusta, GA, home of the Masters Golf Tournament, to be closer to family and Jean would be involved in community affairs to include a major role to advance the care and treatment for the mentally ill through the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). After Dale passed away in 1999, she and Debra moved with her son and daughter in law, David and Judy, to Hawaii and spent 2 years in paradise, close to her beloved Pacific Ocean. In 2002, she would move to San Antonio, TX to live out the remainder of her life. In the final 2 years of her life, she was a beloved resident of the Community Care Center, nursing facility in Hondo, TX. The staff and her daughter, Debra, took excellent care of her for the remaining time in her life. Her most important and passionate belief was centered in her personal relationship with Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was very much looking forward to being with Him for eternity.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Burchell Dale Ellis (deceased June 20, 1999), married November 21, 1948; grandson, Daniel David Ellis, (deceased July 28, 2001); and nephew, Edward Storto.

She is survived by her son, David Dale Ellis of Lufkin, TX; daughter, Debra Jean Ellis of Hondo, TX; granddaughters, Emily Jane Ellis of Colorado Springs, CO and Laura Elizabeth Kelley of Watertown/Fort Drum, NY; great-grandchildren, Daniel Dustin Kelley and Savannah Elizabeth Kelley; brother-in-law and spouse, Tom and Connie Ellis of Farmer City, IL; nieces and nephews, Nancy Graham of AZ, Theresa Montano of NM, George Storto of AZ, Curt Ellis of IL, Christie Jayne of IL and Sharon Land of FL; and Best friend since childhood, Velda Russell of Garden Grove, CA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Concordia Lutheran Church - San Antonio, TX; Daughters of the American Revolution; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; SA Clubhouse Community Mental Health Center, 6851 Citizens Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78221; 210-798-1619