ELLIS, ROBERT EUGENE, SR. - age 73 of South Knoxville, passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2012. He had been battling Parkinson's disease for the past 12 years and Dementia for the past 4 years. Robert was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Drafted in to the Army in 1962, Robert was honorably discharged in 1963 and continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1968. He retired from Tennessee Florist Supply after 34 years of servicing TN, KY, NC, and VA with deliveries of flowers. He was an avid golf fan and TN Vol Fan.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, William Crocket and Rosalie Ellis; brothers, Arvel Ellis, Carl (Johnnie) Ellis, Clyde (Marge) Ellis, Donald Ellis, and sister, Bonnie Ellis Ottinger; brother-in-law and sister-in law, Frank and Pat Mary. Survivors include wife of 46 years, Mary Nell Howard Ellis; son and daughter-in-law, Robert E. Ellis, Jr. and Eva Ellis; and daughter, Cindy Ellis; grandchildren, Sophia Rose, Rebeka Maria, and Vanessa Carol Ellis; brother, Jerry Ellis and sister, Barbara Keck; sisters-in-law, Wilma Ellis and Evelyn Payne; in-laws, Bill and Ruth Ann Berrier and Calvin "Buddy" and Jennifer Howard; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 2500 Maryville Pike Knoxville, TN 37920 (865-577-5559) with a funeral service to follow at 7:30 p.m.; Dr. Deron Cobb officiating. Family and friends will meet Wednesday at Mt. Olive Cemetery for an 11:00 a.m. interment service; Rev. Cecil Hale officiating. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.

Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on April 8, 2012


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Parents:
William Crockett Ellis (1899 - 1977)
Rose Lee Ellis (1917 - 1986)

Sibling:
Arvel L Ellis (1922 - 1979)**
Robert Eugene Ellis (1939 - 2012)

*Calculated relationship
**Half-sibling