James L. Ellis

Funeral services for James Ellis will be Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Arcadia, Louisiana at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Alabama Cemetery in Arcadia. A visitation will be held Monday, February 8, 2021 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Arcadia from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. James Lois Ellis was born September 15, 1941 in Coushatta, Louisiana to Lois and Elizabeth Gatheright Ellis. He passed away on January 31, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the age of 19, James proudly enlisted in the US Army. He served during the Vietnam War, where he was injured, earning him a Purple Heart. He served as a Sgt. in the 101st airborne. In August of 1968, James married the love of his life, Barbara Christian Ellis. He loved to give Barbara a hard time, and when asked how he was doing, would reply, "I have 5 hungry kids and a mad wife". James loved his children and would be at every one of their sporting events, cheering them on. You could always hear him yelling "you got peanut butter in your whistle ref". He enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, but would get frustrated when they were losing. James had a hot temper, but the biggest heart. He loved to travel. He traveled so much, his truck has 590,000 miles on it, and has friends throughout the United States who will miss him dearly. He never met a stranger and would sit and talk to all. His greatest joy in life was his grandchildren. He adored them more than anything else. He also enjoyed drinking his coffee every morning with his crew at Sharon's Café. James lived his life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by all. James is preceded in death by his parents, Lois and Elizabeth Ellis, sister Carolyn Ellis, and by several brother and sister-in-laws. Left to cherish his memories is his wife of 52 ½ years Barbara Ellis, children Jason Ellis and girlfriend Tanya Lay, Krystal Pearce and husband Marc, Brandon Ellis and girlfriend Amy Neal, Brittani Ellis and boyfriend Mark Grafton, and Michael Ellis and wife Brooke, by grandchildren Trent Ellis, Chandler, Aiden, Ethan, Everly, and Ellis Pearce, Tayler and Christian Ellis, and Kloey and Kohen Ellis, siblings Mabel Huckaby, Kenneth "Slim" Ellis, Robert "Bobby" Ellis, Joseph Ellis, Doris "Jean" Wagar, Susan Robinson, and Barbara Durbin, and by numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends. Honoring James as pallbearers will be Trent Ellis, Chandler Pearce, Aiden Pearce, Ethan Pearce, Mark Grafton, Mikie Pearce, David Pickett, and Timmy" Dean" Mayberry. Honorary pallbearers will be Christian Ellis, Kohen Ellis, and the crew from Sharon's Café. The family would like to say a special thank you to Jennifer Young Ellis for the wonderful nursing care provided during this time.