Russell Ellis

BahamaDecember 5, 1945- August 14, 2012Russell (Russ) Ellis, 66, lifelong Bahama resident, left this life peacefully on Tuesday, August 14, 2012.Russ was loved, admired and respected by all those who came to know him. Russ graduated from Northern High School in 1964 and was owner of Ellis Landscape, Inc. for forty years. One of his greatest joys in recent years was spending time at his beloved beach house and gigging flounder on his airboat.Surviving are his daughter, Cynthia Ann Ellis; his beloved granddaughter, Taylor Elizabeth Shepherd; son in-law, Ricky Shepherd; mother, Annie Mae Ellis; brothers, Jack Ellis and Roger Ellis and wife, Hazel and nephew, Marty; sisters, Della Ellis Whitfield and husband, Bert and nephew, Kyle; and Virginia Sue Poe and husband, Gerald. Other family members include Elke Hoffmann, Paul Tomlin, and Ashel Nicole Fowler. His father, Dempsey, preceded him in death. The family wishes to thank the staff of Wake Med in Cary for their attention and care for Russ. Burial will take place at 2:00pm, on Friday, August 17th, at a family site on his property at 2122 Ellis Chapel Road, Bahama, NC. If desired, casual attire is acceptable. Friends are welcome afterwards at the home of Paul Tomlin and Elke Hoffmann, 2116 Ellis Chapel Road, which is located along the beautiful Crepe Myrtle path created by his beloved “Uncle Pole”. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made directly to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Wounded Warriors Project, which were causes dear to Russ.