Jerry L. Ellis
COLUMBIA — Jerry L. Ellis of Columbia died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. He was 67.
He was born July 5, 1942, in Columbia to Jerry G. and Helen (McQuitty) Ellis.
He attended Douglass High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball.
Mr. Ellis' son, Tim Ellis, said that his father, a pitcher in high school, was scouted by the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates and offered a trip to spring training in Florida during the early 1960s.
“He was a stellar athlete,” Ellis said.
Instead of following a career in baseball, Mr. Ellis served four years in the Navy. Then he moved to Los Angeles for 15 years before returning to Columbia, Ellis said.
Mr. Ellis worked at the Truman Veterans Hospital.
He liked the outdoors and enjoyed bass fishing.
He was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church.
Mr. Ellis is survived by three sons, Tim Ellis and Jason Ellis of Columbia, and Sherrod Ellis of Fort Worth, Texas; one daughter, Shari Lomax of Raleigh, N.C.; his mother; five brothers, Gerry Ellis and Randy Ellis of Green Bay, Wis., and Billy Freelon, Jerod Ellis and Elmer McQuitty, both of Columbia; four sisters, Rae Marshall, Bonnie Freelon, Tammy Freelon and Ethel McQuitty, all of Columbia; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 204 E. Ash St. Services will follow. Burial will be at Rock Bridge Cemetery.
