In Loving Memory of James Whitcomb Ellis, IV
May 5, 1949 – March 5, 1998
Ten years . . . seems like only yesterday since James died yet it seems like we’ve been without him forever. Here are some stories that made him the great guy we all knew and loved . . .
• He would meet me in the driveway to caution me that my youngest son had to write yet another note telling me about “showing out” in class. James asked me to please go easy on Zach because “we don’t want to stifle his personality.” Anybody that has known Zach over the years knows that his personality has never been stifled!!!
• Once James made it to Benton on Friday evening, there was no getting him back to Little Rock until Monday morning—Bobbie Reese and I still refer to him as “the Bentonian.”
• He drew pencil mustaches on a picture of the Maintenance crew so they would all look like Cauley!
• He and Cam (I think) hid some men’s boots in a restroom stall and watched Martina, the custodian, keep peeking around the door to see if “the person” had left so she could go in and clean.
• He gave me a 50th wedding anniversary card early because he was afraid he’d be senile by the time we’d been married for 50 years and he’d forget to give it to me. The fact that we were in our 40’s when we married was a pretty good indication we wouldn’t see our Golden anniversary.
I hope you have good memories of James also and would love for you to share them with me if you’d like.
God Bless all of you,
Karen Ellis
Karen,
I remember James working at Wests Dept store in Benton in the 60’s. He sold me a pair of shoes. How’s that for 40 years ago? Long before you knew him I suspect.
Take care,
John
By: John Selby on March 4, 2008
at 6:01 pm
Karen,
I can always remember James helping all of us at the plant…..Thanks for sharing him with us…..
Bobbie
By: Bobbie Hays Reese on March 5, 2008
at 9:46 pm
Hey Karen,
Cam and I always have a stories about James that we share. He was a good friend and I enjoyed working with him.
John
By: John Washington on March 6, 2008
at 9:12 am
Hi Karen,
The thing I remember most about James is how very happy the two of you were together. After reading your comments about him, I can see why you loved him so much. Hang on to those happy memories.
Love you gal,
Jannette
By: Walter and Jannette (Lentz) Lovell on March 6, 2008
at 10:41 pm
I cannot believe it has been 10 years since that dreadful day. He was a wonderful man and I KNOW why you loved him so much. I remember the first time he sent you a dozen red roses and you were stunned…I remember you telling me about him giving you the Golden Anniversary card and how neat that was!
I will always remember “How many electricians does it take to get the bat off the ceiling outside Medical?” Three!! Billy, Cam, and James…seems I remember Billy was carrying the ladder, Cam a cardboard box, then James had to climb the ladder and put the bat in the box. When I asked him why he had to get the bat off the ceiling…his response…low seniority!
As Bobbie said “thanks for sharing him with us.”
Love ya’,
JANIS
By: Janis (Arnold) Galloway on March 13, 2008
at 8:45 pm
James Ellis was one of those guys about whom there truly was nothing but good things to say. I remember the tears in my husband’s eyes as well as my own on that dreadful rainy day. I have that day marked on my calendar every year to thank God for the blessing he was to people I loved. His kindness and the joy he brought have certainly lived long after him.
By: Kathy Rayburn on March 18, 2008
at 6:13 am
I remember him bringing us one of Cauley’s “love” gifts of a cake or something from the Pioneer bake sale. He cautioned that “those old ladies have got cats” to discourage us from eating it goodies I think. Didn’t work!
He was such a neat guy. Loved by so many.
By: Charlotte Shoptaw on April 28, 2008
at 12:04 pm
Hello Karen, sure miss you, and James. I hope you and the kids are doing well. Do you ever hear from any installation people? Thanks Marty Ort
501 680 2727 E-Mail- ort@alcatel-lucent.com
By: Marty Ort on August 30, 2008
at 9:41 pm