Dorothy E. “Dot” Ellis, 92, Iola, passed away Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at Fountain Villa in Iola.
Dorothy was born March 5, 1920, in Iola, the daughter of Aloysius “Al” and Rose Clara (Zeller) Ketter. She grew up in Iola where she graduated from Iola High School in 1938 and Iola Junior College in 1940.
On April 28, 1941, Dorothy married Altis Lee Ellis, Jr. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. They made their home in Madison, Wis., while Lee served during World War II. They returned to Iola after his honorable discharge from the service, where he was associated with his family in Dodge dealerships, farming and nursing homes. They were also partners in Country Lanes Bowling Alley in Iola. He preceded her in death March 7, 1988.
She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and Altar Society, Sorosis Club, three bridge clubs and had been a sewing leader in 4-H and a former Jaycee Jane. Dorothy enjoyed playing tennis, sewing and decorating.
Survivors are two sons, Altis Lee Ellis, III, married to Ping Ellis of Murietta, Calif., and Thomas E. Ellis of Los Angeles, Calif., and daughter-in-law, Heather A. Ellis, Minot, N.D. Other survivors are her grandchildren, Lasha Dawn Dennis, married to Joseph B. Dennis, May, Texas, Holly Lynn Ellis, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Brad Douglass, married to Keryn Douglass, Mission Viejo, Calif; seven great-grandchildren, Joshua Dennis, married to Sarah Dennis, Shannon Dennis, Jessica Dennis, Caleb Dennis, Caroline Dennis, Kinsey Douglass and Bryce Douglass; one brother, Robert L. Ketter (Ila), Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Lois Ruth Turnbaugh, Granite Bay, Calif., and Anna Mae Frappier (Mike), Waterbury, Conn.; and sisters-in-law, Jean Ketter, Waterford, Mich., and Carol Ketter, Laguna Miguel, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brothers William Eugene Ketter, Richard Joseph Ketter, Charles (Chuck) Edward Ketter and Donald James Ketter and sisters Marie Mildred Myers and Esther Eileen Ketter.
Parish rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. Visitation will follow in the Parish Center.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola.
Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Humboldt.
Memorial choices are St. John’s Catholic Church or American Cancer Society and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Dot Ellis
