Paul Herbert “Herb” Ellis Jr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family Dec. 10, 2015. Herb was born in Iola on Jan. 19, 1941, to Mabel Fackler Ellis and Paul Herbert Ellis Sr. He married Ruth Ottman McGuffin in Denton, Texas, in July 1993.
He graduated from Iola High School in 1959. During his youth, he was an active member of the Prairie Dell 4-H Club, where he proudly raised a champion Black Angus steer. Later, he attended Kansas State and graduated from North Texas State University in 1971. He was the service manager for the Ellis family business, Denton Dodge. He was also a past president for the Denton Jaycees from 1966 to 1967. Herb became an educator, teaching math and coaching basketball at Muenster ISD, Congress Junior High, Denton High School and North Central Texas College.
After retiring, he started his own business fulfilling his passion for woodworking and remodeling homes. Herb had a zest for life and enjoyed traveling all over the U.S. with his wife in their RV, “Gus.” He loved jeeping in the mountains, fly fishing and spending time with their circle of camping friends. Herb was an accomplished chef and loved cooking for family and friends. He was also an avid stamp collector and a longtime member of The American Philatelist Society.
Herb is survived by his wife, Ruth Ottman Ellis, Sanger, Texas; son, Mike Ellis, Glendale, Ariz.; daughter, Janie Bill, Sanger; stepsons, Heath Allen and wife Marcie, Sanger, Justin McGuffin and wife Tiffany, Arlington, Texas, Wayne Hahn and wife Laurie, Leander, Texas, and Matt McGuffin and wife Sonya, Colorado Springs, Colo.; stepdaughter, Jennifer Paddack and husband Jim, Krum, Texas; 11 grandchildren, Brooke Sharver, Hailey and Mason Allen, Finn and Jillian McGuffin, Jacob, Ben and Nathan McGuffin, Zane Paddack and Ryan and Emily Hahn; brother, Steve Ellis and wife Mary Kay, Spring, Texas; nieces, Stephanie Moore and husband Stacey, Spring, Allison Miller and husband Dale, Danville, Calif.; his “adopted” son, Sam Cervantes; two great-nieces and two great-nephews, several cousins and many friends. He will be sorely missed by his beloved lap dogs, Bentley and Rene` Ellis. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive visitors at DeBerry Funeral Directors from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2255 N. Bonnie Brae, Denton, TX 76207. Graveside services will follow at the Sanger Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Richard Hamlin, Kent Rider, Casey Barclay, Josh Reed, Danny Grady and Stacey Moore.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church School, Denton.
Herb Ellis Jr.
