Helen Tally Ellis

1925 - 2017

Helen Tally Ellis

Greenville

HELEN TALLY ELLIS, age 91, died November 13, 2016 with family members by her side in Greenville, SC. Born on May 25, 1925 in Goldston, NC to parents Russell and Lilly Tally. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, J.R. (Bob) Ellis, Jr. and siblings Ruth Caudle, Jean Miller and Simon Tally.

She leaves behind her brother Bill Tally (Jane) of Goldston, NC. and eight devoted children: Marilyn Coulon (Mike) of Carrollton, GA; Junius (Lisa) of Nashville; Jane Ellis (Frank Farrar) of Florence, AL; Mark of Greenville, SC; Gregory (Jean) of Pickens, SC; Philip (Denise) of Fountain Inn, SC; Ruth Shaffner (Dick) of Charlotte, NC; Jeffrey (Angie) of Savannah, GA. She nurtured 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, all of whom fondly call her Honey.

Helen met WWII veteran Bob Ellis in 1945 in Norfolk, VA, his hometown, where they married on July 13, 1946 at Central Baptist Church. They promptly moved to Atlanta and started raising a family, mostly in their then rural home in nearby Dunwoody. Relocated in 1974 to Greenville, where Helen began her 30-year career as a kindergarten science teacher primarily at First Baptist Greenville. She also was an avid volunteer gardener and teacher at Roper Mountain Science Center since its opening in 1985. (Please send donations to RMSC Memorial for Helen Ellis, 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, SC 29615.)

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and teacher who, during a rare spare moment, indulged by expanding her large collection of blue willow dinnerware. She will be missed by all who were blessed to know her. A celebration of her life will be held January 14 at 4:00 pm in the chapel of First Baptist Greenville.