Emma Ellis

Emma Ellis, born February 5, 1916, joined her Heavenly Father on August 11, 2013. She was born in Leota, Indiana, attended a one-room schoolhouse, graduated from Scottsburg High School in 1934, and received a teaching certificate from Ball State Teacher's College in 1936. She taught 3 years at Scott County School #9. She married Kennett Ellis on May 22, 1938. He had just finished chiropractic college and had a small practice in Northern Kentucky. "Doc" and Emma moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky in 1940 where they raised their family of six children. Emma taught at Gleneyrie and Finchville Elementary Schools from 1963 until 1970. At that time she became the Executive Director of the Shelby County chapter of the American Red Cross, a position she filled until her retirement in 1989. She was community service-minded and made a place for herself in the hearts of the Shelby County community. Emma was a member of the PTA for 30 years, having served as president more than once. She was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church where she had been active in the church guild and multiple church committees. She was active in the Homemakers Club, the Christian Women's Fellowship, and the Shelby Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star #170. She was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother, a 4-H volunteer, and a member of the Shelby County Multipurpose Committee. Emma was especially moved in 1989 when she was chosen as the Shelbyville Citizen of the Year. She worked the polls whenever Election Day rolled around, into her 90s, and she and "Doc" were faithful in attending church regularly. Emma was an early advocate for the environment: reducing, reusing, and recycling - long before it was politically correct. She advocated for less fortunate citizens. She also loved gardening, canning, quilting, and travel - especially to the beach. She is was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Kennett E. Ellis; her eldest son, Dr. Larry Ellis; her parents, Albert Comer and Lola Shields Comer; her siblings, Gladys Berna, Glen Comer, Grant Comer, Goldie Robbins, Betty Floyd, Mary Woodruff, and Bobby Comer; her foster daughter, Sue Gaines Willard (survived by her husband, Jackie). She is survived by 5 of her children, Marlene Payne (Dr. John) of Berea, Kentucky, James Ellis (Colleen) of Heathrow, Florida, Janelda Ellis (Robert Becker) of Zionsville, Indiana, Kennett Ellis (Chong) of Louisville, Kentucky, and Debbie Ellis (Jeanne Olivas) of Shelbyville, Kentucky; 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild; her sisters, Ruth Hair Johnson of Elkton, Maryland and Berniece Robbins (Akron, Ohio). Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 at the Shannon Funeral Home. Interment services will follow at 4 p.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church and cemetery, near Scottsburg, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the American Red Cross, the Centenary United Methodist Church, Hosparus, or the Shelby County Humane Society.