Edwin Charles Ellis

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University of Central Missouri University of Iowa

Edwin Ellis Obituary

Edwin Charles Ellis, 89, of Warrensburg, Mo., died on Tuesday, December 26, 2006, at his home. He was born May 29, 1917, in Iowa City, Iowa, to parents Howard Theodore and Wilhelmina Amelia Louise (Wachs) Ellis. On August 3, 1942, he married Shirley Viola Johnson in Iowa City, Iowa. She preceded him in death on October 30, 2002. Mr. Ellis graduated from Iowa City High School in 1936; received his bachelor's in 1941, master's of Fine Arts in 1947, and his master's of Arts in 1949 at the University of Iowa. He served 30 years as Chairman of the Art Dept. at the University of Central Missouri beginning in 1949. After stepping down as chairman, he was an Instructor in the Art Dept. until his retirement in 1982. He had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in the European Theater. He was a member of the American Legion Post 131, the Missouri Archaeology Society, Friends of the Nelson Art Gallery and was an avid supporter of University of Central Missouri football and basketball. He served for 10 years as Artist in Residence for the National Park Service at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur, Okla. Survivors include two sons, Brian Ellis and wife, Susie, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Jeremy Ellis and wife, Linda, of Sedalia, Mo.; a daughter, Adrienne Smarr and husband, Rex, of Warrensburg; seven grandsons, Ian, Nathan, and Nolan Ellis, Ryan, Darin, Kevin and David Smarr, and one great grandson Ian "Hunter" Ellis. He was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wilbur Ellis in infancy and Robert L. Ellis, and two sisters, Wilma Ellis Fritz and Anna Marie Ellis in infancy. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2006, at the First Christian Church of Warrensburg with Pastor Jerry Basye and Sterling "Mac" McHarg officiating. Burial will be in the Warrensburg Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening 7 to 8 p.m. at the SweeneyPhillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Warrensburg Senior Center, the Edwin C. Ellis Art Scholarship Fund, or the Johnson County Hospice and may be left in care of the funeral home.

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Published by Kansas City Star on Dec. 28, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Edwin Ellis

3 Entries

Bruce Ellis

March 26, 2007

Sorry to hear about your Dad & my Uncle. Just found out today when my son discovered the obituary in the College Alumni news. We are still in Lees Summit if you are every in the area.

Bab Poston

December 28, 2006

Thirty years ago in Warrensburg Missouri... I walked into a back office of the CMSU Art Department on the 3rd floor of Grindstead... nervous and excited about meeting "Mr. Ellis." Here I was a young woman from the sticks of Leadwood Missouri and never even heard of this university until Mr. Postlewait came to Mineral Area College and recruited me a few months earlier. Now I was offering my portfolio for an art scholarship. Through a ton of questions...long pauses and few "Hmmm"s Mr. Ellis stood up and told me that half of my tuition would be paid. With that good news and a solid hand shake... I walked out the door knowing that this man might teach me a few things. Little did I know that Mr. Ellis was going to be a inspirational figure in my life. I took many of his classes... struggled through perfecting my artwork... and loved listening to him critique my work as if it was the Mona Lisa that I had just created. Before some artists graduated from CMSU... the faculty would pick an artwork to be left behind... to hang on the wall. Mr. Ellis picked out one of my figure drawings that I loved. I hated giving it away... but when I knew that he had picked it out...I was honored. He inspired, encouraged and advised with sound wisdom that sustained me throughout the years. My parents loved visiting with him and he loved sharing with them. I enjoyed his letters at Christmas and sometimes during the year...sharing his experiences on his annual trips...and the beautiful work he produced. I saved all of those notes and letters... because I knew I had something special in him. Later on when I came back to finish my Masters... I would go and visit him as he was bowling there on CMSU's campus. He was always good to me. His best advice was when I was about to graduate from CMSU in 1979 and he told me... "... do not go into teaching for the money because there is none... go into it because you love children..." And I did... and I do.

It is truly sad to lose something you love... and yet know exactly where it is... what is our loss is Heaven's gain..

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