Harry Lee Ellis

Harry Lee Ellis (b. Feb 3, 1933) went home to the Lord October 24, 2025. Harry was a deacon and member of Bethel Baptist Church on Old Chattanooga Pike. During his time there, he drove the church bus for the youth choir. He was the son of the late Samuel Nathan Ellis and Jessie Mae Ellis of Georgetown (Bradley County). His family moved to Georgetown when he was seven years old and lived in Bradley County the rest of his life. He was a retired truck driver with 45 years of driving and at times worked as the company dispatcher. He attended Hopewell Elementary School and was a graduate of Bradley Central High School, class of 1951. He grew up working on a large farm consisting of growing black angus beef cattle and running a dairy. By the time he was 9 years old, he would come from school and go to the fields to work with his Dad and two older brothers either bringing the dairy cows from the pasture or helping with the milking.

In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served two 4 years tours and 4 years ready reserve. After boot camp, he attended the Class "A" teletype school in San Diego, CA which qualified him as a certified teletype operator and Navy mail clerk. His first tour of duty he spent 2 years at the fleet post office in Guam, then he was assigned to the Flagship of the Admiral of the sixth fleet as a teletype operator with top secret clearance and served as assistant communication officer. In between his first and second tours, Harry met and married his wife, Katherine Eaton Ellis on August 4, 1956. During his second tour, he was assigned to the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVA-42 aircraft carrier as mail clerk in charge of the Post Office. While on board he was patrolling the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After this, he was transferred to the fleet post office in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with his wife, and put in charge of the on duty section. During his Navy tours, he crossed the international date line going to Singapore, and went through the Pollywog-Shellback Initiation.

After his Navy service, he returned to Cleveland and started his truck driving career. Between his Navy travels and driving the truck, he traveled through 49 of the 50 states, only missing Alaska. Despite his long work history, his joy and happiness was taking care of his family; like his father before him, his family always came first.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Katherine Eaton Ellis, sisters Laura Bacon (John L.) of Georgetown, Annie Ruth Williams (Lance) of Cleveland, Betty Jean Cofer (Taylor) of Cleveland, brothers William Paul Ellis, Andrew Ellis (Gloria D.) of Cleveland, and Willis Carroll Ellis of Orlando, FL.

He is survived by his daughter Judy Johnson of Cleveland, grandchildren Dustin Nix (Kelsey) of Knoxville and Alexis Johnson Powell (Daniel) of Collegedale. Several nieces and nephews. Also a special friend and helpful care giver whom he loved Dewayne Patty.

Visitation will be held at Companion Funeral Home (2415 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, TN) Saturday, November 1st from 12pm-3pm.

A service will follow at 3pm with Pastor Guinn Green officiating. Burial at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with John Young, Dustin Nix, Dewayne Patty, Charles Patty, Mike Cofer, and D.J. Powell serving as pallbearers.