James Edward "Jim" Ellison

1974 - 2025

Life can change in the blink of an eye, but love is eternal.

James Edward "Jim" Ellison, 50 of Canton, Missouri died peacefully with not a worry in the world on Monday, January 13, 2025, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Owner of Ellison Service Lawn Care a family business since 1985, a business that he was proud to take over from his father and work side by side with his children.

Jim was born on February 1, 1974, in Quincy, IL to Francis and Nancy Leeser Ellison. Brother to John (Jerilyn) Ellison of Canton. He attended Lewis County C-1 School and Culver-Stockton College. This provided him with a solid foundation of life skills that helped propel him to a life of service, entrepreneurship, and devotion to his family, church, and community.

Through the years, Jim worked in various roles at Culver-Stockton College, managed the Canton Comfort Inn, and taught at Lewis County C-1 School District and the Canton R-V School District before assuming the role of owner of Ellison Service Lawn Care.

He was truly dedicated to the love of his life, Tammy, who fell in love on the "Hill" at C-SC and were married on June 2, 2001. Jim and Tammy devoted their time, love and support to raising six children to be positive, successful, and wonderful children. Patrick (Kristina) Ellison of Monticello, MO, Isaac, Robert, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Alexander Ellison all of Canton and his special companion dog, Truman.

His passion spanned beyond his work to his family, church and community. Jim served on the board or volunteered for countless committees and organizations where his business experience, leadership, and willingness to volunteer really set the gold standard for others. He was dedicated member and Grand Knight of the St. Patrick Knights of Columbus 2526 and member of the John F. Kennedy Assembly 1446. Jim served on the Lewis County IDA/Port Authority Board, Lewis County Extension Board, Lewis County Food Pantry, Heartland Resources Board, City of Canton Planning & Zoning Board, Canton FFA Alumni Association, Canton Main Street Association, Classic Green tractor club, and Lewis County Central Democratic Committee. In the past he also served the LaGrange Chamber of Commerce and the LaGrange Fire Department.

He was passionately patriotic, a '57 Chevy Belair owner, and had love for John Deere lawn and garden tractors that took his family on many adventures and side excursions. One of Jim's most passionate joys was displaying tractors at Midwest Old Settlers & Threshers Reunion- Mt. Pleasant, IA where he continued to share the love of tractor knowledge with everyone that passed by.

While we lost our most beloved son, brother, husband, dad, many have lost a friend and loved one in him. He has been a rock to many, a master at sarcastic humor and witty timing to others, and even a glorious pain in the neck, to what we are sure is a small select few (because no matter what happened between you in your lives, once you were marked as important to him, he'd be by your side if you needed him). There was so much more to him than Jim or dad, though to us that was his greatest roll - he was also a friend, a coworker and colleague, a cousin, brother, stand-in paternal figure, a handyman, garden designer, the list goes on and on.

He was preceded to heaven by his sister Mary Ellison Norton, grandparents, aunt, cousins, and dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Shrine of St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Patrick, Missouri with Monsignor David Cox presiding. Burial will be in the St. Patrick Cemetery.

A prayer service and rosary will be held Friday, February 7, 2025, at 3:30 PM with visitation from 4 until 8 PM at Arnold's Funeral Home in Canton, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to the Ellison Family Scholarship benefiting students from the Canton

R-V and Lewis County C-1 School Districts.

Pallbearers: John Ellison, Don MacBeth, Tom Stone, Andy Hudnell, Jarrod Phillips and Damon Cackley.

Honorary Pallbearers: Howard Kirchner, Bob Guiliani, Jeff Janney, Bruce Uhlmeyer, Mark Lueckenhoff and Jon Platt.