Mary Evelyn Ellis
March 22nd, 2022 byMary Evelyn “Dub” Ellis, 98, of Monticello, Arkansas, daughter of Orville “Pete” Watson and Lucy Ann Taylor Thompson Watson died Friday, March 18.
Born and raised in Collins. Arkansas, Mary was preceded in death by her former husband, Elbert Richard “Buddy” Ellis; son, Carl Wesley ( Linda) of Branson, Missouri; son-in-law, James Joseph “J.J.” (Arlene ) Russell; sister, Roxie Irene (Tommie) Ellis of Monticello and Martha (Leon) Ray; brothers William “Everett” Watson (Bessie) of Lewisville; Newton “Newt” Watson (Maudrie) of Oil City, Louisiana; Kenneth “Dude” Watson (Aileen) of Selma and John H. ‘Buster” Watson of Collins. Brothers-in-law, Hurbert (Thelma) of Springdale; Albert Ellis of Monticello. Also preceding Mary in death were her nieces Kathryn Ellis Adams and Donnie Watson; nephews Eugene Watson, Paul (Wanda) Watson, John Doyle (Dorris) Watson, Mitchell LaVon “Mickey” Ellis, Donnie Ray Ellis; William (Nan) Watson; Ronnie (Ruth) Watson, Dennis Ray Watson. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Mary Teresa Watkins of Los Angeles. Mary’s grandmother, Tempy Ann Taylor Thompson (1862-1945) is buried in Collins Cemetery.
Mary moved to Southern California in 1957 where she was a housewife and later an Electronic Technician for Electronic Memories in El Segundo. After 32 years in Hawthorne and the high desert above Pearblossom where she viewed space shuttle landings from her cabin. Mary lived briefly in Branson and spent her last years in Monticello where she enjoyed gardening.
Mrs. Ellis was a founding member with her husband’s family of the Collin’s Assembly of God Church. Mary was a seamstress, worked at the Drew County Museum and served as a Foster Grandparent at Drew Central Schools in her later years.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Arlene Ellis Russell of Monticello; grandsons, Sean Keven Hogan of San Clemente, California; Joseph D. Russell of Los Angeles; Charles John Russell of Medford, Oregon and granddaughter, Lynne Marie Russell of Monticello; Lydia Ellis Rogers (Mike) of Russellville; great grandchildren Connor Hogan and triplets Cooper, Jack and Kennedy Hogan, all of San Clemente, California; Nicholas Russell of Los Angeles, California and Lilly Rogers of Russellville. Her nieces are Geneva Ellis Dockery of St.Mary’s, Georgia; Ann Davis-Hicks, Sue Terry of Lewisville; Sylvia McGough, Marilyn McDaniel, Star City; Eunice Marie Pierce of Hot Springs. Her nephews are Henry Richard Ellis of Cebu, Philippines; Tommy Ellis of Monticello; Kenneth Watson of Franklin, Ohio.
