Joseph Ellis

Joseph Roberts Ellis, 84, of Decatur, IL formerly of Franklin and Gatlinburg, TN died Friday, December 18, 2011 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Cremation will be handled by Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home of Decatur with a private memorial service to be held in Gatlinburg at a later date. Joe was born April 13, 1927 in Knoxville, TN the son of Samuel Laird and Leona Roberts Ellis. He proudly served in the US Navy during WWII. He married Bettie Wininger and later married Deloris Gregory. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Tennessee, he earned his EdD from the University of Texas. After teaching high school in Oak Ridge, TN, Joe became a professor of education at Indiana State University and, later, Northern Illinois University. In his retirement he returned to Tennessee where he spent much of his time managing construction projects on the land he loved near Gatlinburg. Joe traveled extensively and was an active participant in the Parkinson's Foundation and numerous other organizations. He is survived by his sons, Roger S. Ellis, MD of San Francisco, CA and Douglas R. Ellis, MD (Barb) of Latham, IL and grandchildren Susan, Janet and Wesley Ellis all of Latham. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-father Robert Overstreet and his brother Samuel Laird Ellis II. The family would like to thank Imboden Creek Gardens and Imboden Creek Living Center, as well as Dr. McCormack and his staff, for the wonderful care they provided to Joe. They would also like to thank the nurses and doctors of Decatur Memorial Hospital ER and ICU, in particular Dr. Fernandez, for the excellent care and compassion given in Joe's final days. Memorials: Parkinson's Foundation, Imboden Creek Living Center, Donor's choice. "
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