Obituary of Davis Merrill Ellis | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Davis M. Ellis, age 83, died July 18 in Grove, Okla. Davis Ellis was born in Gravette, Ark., to Weston and Ida Ellis on March 22, 1941. He married Sharon Ellis on March 15, 1968 in Luxora, Ark. He graduated from Henderson State with a Bachelor of Arts in History and received his Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1963 and served in units including the 1st Armored Division, the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade and the 39th Infantry Brigade. He received numerous awards and decorations including the Expert Infantry Badge and retired in 1991 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. His teaching career spanned several locations including Cassville Missouri and Springfield Missouri. He enjoyed camping and floating at Roaring River State Park. His obsessions in life were military history, Arkansas Razorback sports and basset hounds. He never met a stranger and would happily tell you his or his children’s life story at any time or place. Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Weston Ellis and Ida Davis Ellis; his wife, Sharon Ellis; and his daughter, Toni Ellis. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann Cornelison of El Reno, Okla.; his sons, Brook Ellis and wife, Jessica of Bentonville, Ark., Brian Ellis and wife, Jana of Chesterfield Va.; his brother-in-law, Bud and wife, Susie Shumaker; grandchildren, Peyton Jackson, Creighton and Hunter Cornelison, Jack, Mark, Eli, Charlie, Elizabeth, Annabelle, Weston Ellis; and his great-grandchildren, Cole, Beckham, Ellisyn Jackson, and Charles Liam Cornelison. Pallbearers will be Brian Ellis, Brook Ellis, Creighton Cornelison, Hunter Cornelison, Jack Ellis, and Conner Jackson. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on July 23, 2024 at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs, Ark. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on July 24, 2024 at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Stephens Ministry at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

Published on July 23, 2024