Dorothy Sue Ellis

Dorothy Sue Ellis, 95, died Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Church Street Personal Care Home after residing there the last six and one-half years. She was born in Cherry, Tennessee, on June 9, 1926, to Wesley Ray and Lillie Hopper Ray. She was one of nine children, five sisters and three brothers. She moved to Memphis, Tennessee, at age seventeen to help her sister, Charlotte "Sissy" when she started a family. During that time she met Clarence Ellis at Lamar Terrace before he enlisted in the Navy. She would not accept his marriage proposal for several years, but finally did after he returned from duty in WWII . They were wed in Hernando, Mississippi, on March 9, 1952. Still living in Memphis, they started a family in late 1952 with the birth of Becky, Amy, and Charlie. She was an excellent Mother and stayed home while they were small. They lived in Memphis for several years after she returned to work at Goldsmith's Department store in bookkeeping, then Turner Dairy until a car accident left her recovering in a hospital. She saved all her extra energy for wrestling matches at Ellis Auditorium where she and her brother-in-law, "Unk" Larry Ellis, had ring side seats. After her recovery, they moved as Amy and Charlie were in Junior and High School, to Independence, Mississippi, until they moved to Pontotoc, Mississippi in 1982 for the birth of her first grandchild, Jordan. Throughout her life, she had a deep pride in her home and kept it immaculate like a true southern lady. She loved to cook for her family and host holiday gatherings. She polished her silver several times a year and was always happy to loan it when needed. She had many collectibles but most notably treasured her "Gone With The Wind" pieces. She had lifetime love for her poodles, Muffin and Happy, and later dalmations, Checkers and Dutchess. She was a self taught seamstress and was know to create her own patterns from newspaper pictures. She made weding gowns, leisure suits, formal dresses, and everyday wear. Later she learned to smock and would hand embroidery to create timeless heirlooms for her grandchildren. She loved gardening and kept her back porch beautifully adorned. She was especially fond of her Magnolia tree tree and blackeyed susans. Her later healthy years were filled with trips to visit family or host them when they could make the drive. She and Clarence loved to take a drive and after would end up in Tupelo to eat and spend time at Ballard Park. She had a loving spirit and enjoyed family so very much. She was preceded in death by Clarence, the love of her life before their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary; her parents; three brothers; and three sisters. She is survived by her children, Becky (Jerry) Tutor of New Albany, Amy (Roy) Wooten of Senatobia, and Charlie (Tammy) Ellis of Olive Branch, Mississippi. Her grandchildren, Jordan (Amanda) Tutor, Jared Tutor, Rachel (Luke) Prust, Wiley (Melissa) Wooten, and Amy (Davis) Freeman. Her great-grandchildren, Anna, Jackson, and Jamison Tutor, Hattie Mae Prust, and Katelyn Wooten, and Campbell Freeman. Special friends, Chris and Shelia Roberts of Evansville, Indiana; her sisters, Katherine (Jimmy) Ping of Bryon, Ohio, and Nancy Ray of Troy, Tennessee. Visitation is Sunday, April 24, 11:00 A. M. until 2:00 P. M. at Glenfield Funeral Home in New Albany, with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 P. M. She will be laid to rest with Clarence at West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on April 29th.