Jess E. Ellis was born on June 11, 1925 to the late Jessie and Lillian (Durham) Ellis in Seymour, TX. He served in the Army Air Corps. from 1943 to 1946. He married Barbara Elaine McCommas on July 7, 1946 in El Dorado, KS and they moved to Lubbock in 1948. Jess owned Ellis Plumbing and Heating for 17 years followed by working for Can-Tex Industries as a sales representative before retiring. He was a member of Southcrest Baptist Church where he served in many different capacities including, Sunday school teacher, member of the choir and a deacon.
Jess is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Elaine Ellis; children, Randy Ellis and wife Sandy of Irving, Vicki Kidwell and husband Tom of Lubbock, and Jess Elmer Ellis, Jr. and wife Terry of Fairview; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.