Donald R. Ellis, Jr

Mr. Donald Rich Ellis, Jr, 71, died Monday, May 22, 2017, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be Friday, May 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Porter Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 27, at Beersheba Presbyterian Cemetery in Columbus, MS, with Rev. Mike Childs officiating. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Don was born February 18, 1946, in New Orleans, LA. He received his B.A. degree in History and Communication from Washington and Lee University in Virginia. After college he moved to Columbus, MS, and worked for the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, soon becoming the public relations director for the state agency. Later he served as public relations director for New Orleans Theological Seminary. Don and Nancy moved to Louisville in 1979, where he was media specialist at Taylor Machine Works for over 30 years. Don was a member of First United Methodist Church in Louisville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Donald R. Ellis, Sr. and Earline Vaughn Ellis. Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Smith Ellis of Louisville; a daughter, Kadie (Mark) Ellis Conklin of Shelton, CT; a son, Wesley (Lea Ann) Ellis of Forest, MS; two sisters, Jeannine Drucker of Kenner, LA, and Gabie Church of Denham Springs, LA; and four grandchildren--Maggie Ellis, Mallory Ellis, Rory Conklin, and Nate Conklin. Memorials may be made to the Music Department at First United Methodist Church or to the US Hereditary Angio Edema organization (P.O. Box 271561, Littleton, CO 80127).