Bette Ellis

After a decade of declining health with multiple health issues that included Congestive Heart Failure and dementia, Bette Eileen Howell Ellis died peacefully on November 3, 2016. She was 88. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and greatgrandmother.

Bette was born December 3, 1927 in Greenville, Hunt County, Texas, where she spent her childhood. She was the fourth child of six children of the late Mary Goode and Clem Hubert Howell. As a teenager, she moved with her family to Amarillo, where she graduated with honors

in 1945 from Amarillo High School. In 1949 she married World War II veteran and U. S. Army officer, Tom E. Ellis, and resided in Greenville for a few years until they moved to Dallas where they raised their four children and lived the rest of their lives.

Bette worked tirelessly supporting her husband’s election to the office of county clerk both in Hunt County in the early 1950’s as well as in Dallas

County from 1964 until his death in 1976 while in office. Bette also served in various social service organizations, including the

Democratic Party as precinct chairman in her University Park neighborhood, and in the Altar Society at her beloved Christ the King Catholic Church. A talented artist and lifelong learner, Bette studied advanced Christian theology

at several area colleges over the years. For decades she was the primary supporter and caregiver to her mother, the

late Mary Goode Howell. In addition to her mother and her father, she is predeceased by her sisters Mary Ruth Washburn and Virginia Vineyard, and her brothers Franklin and E. David Howell. Bette is survived her four children: B. J. Ellis, Tom Ellis Jr. and his wife Karen; Mary B. Childers, her sons, Chris, father of great-granddaughter, Quinlan, and James, father of great-grandson, Jesse; Matt Ellis, and his wife

Jennifer, their children, Cole and Macy. She is also survived her brother, James Goode Howell and sister-in-law Sherry.

Many thanks to the devoted caregivers of the Abbey Residential Care Home and Seasons Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Vincent dePaul charity or to your

favorite local charity are gratefully appreciated.