Alton Neal Ellis

Alton Neal Ellis, 86, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2014, at Robin Johnson Hospice House in Dallas.He was son of the late Forrest Pittman Ellis and Ida Angelina Poole Ellis. He was born in Cherokee County, S.C., in the Grassy Pond Community near Gaffney. He was an avid hunter and trout fisherman. He and his wife Thelma owned a mountain home in Celo, NC where they spent many summers. He made bird houses and sold them at the Pineville Flea Market and was known as the "birdhouse man." He was a member of Berea Baptist Church and worked for Duke Power for 37 years where he retired as a foreman. He also was a member of the Mt. Holly Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Hoyle Ellis, Lathan Ellis, Don Ellis, and Darwin Ellis; sisters, Vera Goullette, Mary Sue Wells, Phyrnia Ruppe. Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 65 years, Thelma Douglas Ellis, and daughters, Dianne Ellis of Belmont, NC, Pat Turner and husband Lee of Clover, SC; brother, Raymond Ellis of Denison, TX and sister, Annette Childers of Gaffney, SC. and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Berea Baptist Church with Dr. Rick Ivey officiating.

Interment will follow the service in Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening at Carothers Funeral Home in Stanley, from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, it was Neal's wish that memorials be made to Berea Baptist Church, 2522 Hickory Grove Road, Gastonia, NC 28056.