Memorial services for Ellis will be held Tuesday, September 13 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marshalltown. He will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation on Monday, September 12 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. For online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph 641-844-1234.

Ellis was born October 12, 1928, at home in Albion, Iowa, a son of Ernest and Goldie (Beeson) Harmon. After graduating from Albion High School, he went on to obtain his degree from Central Iowa Business College. Growing up, he excelled at baseball and played for the semi-professional team, the Marshalltown Ansons.

After meeting the love of his life, Colleen Bachman, they were united in marriage on February 19, 1950, at the Albion Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Albion, where they raised their children and Ellis worked for his father at the Harmon Standard Station. He then went on to work at Dunham Bush for seven years before taking a job with Lennox. They relocated to Plano, Texas, in 1978 where they spent the next 13 years. He retired after dedicating 20+ years to Lennox and the couple moved back to Marshalltown in 1991.

Ellis was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and in his younger years enjoyed playing golf, cards and fishing. More than anything else he enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids. In his own words, he “enjoyed life in general.” Integrity was very important to Ellis; he was trustworthy, loyal and a man of his word. He was also quite the kidder with everyone.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 72 years, Colleen; children: Barb Matney, of Albion, Joan Heinle, of Whiting, and Paul (Cindy) Harmon, of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren: Kelly Anderson, Kim Anderson, Kerensa (JR) Reiss, Stephanie Anderson, Jill (DJ) King, Michael (Jen) Anderson and Ashley (Drew) Gage; 17 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In eternal life, Ellis is reunited with his parents; his siblings: Wendell Harmon and Alice (Ernie) Groff; brother-in-law Bud Lowry and son-in-law Roger Heinle.