ETHEL MAY ELLIS

DEXTER -- Ethel May Ellis, 82, of Dexter, formerly of Zalma, died at Lucy Lee Hospital in St. Louis Friday, Jan. 12, 1996.

She was born at Zalma May 8, 1913, daughter of Leo and Feeba Shirrell Davis.

She was married in 1932 to James August Bess, who died in 1956. She married Giles V. Ellis April 11, 1970. He died July 8, 1973.

Survivors are one son, Roy Bess of Hazelwood; two daughters, Violet Scowden of Columbia City, Ind., and Lucille Black of Marietta, Ga.; three stepsons, Elmer Ellis of Huntington, Tenn., Wilburn Ellis of Harrisburg, Ill., and Bobby L. Ellis of St. Petersburg, Fla.; four stepdaughters, Mary Massingill and Odessa Downing, both of Dexter, Maedelle Johnson of Corning, Ark., and Genelle Griggs of Harrisburg; three sisters, Patricia Gardner of St. Charles, Lettie Shell of Sturdivant and Lola Slaughter Waters of Dexter; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Service will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter, with the Rev. Larry Long of Matthews officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park in Advance.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. today.