1916
Beatrice
2014
Beatrice Arlene Ellis
August 2, 1916 — November 11, 2014
Beatrice Arlene Ellis, lifelong resident of O'Brien, Texas, passed away November 11, 2014, at the Munday Nursing Center. Beatrice was 98. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 15, 2014, at O'Brien Baptist Church in O'Brien with Pastor Bob Cameron officiating. Interment will take place immediately following the services at O'Brien Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes. Visitation is planned for Friday evening, November 14, 2014, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Knox City located at 210 Avenue A.
Beatrice was born August 2, 1916, to Sam and Pearl Sparks Reed, in O'Brien, Texas. Growing up on the family farm, she helped her father with all the farm chores, including plowing their fields with a team of horses. During the early years of the Great Depression, she would also help her mother milk 10 cows each morning before school.
Because of her excellent grades in school, Bea was able to skip the 6th grade. In 1933, she graduated from the 11th grade at O'Brien High School. Since O'Brien's school was not accredited at that time, and her father wanted her to attend college, she repeated the 11th grade in Knox City. In 1934, Bea graduated from Knox City Hight School, where she was a member of the basketball team that played for the state championship in Mesquite, Texas. Bea was chosen as a guard for the all-state team.
In September of 1934, Bea married Grady Ellis in O'Brien. In addition to being a housewife and helping Grady with the farming, she also drove trucks to deliver cottonseed for Northern Star Seed Farm. For several years, Bea and Grady drove a bus route to Eagle Pass, Texas, to pick up and transport Braceros for the cotton harvest. Bea was secretary-treasurer for the O'Brien Cemetery for more than 50 years. She was a member of O'Brien Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Grady Ellis; her daughter, Sammie Murry; son-in-law, Grady Murry; grandson, Reed Murry; and her sister, Floyce Leach.
Bea is survived by one sister, Vondell Reynolds and husband Bill of San Pedro, CA; daughter, Sandra Childress and husband Pleas of Ozona, Texas; one son, David Ellis of O'Brien; daughter-in-law, Donna Murry of Plainview; grandchildren, Dr. Kevin Murry and wife Dr. Nancy Kole of Manhattan, Kansas, Trina Murry of La Porte, Kelly Murry and wife Cindy Cox Murry of Richardson, Martin Childress and wife Vicki of Ozona, Julie Harrison and husband Matt of Boerne; great-grandchildren, Rebecca Murry, Sara Murry Holley and husband Tyler, Jeremy and Courtney Grimes, Madison, Jacob and Seth Childress, Conner and Collin Murry, and Lana and Haley Harrison; two great-great grandchildren, Skyler Murry and Aly Kate Holley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the O'Brien Cemetery, P.O. Box 6, Munday, TX 76371; or Knox County Ageing Center, 107 North Avenue F, Knox City, TX 79529.
Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.
Beatrice was born August 2, 1916, to Sam and Pearl Sparks Reed, in O'Brien, Texas. Growing up on the family farm, she helped her father with all the farm chores, including plowing their fields with a team of horses. During the early years of the Great Depression, she would also help her mother milk 10 cows each morning before school.
Because of her excellent grades in school, Bea was able to skip the 6th grade. In 1933, she graduated from the 11th grade at O'Brien High School. Since O'Brien's school was not accredited at that time, and her father wanted her to attend college, she repeated the 11th grade in Knox City. In 1934, Bea graduated from Knox City Hight School, where she was a member of the basketball team that played for the state championship in Mesquite, Texas. Bea was chosen as a guard for the all-state team.
In September of 1934, Bea married Grady Ellis in O'Brien. In addition to being a housewife and helping Grady with the farming, she also drove trucks to deliver cottonseed for Northern Star Seed Farm. For several years, Bea and Grady drove a bus route to Eagle Pass, Texas, to pick up and transport Braceros for the cotton harvest. Bea was secretary-treasurer for the O'Brien Cemetery for more than 50 years. She was a member of O'Brien Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Grady Ellis; her daughter, Sammie Murry; son-in-law, Grady Murry; grandson, Reed Murry; and her sister, Floyce Leach.
Bea is survived by one sister, Vondell Reynolds and husband Bill of San Pedro, CA; daughter, Sandra Childress and husband Pleas of Ozona, Texas; one son, David Ellis of O'Brien; daughter-in-law, Donna Murry of Plainview; grandchildren, Dr. Kevin Murry and wife Dr. Nancy Kole of Manhattan, Kansas, Trina Murry of La Porte, Kelly Murry and wife Cindy Cox Murry of Richardson, Martin Childress and wife Vicki of Ozona, Julie Harrison and husband Matt of Boerne; great-grandchildren, Rebecca Murry, Sara Murry Holley and husband Tyler, Jeremy and Courtney Grimes, Madison, Jacob and Seth Childress, Conner and Collin Murry, and Lana and Haley Harrison; two great-great grandchildren, Skyler Murry and Aly Kate Holley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the O'Brien Cemetery, P.O. Box 6, Munday, TX 76371; or Knox County Ageing Center, 107 North Avenue F, Knox City, TX 79529.
Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.smithfamilyfh.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Beatrice Arlene Ellis, please visit our flower store.
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