John Ladell Ellis, Sr.

Retired Unites States Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Johnnie Ladell Ellis Sr.

When we look up to the skies we are reminded of the legacy of a hero. 

While proudly serving our country from 1969-1991, Johnnie "John" Ladell Ellis Sr. was always on a watchful mission in the sky: from the Marine that earned his Combat Air Crewman Wings as a helicopter door gunner flying in the skies above enemy fire in Vietnam, to the elite Army Airborne Ranger/Special Forces that earned his Master Parachutist Wings jumping out of aircraft into skies unknown with the 2nd of the 75th out of Ft. Lewis, WA, to the helicopter pilot that earned his Senior Army Aviator Wings flying Huey/Blackhawks out of multiple duty stations and patrolling the skies along the Iron Curtain in Fulda Germany during the Cold War. On Monday, June 17th, 2024 our beloved and decorated hero earned his final and most prestigious wings, his Angel Wings, while surrounded by the love of family, at Lakeland Regional Hospital in Lakeland, Florida. At 72, Ret. CWO3 John Ellis Sr.’s body was worn out and he peacefully flew home to heaven sooner than we expected. While our hearts are still broken, his legacy fills us with fondness. It is a legacy that will live within us as he continues to keep watch as our guardian angel in heaven; seated next to our Lord and Savior.

We will be celebrating the legacy and life of Retired CWO3 Johnnie Ladell Ellis Sr. with honors on January 3rd, 2025 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time, at the American Legion Post 10.  205 Lakeview Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34741

John was a leader.  He sacrificed much to help others, and he welcomed all. He was tough, but he loved with a big heart and a warm spirit. He kept a strong work ethic with high expectations of himself and others.  He lifted everyone up as a master of witty humor, pranks, and shenanigans. A couple times a year he attempted to be a master chef, and he was, by all accounts, the best grill master. Though he always claimed “we don’t want any more pets” he loved and adored all critters, big and small, domestic and wild that we brought home to adopt. He loved the beach, and he loved the mountains.  He was frugal, except at Christmas and Easter. He persevered through many adversities.  He had a drive for adventure and was always ready for the next chapter in the journey of life; seeking neat and historic places to discover and explore (sometimes where we were not supposed to be) and meeting interesting people and life-long friends along the way. And he was no stranger to “Murphy’s Law”.

As the son of a WWII veteran, Johnnie was the fourth child born to Ladell and Myrtle Ellis in Kermit, Texas.  He spent much of his childhood growing up in a simple white house in Odessa, Texas. At 17 he left for California and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. The young blue-eyed teenager with a Texas drawl met a Redwood City California girl from a big family on Oxford Street and it was love at first sight. John married the love of his life, Doris, just prior to being shipped off to war.  From 1970-71 he was the recipient of two Bronze Stars at just 18 years old, but rarely, throughout his life, was he willing to share his stories from his tour; it was a life altering chapter with a life expectancy of 7.6 seconds under fire. 

After finishing his service in the Marines, as a struggling farrier apprentice, John left southern California, with his pregnant wife and infant daughter, and headed back to Odessa, where his son was born, to work in the oil fields with his dad.  John’s drive for travel, adventure, being challenged, and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes took the young family to live along the gulf coast of Mississippi before he re-enlisted in the United States Army. For the next 17 years, with his own “Guardian Angel on his shoulder” John’s military career would take him and his family on numerous adventures and travels all over the US and abroad, calling many places “home”, before he retired at Ft. Carson, Colorado.

 John was never quite satisfied with sitting still, and so he went back to work and then “retired” again a few times, including almost a decade as Chief of Security with Johnny Nolan’s Casino in Cripple Creek, CO, moving to Half Moon Bay, CA to retire on a sailboat, going back to work in San Francisco, retiring back to Colorado, working as a ranch hand in the mountains, and finally retiring once more by diving into the RV lifestyle that lead to his last home in Davenport, Florida.

While John was drawn to flying in the skies in service to our country, he kept his feet firmly grounded in service and dedication to his family.  When not in flight, John was fully engaged in creating memorable family stories, playing and teaching his family how to skip rocks, defend themselves with a drinking straw, shoot, spar, throw a football, repair cars, garden, embrace the suck, build things and break things, dig “booby traps” (that he would inevitably fall into in the middle of the night on camping trips), drive a standard, swim in freezing rivers, forage for wild food, and chase lizards, snakes, badgers, sea creatures, and bigfoot. He was a patient “taxi driver” for active kids and friends. John passed on his appreciation and joy for camping, fishing, 4x4 wheeling, animals, holidays, playing the guitar, traveling, exploring, history, beer, love and forgiveness, experiencing life and trying new things.

John is survived by his soul mate and loving wife of 54 years, Doris (DJ) Ellis, of Florida; his children: daughter, Tiffiney (husband Jason) Upchurch, of Colorado and son, John (wife Mimi) Ellis Jr., of Florida; 6 grandchildren: Matthew (wife Jordan) Brittiney (husband Matt), Thomas, Jordan, Joseph, and Christopher; 6 great-grandchildren: Payton, Bayleigh, Thomas, Mayson, Lainey, and Simon; his big sisters, Jan Topper and Barbara Ellis; and numerous loving in-laws, nieces/nephews, cousins, friends, Shelby the Parrot, and his pup, Tessa. 

He was no doubt greeted in heaven by those who proceeded him: his parents, Dell and Myrtle Ellis, his brother Jerry, who passed as a child prior to John being born, Olive and Theron (Papa) Gertz, in-laws, several near & dear family and family; and all the favorite fur-babies. 

To our beloved husband, dad, grandpa/pop-pop, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and guardian angel we say, “Thank you”, for your service, bravery, perseverance, strength, and philosophical wisdom- as a soldier, protector, hero, adventure seeker and teacher. You have always soared, and you taught us all how to spread our own wings and fly.  Thank you for encouraging us to reach for the sky and find our own mission in life.  We love you. May your soul rest at ease, strong and faithful solider.

Semper Fidelis (Always faithful)

Last of the Foxes

Sua Sponte (Of their own accord)

This We’ll Defend

Rangers Lead the Way

Above the Best

Light, Silent, and Deadly-Masters of the Night

Trust in Me

Allons (Let's Go)

Steadfast and Loyal