Tommy Ruth Ellis

Weatherford, TX ---- Tommy Ruth Byrd Ellis (94) died on Saturday, October 22, 2022, in Weatherford, Texas. Tommy was born to Jim and Jewel Byrd on April 26, 1928, in Erath County, Texas, and graduated from Santo High School in 1945.  She studied at Tarleton College (Stephenville, Texas), where she met William (“Bill”) Lee Ellis and they married in El Paso, Texas on August 28, 1948.  Most of her life, Tommy worked as a secretary and homemaker in various cities in New Mexico, Texas, and Missouri.

Tommy truly had a life well lived and well loved. This hard-working farm girl became an elegant, loving, wise, and accomplished woman. Tommy was a faithful Christ follower who loved her Lord Jesus and humbly served and loved others with excellence, grace, and humor.  Tommy was a voracious reader, wonderful cook, seamstress, gardener, antique collector, and storyteller. Her most cherished roles were those of daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, aunt, and friend. Tommy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.  Without doubt, Tommy is in the presence of the Lord.

Tommy was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, Jim and Jewel Byrd, and her brother, Jack Byrd.  She is survived by her son, William Stephen (“Steve”) Ellis, and his wife, Mary Jane (Brownwood, Texas); son, James Stanley (“Stan”) Ellis, and his wife, Margie (Las Cruces, New Mexico); daughter, Janet Carolyn Ellis Irwin, and her husband, Bob (Weatherford, Texas); sister, Jimmy Jo Byrd Montgomery (Stephenville, Texas); brother, Richard Stanley Byrd (Lipan, Texas); eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren

Following a private family burial, a public memorial service will be held at Patillo Baptist Church, located at 4791 FM 2803, Lipan, Texas 76462, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2022. For more information, please visit https://www.patillobaptistchurch.org.

In lieu of flowers, please direct any memorial gifts to Mt. Pisgah Cemetery c/o Ralph Hendrick or to Patillo Baptist Church, both at the above address.