James Clinton (Jim) Ellis III

James Clinton (Jim) Ellis III passed away Saturday, April 23, 2022. Jim was one of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Ellis, Jr. who enjoyed an adventurous childhood filled with horseback riding, go carts, and spending time with the most influential figure in his life, his grandfather and namesake, James Clinton “Jim” Ellis, Sr. He learned to drive at an early age, operating the grain trucks on the family farm.

Jim attended Southern Baptist (now Williams Baptist) College and Arkansas State University before returning to Blytheville to farm alongside his brother, Gary. His passion was Ellis Gin Company, where his engineering mind was constantly challenged. Away from the farm, he was an avid golfer and enjoyed duck hunting at Big Lake, fishing with his father at Kentucky Lake, and waterskiing.

When he was 32, a stroke left him paralyzed on his left side. With resilience and a reliance on the Lord, he learned to walk again and used his engineering mind to move forward with the use of only one hand and limited mobility. He used a cane to walk but often needed his free hand. He fashioned his signature cane using a brass duck head bookend, a sledgehammer handle, and a money clip which allowed him to hook the cane onto his pocket to free his hand. Jim explored new hobbies, including wood working, cooking, videography, and electronics. He served the Lord and used his passion for technology, creating a lending library of sermon series and contemporary Christian music on cassette tape.

In the 80s, Jim sold real estate with Hyde Real Estate, using one of the first bag phones and contributing his talents to the company’s Blytheville Chili Cook-off team. Later, he owned and operated the Sands’ restaurant in Blytheville. Jim’s wife Debbie was amazed that Jim could do anything, even replace appliances with one hand. His children, Joy and Jay, remember their daddy teaching them to cook. His grandchildren, Tiffany and Jeremy, were blessed to have Daddy Jim at all their ballgames, birthday parties, dance recitals, and the birth of his great-grandchildren. His granddaughter Erin’s favorite memories were Easter egg hunts at Daddy Jim and Granny’s. Together, they enjoyed visits and phone calls from their combined five children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his brother and best friend, Mr. Gary Ellis of Blytheville.

He was survived by his wife, Debbie of Blytheville; children, Christen Ellis Payne (Joel) of Union, Ky., Tracy Ellis Burns of Walnut, Miss., Joy Ellis Day (Roger) of Winona, Miss., James Clinton Ellis IV “Jay” of Starkville, Miss.; stepson, Heath Cross (Amber) of Bellevue, Tenn.; grandchildren, Tiffany Payne Thompson (William), Jeremy Payne, Erin Lester (fiance Blake Giles), Eli and Wyatt Burns and Eden and Canaan Cross; great-grandchildren, Oliva, Nora Beth, and Brynn Thompson; sisters, Janie Ellis McCutcheon of Memphis and Cathy Ellis Lee of Bella Vista; and sister-in-love, Juanita Ellis of Blytheville.

A private family service will be held at Bethany Baptist Church with Pastor Gary Hyde officiating. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.