Mr. Ralph Leonard Ellis, age 78,o f Cleveland, Tennessee, departed this life Tuesday evening, August 5, 2014 at the Chattanooga Hospice Care in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ralph was born March 16, 1936 in Murray Count, Georgia, a son of the late Dellis Lawson and Margaret Mahaley Parrish Ellis. He was also preceded in death by a son Timothy Ellis, a daughter, Teresa Armes, sisters, Aileen Mathis and Winnie Lee Patterson and a brother, Buck Ellis. Ralph will always be remembered for his enthusiasm in life and his exemplary spirit in death. He lived life to its fullest, he was our encourager, and he is deeply missed

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Shirley Grant Ellis of the residence; son, Terry and Peggy Ellis; daughter and son-in-law, Tonya and Chuck Walter all of Cleveland, TN; brothers, Charlie and Mary Ellis, Taft and Brenda Ellis all; sisters, Magalynn and Robert Youell, Joyce Bryant all of Chatsworth, GA; grandchildren, Chanda Daniel, Victoria Wonser, Randy Ellis, Tyler Macaulay, Alexandra Macaulay, Heath Armes, Tessa Armes, Haley Walter and Cody Walter; great-grandchildren, Dixie Mae Wonser, Annabelle Wonser, Landon Wonser and Zaylan Keen; several nieces and nephews.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Ralph Leonard Ellis will be held Friday, August 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with his son, Dr. Terry Ellis and his pastor, Pastor Roger Wagner officiating. He will be laid to rest at the Center Valley United Methodist Church Cemetery in Murray County, Georgia with Jeff Cass, Ronnie Grant, Bobby Kiker, Brandon Combs, Bryan Youell, and Jason Rodgers serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Taft Ellis, Charlie Ellis, Connor Williams, Robert Youell, Tad Walter, Jerry Grant and Rodger Grant. Pastor Bobby Green will be in charge of graveside rites.

The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday and after 1:00 p.m. Friday until the service hour.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Rock of Ages Ministries Bible Fund, P.O. Box 2398, Cleveland, TN, 37320.

Ponders Melrose Chapel, Dalton, GA. 706 226 4002 YOUR SELECTED INDEPENDENT FUNERAL HOME