Ellis Dale James

Ellis Dale James went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 9, 2020 at Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque after a brief illness. He was fortunate to have his beloved wife of 29 years, Mary, at his side. Ellis was born on August 9th, 1947 in McAlester, Oklahoma. He grew up in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and New Mexico. He attended Grants High School and graduated in Lincoln, Arkansas in 1965.

Ellis served in the United States Army during the Vietnam conflict and was a decorated marksman and Military Policeman. He was stationed at Wildflecken Germany during his overseas deployment. After serving his country, Ellis returned to Lincoln, Arkansas where he opened a nursery. After a tornado destroyed his greenhouses he returned to Grants, NM where he worked as a uranium miner. Ellis and his father ran a welding company, J-weld (formerly Jimmy’s Welding and Radiator), which served the mining industry and later local drilling companies.

A man of many trades, Ellis also owned a local upholstery shop and was employed as a truck driver, welder, and orbital welder over the course of his career. He later became a firearms instructor and maintenance supervisor at a federal corrections facility before retiring in 2013. Ellis enjoyed hunting, fishing, metal fabrication, carpentry, upholstery, gardening, and reading. He was an avid fan of western novels and movies, M.A.S.H., Star Wars, and loved learning about new things. Ellis was a talented wood-working artist and created many beautiful pieces in his shop.

Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Carrah James, and a sister, Reberta James. Survivors include his devoted wife Mary, his daughters Judy (Russel) Thompson, Shannon (Corey) Prater, Donna (Mike) Schork, Jaqueline Alexander, Robin James (husband Dominic Shaffer), and son Robert James.

He is survived by his siblings Rebecca Romine of Hatfield, Arkansas, Jimmy (JoAn) James of Milan, Reba (Mikell) Stowe of Buckley, Washington, and Jay (Jean) James of Clovis, NM. Ellis also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Grants, NM at 11 a.m. the morning of March 6, 2020.