William "Bill" Claude Ellis

William C. “Bill” Ellis, 82, a retired brewery manager, passed away at a Fort Worth hospital Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from complications of Acute Myelogenic Leukemia. Bill was born October 4, 1937 in Seymour Texas to Leonard and Eloise Sidwell Ellis.  He spent his life working and enjoyed great success forging many treasured friendships along the way.  He started work at the age of 9 on local farms picking cotton and as a teenager worked in the oil fields.  He then embarked on a long career in the beverage industry in Fort Worth and Memphis Tennessee.  He was plant manager of the Kimbell Beverage Company in Fort Worth for 15 years then joined Miller Brewery where he was a mechanic and supervisor for more than 30 years.  Bill loved his large family, his church, horses and horse racing, and Oklahoma Sooner football.  Bill was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Deer Creek Masonic Lodge #510 in Everman.  He was a man of strong faith and greeted everyone with his favorite Bible verse Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made, We will Rejoice and be Glad in it”.

     Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years Peggy Rotenberry Ellis, his parents, and his brother Dale Ellis.

     Survivors: Wife, Linda Bruce Ellis of Cleburne; daughter Barbara Abel-Clark and husband Dusty of Crowley; son Mike Ellis and wife Jerri of Crowley;   siblings Charles Ellis and wife Judy of Huntsville; Jerry Ellis of Hubbard; Glenda Godbey of Waco; Carol Woerz and husband Ed of Arlington; Ann May and husband Chuck of California; and Melinda Forgue and husband Mark of Weatherford; brother in law Chester Rotenberry of Rio Vista; grandchildren Cassie, Tara, Billy, Bobby, Judy, Kym, Jamey, Brittney, and Courtney; and several great-grandchildren.