Nadine Craft Ellis' Obituary
Funeral services for Nadine Craft Ellis, 80, of Hornbeck, Louisiana will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Hornbeck with Rev. Jack Bell and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. She departed this life to be with Jesus on Monday, December 7, 2015.
Nadine was born in Anacoco, LA, December 20, 1934, and graduated from Anacoco High School in 1953. Later, she attended Northwestern State College and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She worked for three years at the Leesville Employment Office and then served as a Teacher Aide for grades one through six at the Hornbeck Elementary School. She retired with 20 years of service from the Vernon Parish School District.
Throughout her life, she was active in Baptist churches. As a child she attended the Bible Baptist Church in Hornbeck where she accepted Christ as her personal savior at age 13 and was baptized there. During the 1960’s, Nadine served as Sunday School teacher and worked in Vacation Bible School at the First Southern Baptist Church, Las Vegas, NV. Later, at the First Baptist Church of Hornbeck, LA, she served as Sunday School Teacher in the children’s department of 20 years. She also participated in mission trips to South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. Her favorite Bible verse is Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.”
Nadine enjoyed seeing other areas and travelled to Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, as well as most of the 50 states.
She married Tommy Ellis, May 16, 1953 and they have been life partners ever since.
She was preceded in death by parents, James Arthur Craft and Daisy Ernestine Dixon Craft; and by brother, Denton Verdell Buckley.
She is survived by her husband, Tommy Edward Ellis; son, Victor Lyn Ellis and wife, Deanna of Anacoco, LA; son, Ronald Lane Ellis and wife Jane of Riverside, CA; son, Lance Alan Ellis and wife, Elwin of Hornbeck, LA; sister, Frances Deloris Craft Lewing of Shreveport, LA; brother, Thomas Wayne Buckley and wife, Winnie of Jarrell, Texas; brother, William Clinton Buckley, Jr. and wife, Pat of Anacoco, LA; five grandchildren, Ashton Dowden Ellis and wife, Lauren, Erik Zachary Dowden Ellis and wife, Rebecca; Audrey Nicole Ellis, Leslie Renee Ellis, Megan Rose Ellis; seven grandchildren, Charles Ellis, Teresa Ellis, Elisabeth Ellis, James Ellis, Leo Ellis, John Ellis and Catherine Ellis.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, December 10th from 8:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.
What’s your fondest memory of Nadine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nadine?
Share a story where Nadine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nadine you’ll never forget.
How did Nadine make you smile?