William Donald Ellis, 87, of Fairfield, TX formerly of Longview, TX, passed away on Wednesday morning, Jan. 17, 2018, at his daughter's home in Fairfield. He was born on Jan. 2, 1931, in Montgomery County, TN to the late William Robert and Alice Gertrude Gower Ellis. He graduated from Coopertown High School in Coopertown, TN with the class of 1949, and attended Freewill Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN and served as a minister his entire life. He married Emma Elizabeth Johnson on Sept. 4, 1953, in Greenville, TN and she preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 2000. Mr. Ellis moved to Fairfield three years ago from Longview. He was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church in Carthage. Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Bobby Ray Ellis; and son, Donald Jewel Ellis.

Survivors include his son, Jonathan David Ellis and wife Cheryl of Winona, TX; daughters, Sheila Elizabeth James of Beaumont, TX, Marla Marie Walker and husband Bob of Cedar Hill, TN, and Wendy Sue Andrews and husband Bill of Fairfield, TX; brothers, Robert Bell Ellis of Coopertown, TN, Mac Welbur Ellis of Pleasant View, TN, Joe Bailey Ellis and wife Jeri of Nashville, TN, and Jewel Ellis and wife Frances of Carthage, TX; sisters, Esterlene Barnett of Chapmansboro, TN, Marjorie June Crutcher and husband Stanley of Coopertown, Evangeline Clinard and husband Walter of Cedar Hill, Mary Dimple Balthrop and husband Clyde of Cedar Hill, and Bonnie Faye Balthrop and husband William of Chapmansboro; 10 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mike Fields and Bro. Shane King officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Heads Cemetery in Roberson County, TN.

Pallbearers are John Ellis, Bob Walker, Wesley Boren, Bill Andrews, Tom Brinkley, and Jewel Ellis.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.