Ira Luaine Ellis
READFIELD - "Forsake me not when I am old until I have declared Thy Strength and Power".
(Psalms 71:18)
Ira Luaine Ellis went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday Oct. 2, 2024 with his family at his side.
Ira was born in Hitt, Missouri, on June 1, 1932. Named after his father, he was the first of three sons born to his parents, Ira Willis Ellis and Hazel Josephine Alexander Ellis. During childhood he was faced with hardship during the years of the "Great Depression". As a young boy Ira loved to run which later served him well in achieving success when he was awarded a varsity letter as a distance runner in his freshman year of high school in Palatine, Illinois.
It was during a performance as a runner that he acquired the friendship of Jerry Elder who was affiliated with "Young Life", a Christian Organization dedicated to introducing high school athletes to Jesus Christ. During summer break Jerry invited Ira to several weeks of camp and conferencing in Boulder, Colorado, during which time Ira encountered a powerful call to pastoral ministry for Christ, his sojourn for life. Shortly afterwards Ira met Marjorie Louise Homeier, the girl who was to become his wife and helpmate. Ira and Marjorie were married on Aug. 14, 1954, in Palatine, Illinois. Ira and Marjorie had three sons, Mark Wayne Ellis born Dec. 27, 1955, Paul Kevin Ellis born May 4, 1957, and Nathan David Ellis born Nov. 19, 1958.
Ira attended Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina, where he earned his bachelor's degree of Divinity and Northern Baptist Seminary in Northbrook, Illinois, where he earned his Masters Degree in Theology. Following Ordination, he began his ministry on the West Coast serving as pastor at a Baptist Church in Burlington, Washington and at the West Hollywood Baptist Church in West Hollywood, California. Ira also served as Church and Community Studies Director for American Baptist Churches U.S.A.
In December of 1971 Ira and his family moved to Maine after he was offered a position as Kennebec County Cooperative Extension Service Agent with the University of Maine funded by the United States Department of Agriculture a position that Ira held for over 18 years. Ira continued his ministry at this time serving over a dozen American Baptist Churches in Maine on an interim basis and serving full time as Pastor of the Port Clyde Baptist Church until his retirement in 2004. Ira's devotion as an Ordained Baptist Minister serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in ministering to God's children here on earth will always be remembered as we rejoice in his safe passage to be with God.
Ira Luaine Ellis is survived by his wife Marjorie Louise Ellis having been married for over 70 years, his son Mark Ellis and wife LeeAnn of Rome, son Nathan David Ellis of Sun Lakes, Arizona, granddaughter Jessica Coombs and her husband Robert of Thomaston, granddaughter Courtney Grams and her husband Hunter of Phoenix, Arizona, grandson Jerrod Ellis and his wife Vannessa of Seattle, Washington, granddaughter Hannah Burns and her husband Michael of Columbus, Ohio and grandson Adam Ellis and his wife Katie of Norway.
Ira is also survived by eight great grandchildren, Mikayla Cogswell, Gavin Ellis, Haley Ellis, Leila Ellis, Haidyn Ellis, Carter Ellis, Jasmine O'Farrell, Derek O'Farrell and one great great grandchild Emerson Cogswell. Ira was preceded in death by his father Ira Willis Ellis, his mother Hazel Josephine Alexander Ellis, brothers Don and Jim Ellis, his son Paul Kevin Ellis and his grandson Troy Michael Ellis and daughter-in-law Tina Gay Ellis.
"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot. The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reigns also instruct me in the night seasons". (Psalms 16: 5-6)
A celebration of life will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 47 Church Street in Gardiner, Maine at a date and time to be announced.
Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Roberts Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Reverend Ira Ellis may be sent to:
Kennebec Land Trust
P.O. Box 261
331 Main Street
Winthrop, Maine 04364
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