Morris L. Ellis

Morris Leslie Ellis, 93, of Lampasas passed away on Monday, October 5, 2020, at Advent Health in Killeen, Texas. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Sneed Funeral Chapel with a visitation an hour prior. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Morris was born on May 30, 1927 in Colorado City, Texas to Homer and Vera Curry Ellis. He was raised during the depression by his maternal grandparents after his father's death in 1930, while his mother was a nurse in Midland, Texas. He later moved to Midland and graduated from Midland High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Marine Corps. Morris was also a 64 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He began working in the oilfields in 1947 in various cities in West Texas and would begin a lifelong career spanning 50 years. He was a drilling engineer for Exxon, Signal Oil and Gas, Arco and Sun Oil Co. He also owned and operated Overseas Consulting Service Inc. which managed and supervised drilling and production worldwide. Morris also owned and operated a drilling rig in Sweden. He was a former owner and operator of M & A Petroleum Inc. and Ranger Drilling and Service Co. Inc in Wyoming. His past board affiliations include chairmanships of M & A Petroleum, Ranger Well Service, Rio Production, Formfill Inc., and the Lampasas County Appraisal District Board. He was also past director for the Lower Colorado River Authority and First State Bank of Central Texas, now Bancorpsouth. Morris was involved in ranching, real estate, construction and leasing of office buildings to the State of Texas. One of his greatest pleasures in Lampasas was that he was instrumental in raising donated money for the construction of the additional 9 holes of golf at the Hancock park golf course. Morris met and married Ann while working overseas in England and they spent over 50 wonderful years together. He enjoyed fishing and hunting which at times included snakes! He also had many good times with friends at poker nights, on the golf course, and the once a month supper club. Most of all he loved his family and his ranch. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Ellis and sister, Marie Moore Hoffman. Morris is survived by his wife, Ann of Lampasas; daughters, Karen (Abel) Turner of Lampasas, Bridget Chapman of Lewisville, Texas; sons, Myron (JoBeth) of Joplin, Missouri, Russell (Gloria) of Lampasas, Gary (Debbie) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; grandchildren, Katy Ann Turner, Janie Tuner, Alexandra Chapman, Ashley Chapman, Marty Ellis, Natasha Ellis, Kayme Steele, Chelsi Leggett, Jeremy Ellis, Tammy Ellis, Wendy Ellis, Dustin Ellis, Wesley Ellis, April Ellis; great-grandchildren, Kylan Leggett, Kagan Leggett, Maverick Steele, Onyx Steele and numerous nieces, nephews and other loving relatives. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to their charity of choice in Morris' name.