Donald Curtis Ellis, 77, of Mount Carmel went home to be with the Lord on Saturday (June 13, 2009) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center unexpectedly. 

He was a lifelong resident of Hawkins County.  He served with the United States Army overseas in Frankfurt, Germany.  He attended Tri-State College in Agnola, Indiana.  Curtis retired from H.T. Spoden Consulting Engineers after 35 years of service.  He was a certified Browning Archery Service Technician.  Mr. Ellis was a member of the Holston Valley Sportsman Club & the Kingsport Archery Club.  Donald was a professional photographer and was an avid outdoorsman & an avid birdwatcher.  Mr. Blair was a former member of Ketron United Methodist Church and became an active & faithful member of Grange Hall United Methodist Church where he taught the Adult Men's Sunday School Class.  His family & his church by far was the most important thing in his life. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Nina Hackler Ellis; a brother, Raymond Lynn Ellis; his brothers-in-law, Earl Bland & Jack Howard Carpenter; a sister-in-law, Mary Wolfe.
Donald Curtis Ellis is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Frances Bland Ellis; a son, Ronnie Ellis and his wife, Pam; a daughter, Rhonda Lynn Morelock and her husband, Terry (both of Church Hill); his grandchildren, Jarrad Morelock, Regina Grace Ellis McGrady, Brandon Morelock and Cassandra Morelock; his siblings, Frances Carpenter, James Earl Ellis and his wife, Janie, Maude Smith and her husband, Homer (all of Kingsport), Rev. E. Lee Ellis and his wife, Evelyn (Kernersville, NC); a "special granddaughter", Brianna Barrett along with a host of loving nieces & loving nephews. 

The family will receive friends beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday (June 15, 2009) at Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill or friends may also call anytime at the residence.  A funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday (June 16, 2009) at 1:30 p.m. at Grange Hall United Methodist Church with Rev. Deborah Collins, Rev. E. Lee Ellis & Jarrad Morelock officiating.  A military graveside service will be conducted by the Hawkins County Color Guard & the TN Army National Guard following the funeral service at Church Hill Memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Brad Morelock, Jimmy Morelock, Brian Morelock, Eugene Bland, R. Wayne Bland, David Bland, Harvey Bland, Bob Fraley, Homer Smith, Fred Calhoun, Marshall Smith, Roger Partin will serve as honorary pallbearers.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grandge Hall United Methodist Church Building Fund, 5373 Carters Valley Road, Church Hill, TN 37642.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.cartertrent.com.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Church Hill is serving the Ellis family.