FUNERAL SERVICES will be held at
Hill and Son Funeral Home in
Appleton City, Missouri on
Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at
11:00 a.m.

The MINISTER will be
Pastor Tony Reynolds.

VISITATION will be held at the funeral home
immediately preceding the service, Tuesday, October 23, 2012 between
10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

INTERMENT will be in
Appleton City Cemetery,
Appleton City, Missouri.

The family suggests MEMORIAL DONATIONS be made to AC Landmarks Restoration.

Helen M. Ellis, 98, Appleton City, Missouri, died Friday, October 19, 2012 at Ellett Memorial Hospital. Helen, the daughter of Ellzie and Rose (Henselman) Smith, was born July 7, 1914.

Helen lived her entire life in the Appleton City area. In 1920 she was baptized and became a member of the North Methodist Church which later became a part of the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Helen's education began at Appleton Center, a one room country school, where she rode her pony to and from school. She also rode her horse to high school, graduating with the class of 1931, the last class to graduate from the high school on Fifth Street before it burned. She attended Warrensburg State Teachers College and taught in rural schools for several years. Her first teaching position was at Appleton Center for $40 per month. She also taught at Osage School and second grade at the Appleton City public school.

August 18, 1940, Helen and C.W. Ellis were united in marriage with Reverend G.A. Moss officiating. They were the parents of two children, Donald Dean and Susan Marie.

Helen and C.W. spent their married life farming until retirement in 1979 when they moved into Appleton City. Farming operations were continued by their daughter and son-in-law, allowing Helen and C.W. to remain involved with the farming operation for another 20 years.

They enjoyed their retirement years traveling, going to Branson and antiquing with friends Edward and Kathleen Kupka. Helen and C.W. had been married nearly 63 years when C.W. died July 16, 2003.

Helen loved the farm, outdoor life and her home. She enjoyed sewing, creating beautiful handwork and flowers, especially her roses. She made excellent pies for her family and always had cookies for the grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, an infant brother, daughter-in-law, Myrlene Ellis, and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Zelpha Ellis.

Surviving are: son Dean Ellis of Springfield; daughter, Susan and husband Robert Rotert of Appleton City; brother-in-law, Wade Ellis and wife, Elsie of Corona Del Mar, California; sister-in-law, Louanna Robinson and husband, Marlin of Wilson, Kansas; four grandchildren, Brian Rotert and wife, Patty of Kansas City, Eric Rotert of Sparta, Wisconsin, Darren Ellis and wife, LaShonda of Springfield, Debra Salmans and husband, Mike of Springfield; and three great-grandchildren, Zachary and Nicholas Rotert and Hope Salmans; nieces and nephew, other relatives and friends.