Marie Laura (Krapf) Ellis

Marie Laura Ellis of Poplar Bluff died Friday, July 20, 2012 peacefully at her home after a long illness at the age of 84.

Mrs. Ellis was born Marie Laura Krapf on Sept. 3, 1927 in Glennonville, Mo. Her parents Gospert and Anna Krapf preceded her in death.

Marie attended high school in Glennonville, Mo., where she graduated valedictorian in 1945. She attended college at Mount Carmel, Ky. and later taught school in Glennonville.

On April 22, 1950, she married Fred Ellis, her loving husband of the last 62 years. They made their home in Poplar Bluff, where she attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and served as organist for many years. She loved music, poetry, and gardening and was an avid Cardinal fan.

Mrs. Ellis had six children, Cheri Dellinger and her husband, Ron, of Hilton Head, SC; Michael Ellis and his wife, Janet, of Memphis, Tenn.; Rob Ellis and Shawn Ellis, both of Poplar Bluff; Jay Ellis and his wife, Shelly, of Farmington, Mo.; and Jeanie DuBois and her husband, Doug, of Paducah, Ky.; and.; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; five sisters: Jean Vanderbol, Peg Thacker, Sally Hulsof, Alberta Blume, and Rena Weidenbenner; and a brother, Louis Krapf.

A grandchild, Whitney Ellis, three sisters, Margaret Ribbing, Elizabeth Boyd, and Dorothy Butzen, and two brothers, Edgar Krapf and Joseph Krapf also preceded Mrs. Ellis in death.

A prayer service will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel with visitation following until 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father David Hulsof officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Poplar Bluff.

Memorials should be made to St. Teresa's Catholic Church of Glennonville, Mo., c/o Cotrell Funeral Service, P.O. Box 548, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902.