Wilma Fay Ellis

Wilma Fay Ellis, daughter of the late James Edward and Lillie Almeda (Mings) Carder, was born April 25, 1940, and departed this life July 25, 2017, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri. She was 77 years, 3 months, and 21 days of age.

Wilma was born and raised north of Mountain Grove. She graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1957. Wilma married Arnold James on May 18, 1958. Two daughters were born to this union. Wilma worked at Brown Shoe Company while raising her family. She married Winnie Ellis in December of 1979, blessing her with three step-children.

Wilma owned and operated China Grove in Mountain Grove since 1984. The restaurant was her passion. She greatly enjoyed her work and her customers. In her spare time, Wilma enjoyed working crossword puzzles and spending time in her yard growing and taking care of her flowers.

Besides her parents, Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Winnie, on August 2, 1989.

She is survived by two daughters, Jeanne Burkhart (Cory) of Ozark, Missouri, and Jo Prichard (Larry) of Mountain Grove, Missouri, two step-sons, Jeff Ellis and Jerel Ellis, one step-daughter, Kim Lauderdale, one brother, Earl Carder (Imogene), three grandchildren, Melissa McClure, Ben Burkhart, and Joel Burkhart, two great-grandchildren, Connor Ross and Zayne Thornton, and many other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly.