Millerton – James Durwood Ellis, Sr., 84, of Waddington, NY, and Millerton passed away on February 13, 2019, at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY with his three sons at his side.
He was born February 9, 1935, the son of the late Carl and Grace Ellis of Waddington, NY. In July of 1952 ,he married Nora Wing, a marriage that lasted for sixty-four and a half years. Mrs. Ellis passed away on January 26, 2017.
He worked in a milk factory at a very young age and he drove Uke trucks during the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. He later worked for many years at the Wassaic Developmental Center and part time for Rosendale Nursery in Mabbettsville, NY and for Bicron in Canaan, CT. Following his retirement from Wassaic Developmental Center, he worked as a school bus driver in the Millerton and Amenia area and also in Waddington for Laidlaw and Flock.
Jim was a ham radio operator and enjoyed attending ham radio meetings. He was an avid golfer and loved to fish on the St. Lawrence River. He liked to watch D.I.Y shows and spent many hours on his computer. Jim was also a longtime member of the Millerton Gun Club.
Jim is survived by five children; two daughters, Eileen O’Dell and her husband Shawn of Canaan, CT and Jenny Proper and her husband Glenn of Keystone Heights, FL, three sons; James D. Ellis, Jr. of Poughkeepsie, NY, Carl J. Ellis and his wife Nancy of Millerton and Jeffrey E. Ellis and his wife Sandra of Millerton. His grandchildren; Jennifer Koch, Jeffrey E. Ellis II, Kimberly O’Dell, Erin Altemus Jr., Ashleigh Ellis, and Brooke Ellis and four great-grandchildren; his favorite nephew, James W. Graves and his new four-legged friend “Pal”. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by two granddaughters, Krista and Melissa Proper.
There are no calling hours. Graveside services and burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in Waddington, NY in the spring.
