Kelly Martin Ellison was received into the arms of our Lord Jesus at the age 60 at 12:40 a.m. on May 5, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Davenport, Iowa to Martin Maurice Ellison and Zetta Carol Linder Mullanack on Oct. 15, 1964, a beautiful fall day.
Kelly received his Lord and Savior into his life and was baptized in a creek south of Seymour, Missouri by his sister, Pastor Kyla Collins.
Kelly truly loved life. He was a carpenter by trade and took pride in his work. His hobby was building many things, especially bird houses two and three stories tall and beautiful crosses. He enjoyed going to the creek with his family, loved to fish, go camping, gather at the lake on the family property, hunt arrowheads with his sister, Regina and niece, Zetta, go out on the pontoon and sit around the campfire roasting hot dogs.
Family was everything to Kelly, his children and his grandchildren, his mom and dad, his brothers and sisters, and his niece and nephews meant the world to him. Kelly enjoyed being a jokester, a master prankster because it created laughter and that’s what he always wanted to do. He was always in cahoots with his brother, Troy. Sometimes we didn’t think it was funny, but he sure did and laughed it out all the way
Kelly also loved music and going to concerts. I know he enjoyed going to the Bob Seger concert with his son and his momma and the family. He loved to dance, especially with his momma, Zetta; he had a talent of playing the harmonica and singing Amazing Grace.
Kelly married the love of his life, Debra Louise Landry, on March 10, 1989, and they celebrated 45 years together; to this union three children were born, Bradley and Brittany Ellison, Crystal Ellison and Carol and Kirby Ward. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild; his father, Martin Ellison and stepmom, Jackie of Durant, Iowa; his mother, Zetta Mullanack and stepdad, Bob of Seymour; eight brothers and sisters, Joyce and Cody Ice of Houston, Troy Ellison of Houston, Kyla and Tommy Collins of Springfield, Shawanna and Jesse Hanson of Diggins, Regina Cox of Houston, Rhonda and Scott Sanders of Durant, Marty and Karol Ellison of Canton, Illinois and Tracey and Gene Keppy of Durant; as well as aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends that will truly miss him. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur and Jerline Linder and Maurice and Rita Ellison, aunts and cousins.
Kelly was humble, kind and generous; would give his shirt, shoes and socks to any in need. He was not a man of money but always full of generosity. He will be missed by many.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2025, at the funeral chapel with his sister, Pastor Kyla Collins officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool.
