Rita "Nana" Ellis

Rita “Nana” Ellis, 71, of Pampa, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023, shortly after ringing in the new year, the day before her birthday. She was determined to see 2022 all the way through and make it to heaven on time to celebrate her birthday with her soulmate, Keldon.

Services will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 6, 2023 at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Jim Sinyard, pastor at Carpenter’s Church, officiating. Entombment will follow at Memory Gardens Mausoleum under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

Rita was born on January 2, 1951 in Pampa to LA and Viola Meathenia. She was raised in Pampa and was a 1968 graduate of Pampa High School. Rita met the love of her life, Keldon Ellis, while in high school. They were married on March 20, 1968 in Pampa. Rita was a homemaker for several years before working for the school district in the cafeteria. She worked in the cafeteria for 22 years until her retirement in 2012.

Rita enjoyed playing the piano in her younger years. Most recently, she liked to watch soap operas and game shows, going out to eat, and being around her family. Rita especially loved being a Nana. She was an excellent baker. Rita was a long-time member of Carpenter’s Church. She volunteered with the Special Olympics for many years. Rita was known for talking to friends for hours and taking hours to get ready, often arriving late. She was incredibly ornery and had a witty sense of humor. Rita would often smack her son and grandson-in-law when she thought they had done something wrong. If she couldn’t do it herself, she would ask someone else to reach over and do it for her. Rita will be deeply missed by all that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, LA and Viola Meathenia; her husband, of 53 years, Keldon Ellis; sister, Mary Coombes; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ernest and Velda Ellis; two brothers-in-law, Roy Taylor and Stephen Ellis; four sisters-in-law, Stacey Stubbs, Alinet Oxley, Ann Hulsey, and Jan Wood; one niece; and five nephews.

Rita is survived by her two children; Debbie Ellis of Pampa and Richard Ellis and wife Stephannie of McLean; two sisters-in-law, Kathy Taylor of Rogers, New Mexico and Marsha Lermon and husband Mike of Houston; seven brothers-in-law, Kedron Ellis of Portland, Oregon, Weldon Ellis and wife Brenda of New Braunfels, David Ellis and wife Olga of Amarillo, Kelly Oxley of Pampa, Eugene Stubbs, Billy Wood of Pampa, and Gordon Hulsey of White Deer; five grandchildren, Kristin Lymburner and husband Phillip, Lyndsey Ellis, Lisa Taylor, Dylan Ellis and wife Shiann, and McKenzie Ellis; seven great-grandchildren and one on the way; nephew, Terry Coombes and wife Sandra; and numerous other relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Texas Panhandle Behavioral and Development Center, 615 W Buckler, Pampa, Texas, 79065 and Carpenter’s Church, P.O. Box 1476, Pampa, Texas, 79066.