James Henry Ellis Sr., 68, of Forrest, died at 6:19 am, Monday, November 10, 2014 at his residence in Forrest.

A celebration of his life will be at 4 pm, Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with Pastor Daryl Evans officiating.

There will be a visitation one hour prior to services also at the funeral home on Saturday. Cremation rites have been accorded and a private family Inurnment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials contributions may be directed to the family of James Ellis Sr.

James was born March 7, 1946 in Mississippi; a son to James and Georgia (Ellis) Steel. He married Olive Avery on October 3, 1991 in Chicago. She passed away July 25, 2014.

Survivors include four children, Brian Ellis of Bloomington; Victoria Ellis of Detroit, MI; Jamie Ellis and James Ellis Jr, both of Forrest; his mother Georgia Steel-Ellis of Bloomington; two brothers, Nathaniel (Rochelle) Steel and Kenneth (Linda) Steel both of Bloomington; three sisters, Martha (Melvin) Richardson of Clarksdale, MS; Francine (DeWayne) Lewis of Dalton, IL; Clemmie (Demetrious) Pearson of Bloomington; 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his father, one brother and one sister.