Funeral services for Ellis Franklin Sears, 79, of Hanceville will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 13th, 2014 at Cullman Funeral Home Chapel with interment in East Point Cemetery, Revs. Gerald Harper and Hughlen Murphree officiating. He will be laid to rest beside his parents and family members gone before him.
Cullman Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ellis went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, December 10th, 2014. He was a resident of Hanceville Nursing Home. He was born November 8, 1935 to Lewis Franklin Sears and Evia Pointer Sears.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Curtis Sears, Calvin Sears and Monroe Sears and four sisters, Sara Sears, Ruby Sears Miller, Lila Mae Sears Hanson and Mary Nell Sears Chumley.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Freda Huffstutler Sears, one brother, James Rayburn Sears of Columbia, South Carolina, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews; a very special ‘adopted’ son and daughter, Billy and Glenda Chumley and many friends.
Ellis served his country proudly from 1955 until 1965. As Sgt E-6 he served in the artillery as a drill sergeant and crew chief, also teaching classes about our American flag which he very much respected. He also served in several states protecting our country and served two tours in Germany and one year in Korea. He was called to alertness from Texas to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After discharged he worked for Davis International and Daniel International Construction Companies for many years. In 1980 he and Freda worked two years in Norco, Louisiana at an oil refinery. He was a supervisor for Davis International, Freda as a payroll clerk and a stenographer for several different companies on the job site. At age 65 they became foster parents to eight different children which they loved doing. Ellis was an avid bass fisherman and loved bird hunting and deer hunting. He was a member of Garden City Congregational Church which he loved and was pastored by his nephew, Gerald Harper whom he dearly loved.
A very special thanks to Southern Care Hospice and their wonderful nurses and employees and chaplains who were so attentive to him and loving to him, Hanceville Nursing Home office employees, nurses, aides and all who looked after him and loved him as he did them, three special friends, Bill Turner of Prattville, Alabama of many years, Bill Slayton of Philadelphia Mississippi; a special roommate, Gerald Hodges who was his “brother in Christ’ and loved him and looked out for him during his stay at the nursing home.
Visitation will be Friday evening at the funeral home from 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.cullmanfuneralhome.co
