Born at Bertha, Mo., the son of Floyd and Gladys Upshaw Ellis “Whitey” Upshaw,73, passed away April 6 after a short illness.
He was born May 5, 1934, at Bertha, Mo., the son of Floyd and Gladys (Bowman) Upshaw.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, of Ava; daughters Tami Ahrens and husband, Craig, of Sunbury, Iowa, and Kristina Cole and husband, Jeremiah, of Holiday, Fla.; a son Paul Upshaw and wife, Pam, of Albia, Iowa; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and music friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Roy, and a granddaughter, Cheyanne.
Ellis was a member of the Church of the Living God. He loved playing music at church and with the Booger County Bluegrass Band.
As he donated his body to the medical school, there will be no funeral, but a musical memorial will be held on May 19 at the Wagon Wheel Park, Mtn. Grove.
