Neil Ellis

Roy “Neil” Ellis, 77, peacefully passed away in Arlington, Texas on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025 in the company of his wife after a prolonged journey with dementia.

Neil was born on February 8, 1948 in Houston, Texas. He grew up in Sour Lake, Texas, and graduated from Hardin-Jefferson High School in 1966. He went on to play football at and graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas with a degree in Marketing. He met his wife, Virginia “Gina” (Sharp) Ellis while attending Texas Tech—he and Gina were married for nearly fifty-five years. His business career began at 19, working as a “stock boy” in the Dunlap’s Department Store in Lubbock, Texas, and he rose through the ranks of that company for three decades, eventually becoming Vice-President / Director of Stores for the Dunlap Company at its corporate offices in Fort Worth, Texas. He finished his business career as Vice President and one of three Territorial Managers for CATO Fashions, overseeing several hundred stores during a time of great expansion for the company. Neil served as a deacon and sixth-grade Sunday School director for decades at Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas. He was also a dedicated counselor and director at the Fielder Kids Preteen Camp for 30 summers.

Neil is survived by his wife, Gina, his four children—Christian (Elise), Grace Mitchell (Kent), Andrew (Meredith), and Clayton (Jessica)—and his nephew, Aaron Madeley. Neil was preceded on his journey to heaven by his first daughter, Kathleen Elizabeth, his father, Wylie Williford Ellis, his mother, Royalene (Cox) Ellis, and his sister, Mollye Ann (Ellis) Holzheuser. Neil was grandfather to ten grandchildren: Christian Braden Ellis, Landon Ellis, Ellis Mitchell, Tate Mitchell, Glory Evelyn Mitchell, Karis Mitchell, Andrew Ellis, Hudson Ellis, Oliver Ellis, and Emmaline Ellis.

The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Wade Family Funeral Home, Arlington, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 10am on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Fielder Church, Arlington, Texas with the burial to follow at Moore Memorial Gardens.

For those desiring to honor the life of Neil Ellis, the family kindly asks for donations to be made to the Camp Scholarships Fund for the Preteen Camp at Fielder Church.