Mr. Joseph Hunt Ellis of Troy, Mo., passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in Colorado. He was 86.He was born on Sept. 5, 1923 in Haviland, Kan., to Roy Bird and Elsie (Hunt) Ellis. Joseph was blessed to have five siblings: Charles, Esther, Clyde, Roy and Emogene.During his high school years, he met his soulmate, Laura Belle G. Flynn. The rest is history. They were married five years later on July 16, 1941 in Colorado Springs. To this union were born five children: Joene, Larry, Linda, Jim and Mark. The Ellis children fondly remember the summers spent on their ranch in northern Colorado.Their parents played special hymns right before bedtime when the children were young. They have special memories of their childhood. Their father was a very hard worker and had worked for Ward Transport Co. for 18 years and then for the Colowyo Coal Co. in Meeker. During these years he also raised cattle and was a rancher and a real estate developer. As you can see, he was very creative a conscientious man who took good care of his family. The family also enjoyed boating on Lake Powell in Utah with their parents. Joseph also liked to deer hunt and golf when he was younger.He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Larry Joseph Ellis; his two brothers, Clyde Ellis and Roy Logan Ellis; and his sister, Emogene Nash.He is survived by his beloved wife, Laura Ellis of Troy; his four children, Joene Thomas of Troy, Mo., Linda Clark of Arvada, Jim (Laura) Binns Ellis of Troy, Mo., and Mark Ellis of Canon City; his brother, Charles (Margaret) Ellis of Phoenix, Ariz., and sister, Esther Bohl of DeBeque; his 13 wonderful grandchildren, Dan and Jeanine Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Lawrence Thomas, Matthew and Amber Clark, J.J. and Josh Slate, Kathy Ellis, Becky Ellis, Elizabeth and James Jefferson, Jessica and Joseph Geer, Mark Ellis Jr. Valarie Ellis, Jacob Ellis and Charles Ellis; 13 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.Funeral service to be held on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 2 p.m. from the McCoy-Blossom Funeral Home, 1304 Boone St., Troy, MO 63379, (636) 528-8244.Rev. Richard Rhea will be officiating. Interment to follow in the Troy City Cemetery. Troy, MO. Serving as pallbearers are all his grandsons, Dan Thomas, Larry Thomas. Matthew Clark, Joseph Geer, James Jefferson, Joshua Slate and honorary pallbearer, Joseph Thomas. Visitation to be held on Thursday from 1-2 p.m. at the McCoy-Blossom Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Troy, MO. Memorials may he made to the First Baptist Church Bldg. Fund, c/o the funeral home. Family and friends may sign the on-line guest registry at: http://www.mccoyblossomfh.com