Kathryn "Kitty" Purcell Ellis

Kathryn (Kitty) Purcell Ellis, aged 81, passed away on August 25, 2021 in Kerrville, Texas, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on June 7, 1940 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to William Purcell and Ruth Layman Purcell. She graduated from Harrisonburg High School and continued her education Corpus Christi State University.

Kitty was married to John Montford Ellis (died, February 3, 2005) for over 40 years.  Kitty and Monty met on a blind date at formal dance at Augusta Military Academy, where Monty who was a senior in high school. It must have been love at first sight because it wasn’t long till they

eloped and started their life together. Their oldest, John Edwin was born and shortly followed by his sister, Kathryn Teresa “Terry”. Less than a year later Kirsten “Kiss Kiss” Elizabeth was born. All within three years. How Kitty parented three babies with a husband that only changed one diaper in three years is a question that only she can answer. She lovingly raised her family while working on her Bachelor of Art and volunteering for the National Organization of

Women and the Democratic Party. Kitty was dedicated to her children and was actively involved in their extracurricular activities of swimming and sailing. She drove carpool for North Shore Swim Team and was the support staff for the many years of the sailing that her family enjoyed. When her children were graduating from high school, she went to work to pay for their college educations. She became a landman working under her favorite boss, Jerry Keehan and his sister Judy Schramm. After retiring from land work, she and “Monty” traveled extensively and were “Winter Texans” traveling between Nova Scotia and Texas. When Monty’s health began to fail, they settled in Kerrville, Texas, due to its proximity to the VA hospital.

Kitty is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

She is survived by her sister Sandra Sue Pobloski and brother-in-law, Mark Poblaski, of Spring City, Tennessee; her brother, William (Billy) Purcell and his Wife Patty, her children John E. Ellis; Kathryn Ellis Thomas, her husband Ward H. Thomas, Jr.; and Kirsten Ellis, her husband John Rochford. Surviving grandchildren are John Edwin Ellis, Margaret Ellis, Jill E. Thomas, Richard H. Thomas, and Luke Ellis Thomas.

Kitty will have a Celebration of Life in Corpus Christi, Texas, in November, date to be determined, where her ashes will be spread on Corpus Christi Bay in a similar fashion to that her husband, Monty.

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