Raymond “Dale” Ellis, 78, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, passed from this life on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023. He was a loving husband, father, elder of his church, and guiding light to all.
Dale was born Tuesday, July 25th, 1944, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to Harvey Calvin Ellis and Mary Letha Stout-Ellis. He was the youngest of their six sons, Calvin, Marvin, Ivan, Roy & Glenn. In 1962 he graduated from Sapulpa High School and was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on April 18th, 1965, at the Kellyville pond.
He married the love of his life, Sherry Gail Sweet, on June 25th, 1965, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. They were married for 57 years, 11 months and 13 blissful days. On in other words, 21,166 beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Dale decided Sherry was “the one” the first time he saw her and asked her to marry him on the third date. During their loving union, God blessed them with three children and seven grandchildren. Their house was always full of love, laughter, brethren, and God’s blessings.
Dale and Sherry spent their days raising their children, going to church, and spending time with the brethren. He loved hunting from a young age at Moccasin Bluff and continued throughout his life with his sons, family and friends.
Dale’s life revolved around family and God. He was ordained by his father Bro. Harvey Ellis, Bro. Doyle Combs, Bro. Clinton Smart and Bro. Claude Neely, as an elder alongside Bro. James Morris, Bro, Dewayne Hale, and Bro. Bill Grady in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on August 28th, 1981. Through the years, Dale had the honor of performing many wedding ceremonies for church couples as well as baptizing those that wished to be brought in to the faith.
Dale’s life was rooted deeply in the church and his home and heart were always open to all the brethren. He and Sherry loved having the church young kids in their home. There were times when the house was so full that some even had to sleep under the dining room table when there was not a spare bed or place on the floor to sleep overnight. These were some of Dale’s best memories.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey Calvin and Mary Letha Ellis, his son Michael and his brothers Calvin, Roy, Glenn and Ivan. He is survived by his wife Sherry, daughter Shelley and husband Matt Murray, son Brian, daughter-in-law Sheila (wife of Michael), brother Marvin and grandchildren, Kristen and husband Alex Bledsoe, Ashley and husband Nick Halbroeder, Austin Britton, Carlie Britton, Emily Murray, Jocelyn Murray, Brittany Ellis, Zachary Ellis and Skye Ellis.
