Annabel Dean Ellis

Annabel Dean Ellis was born July 14, 1924 in Tinsley Kentucky and died at age 90 on March 8 , 2015 in Wilmington North Carolina after a long and full life. She was a generous, loving woman with a quick wit and straightforward style that will be remembered by all. Known as "Mom, Nana, Grandmother, Annabel and sometimes Nanabel," she will be greatly missed. Annabel is survived by her son, Larry Ellis and wife Kay of Murfreesboro, TN; daughter Susan Hance and husband Bill of Wilmington, NC; grandchildren Dena Ellis Oneal (husband Christopher); Kenneth Hance (wife Dena); Brent Hance (wife Amy) and Christy Ellis Pastor (husband Brandon). She so enjoyed her eight great-grandchildren: Sean and Connor Oneal; Austin and Ashlynn Hance; Courtney Hance; and Dean, Christian, and newborn Bella Pastor. Her sister, Billie Jean Bingham of Knoxville, TN was especially dear to her, as were her niece, Beth Bingham Light (husband Ben) and nephews David Bingham and Michael Dean (wife Theresa). Annabel's cousins, Danny Dean, Judy Mills and Becky Rotan were like siblings to her. Her in-laws, Cleo Ellis Jackson, Mickey Ellis Terry, Archie Ellis, and Fred Ellis and the extended Ellis family have been thoughtful and loving to her throughout the years. Annabel grew up in Tinsley Kentucky where everyone was acquainted, attended the same church events, and many made a living in the coal mines. She and a member of that community, William Porter Ellis, created a loving marriage of 45 years, ending with his death. During WWII, she taught elementary school and following the war, helped her husband, along with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, manage a small store and post office while the men went to college. She juggled that work with being a young mother. Eventually, the family moved to Oak Ridge, TN where her husband worked as a health physicist and she worked at home raising two children. Following that assignment, they lived in Atlanta GA for ten years, where she worked in medical records at Emory University Hospital. After leaving Atlanta and with the children grown up and out, Gaithersburg, MD was home to Annabel and Porter Ellis for eight years before retiring to Tennessee. Annabel moved to Wilmington, NC in 2000 to be near family in her later years. Though she was active in different churches through the years, most notably First Christian Church, Oak Ridge TN and First Christian Church, Atlanta, GA, she remained a member of East Jellico Baptist Church in Tinsley Kentucky for eight decades. Loving sweets in all forms, especially chocolate ones, Annabel was an excellent cook and happy homebody. She was also an avid reader, an astute follower of current events, and a staunch defender of her opinions. She absolutely loved the color blue, soft fabrics, and sweet coffee. She absolutely disliked doctor appointments, vegetables, and high pitched music. She and her cat, Holly, were a team, eating and napping on a coordinated schedule. Annabel was predeceased by her husband, William Porter Ellis; parents, Edgar and Myrtle Dean; and brother Charles Dean. A celebration of Annabel's life will take place at Arnett & Steele Funeral Home in Pineville, KY on Saturday March 14. The family will receive visitors from 1 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home just prior to the service at 2:30. Interment will follow the service at the Pineville Cemetery. Donations may be made in her memory to Bell County Council on Literacy, 118 N. 18th St., Middlesboro, KY 40965, (606) 248-4000. Cemetery Details Pineville Memorial Cemetery Pineville, KY 40977 Visitation

MAR 14. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EDT)

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106 South Cherry Street

Pineville, KY 40977

MAR 14. 2:30 PM (EDT)

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106 South Cherry Street

Pineville, KY 40977