LARNED — Kenneth Eugene Ellis, 61, died Nov. 15 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned. Born Aug. 31, 1949, at Hays, he was the son of Don and Mary Fuller Ellis. A resident of Larned since 1996, moving from Eureka, he was a retired prison guard at Larned Correctional Mental Health facility. In 1978 he married Sheryl Rae Zimmerman at Russell. She survives.

Mr. Ellis was a Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War, receiving the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, FMF Combat Insignia and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was a member of the National Rifle Association.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Robert and Anita Freed of Salem, Conn., and Kenneth Ellis Jr. and Cynthia of Larned; a daughter, Sheryln and Tim Wade of Alma, Okla.; three sisters, Melody Morgan of Ness City, Mary Kay Kauffman of Garden City and Leah Crowley of Kensington; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Ellis, and a sister, Barbara Hoffman.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with Pastor Richard Langlness presiding. Burial will be at the Larned Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Detail. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Beckwith Mortuary, Inc.*

916 Main/P.O. Box 477

Larned, KS 67550

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 18, 2010