McBirnie/McBurney Bear Roots
Person Page 21

           

• Birth*: 24 September 1895, Rose Bud, White Co., AR¹
• Marriage*: 5 December 1915, Rose Bud, White Co., AR, Groom=Robert Oldham/Olden Ellis²
• Married Name: 5 December 1915, Ellis
• Census: 1 January 1920, Kentucky Township, White Co., AR, head of household=Robert Oldham/Olden Ellis³
• Census*: 1 April 1930, Clovis, Curry Co., NM, head of household=Robert Oldham/Olden Ellis, daughter=Willie Mae "Billie" Ellis⁴
• Death*: 22 February 1974, Hutchinson, Reno Co., KS,
  The following obituary is probably from a Hutchinson, Kansas newspaper:
  
  Mrs. Robert O. Ellis
       Mrs. Alta Erlene Ellis, 78, RFD 3, died Friday morning at Mennonite Friendship Manor, South Hutchinson after a short illness. She was born Sept. 24, 1895 at Rosebud, Ark., and was married to Robert O. Ellis there Dec. 5, 1915.
       She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Clovis, N. Mex. She was a Hutchinson resident 11 years.
       Survivors include the widower; sons: Carl Edson, of Australia [sic]; Bruce W., RFD 3; daughters: Mrs. Willa [sic] Mae McBirnie, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mrs. Virginia Jones, Denver; brother, Hollis Foreman, Amarillo, Tex.; eight grandchildren.
       Funeral will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, at Steed-Todd Funeral Home, Clovis, N. Mex.; Rev. Walter Hunt. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens, Clovis. Friends may call 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday at Johnson and Sons Chapel.⁵
• Burial*: 26 February 1974, Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens, Clovis, Curry Co., NM^6,7
• Biography*:
       The following information about Alta Erlene (Foreman) Ellis is from Willie Mae (Ellis) McBirnie:
  
       Alta Erlene Foreman was the fifth of seven children. She was sickly most of her life. Her schooling was mostly done at home for the teacher usually lived at her house. She played `Listen to the Mockingbird' on the piano for a big music festival when she was six years old. She and Arvil and Ernest were always singing in music get togethers and were very good.
  
       Alta Foreman was trained to be a teacher, but her health never permitted her to teach. She met Robert Oldham Ellis when he came to work on the Foreman farm and she later married him.
  
       She had black hair that was so long she was able to sit on it. She had hazel eyes. She was 5 ft. 5 in. tall and weighed approximately 135 pounds. Mom remembers that her mother had the first appendectomy in Clovis.
  
       During World War II, Grandma and Grandpa rented out two bedrooms and a small apartment to service men and their wives who were stationed at Clovis Air Base. Most were from small towns, often it was the first time they had ever been away from home. As a result Grandma became a surrogate mother to many of them, teaching the girls how to cook, keep house, take care of babies, etc. She would receive as many as 200 Christmas cards a year from them for years after. They also named babies after her.
  
       Grandma also made beautiful quilts. Every stich was by hand, nothing was machine stitched. She would do special quilts for weddings or anniversaries or children. Sometimes when she worked with her sister on a quilt, she would end up taking out stitches that her sister had done and redoing them because she was a perfectionist. Later Grandma would piece quilts and Aunt Virginia would quilt them for her.
  
       Grandma also canned fruit that grew on trees in her back yard. Her basement was filled with canning jars.
  
       Grandma and Grandpa lived in Phoenix for a short time and Grandma broke her arm in a fall and Dr. Armbruster had to put her arm in a cast. She and Grandpa then moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where Uncle Bruce lived and she died there in a Mennonite rest home of stomach cancer.

• Marriage*: 5 December 1915, Rose Bud, White Co., AR, Groom=Robert Oldham/Olden Ellis²

1. Willie Mae "Billie" Ellis+ b. 15 Sep 1920, d. 20 Apr 1998

Citations:

1. [S515] Birth Certificate, Certificate (used for birth which occurred prior to 1914)
   State of Arkansas
   State Board of Health
   Bureau of Vital Records
   1. PLACE OF BIRTH
   County of: White
   Township: Kentucky
   City: Rosebud [sic]
   2. FULL NAME OF CHILD: Alta Erlene Foreman
   3. Sex: female
   8. Date of Birth: Sept. 24, 1895
   FATHER
   9. Full Name: William Edward Foreman
   10. Residence: Rosebud [sic], Arkansas
   11. Color: White
   12. Father's age: 26 years
   13. Birthplace: Rosebud [sic], Arkansas
   14. Occupation: Farmer
   MOTHER
   18. Full Name: Willie Vashti Pearson
   19. Residence: Rosebud [sic], Arkansas
   20. Color: White
   21. Mother's age: 27 years
   22. Birthplace: Tallapoosa County, Alabama
   23. Occupation: Housewife
   27. Number of children born to this mother up to and including this child: 5 Total number living at the time of this birth (including this child): 4
   I hereby certify that I know the facts of the birth of this child, who was born alive at: 1:00 p.m. on the date above stated (Signed): J. V. Foreman Parent or nearest older relative or other older person having knowledge of the birth.
   (Address): 708 1/2 Merriwether
   Date certificate signed: December 8, 1941. Filed: 12-18, 1941 Register: W. B. Grayson, State Registrar, M. D.
   AFFIDAVIT OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, MIDWIFE, PARENT, NEAREST RELATIVE OR OTHER PERSON HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BIRTH
   STATE OF: New Mexico COUNTY OF: Curry
   The undersigned being first duly sworn on oath, states that information given in the above certificate is true and correct.
   Signature: J. V. Foreman
   Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this 8 day of Dec. 1941
   My Commission Expires 2/7/44
   Sam W. Morgan Notary Public.
   
2. [S388] White County Arkansas Marriage Records, The following is from the front of the front of the marriage record:
   
   Marriage License
   State of Arkansas
   County of
   White
   To Any Person Authorized By Law
   To Solemnize Marriage Greeting:
   You are hereby commanded to solemnize the rite and publish the banns of
   Marriage between Mr. R. O. Ellis
   of Rosebud in the County of White and
   State of Arkansas aged 25 years
   and Miss Alta E. Foreman
   of Rosebud in the County of White and
   State of Arkansas aged 20 years
   according to law and do you officially sign and return this license,
   to the parties herein named.
   Witness my hand and official seal this
   2 day of Dec. 1915
   W. B. Bell
   County Clerk
   Louis T. Bell
   D.C.
   Certificate of Marriage
   State of Arkansas
   County of White. I E. T. Herring, a gospel Minister
   do hereby certify, that on the fifth day of December 1915
   I did duly and according to law as commanded on the foregoing License, solemnize
   the rite and publish the banns of, Matrimony between the parties therein named.
   Witness my hand, this fifth day of December 1915
   My Credentials are recorded in the Recorder's Office
   Faulkner County, Ark. Book 31 Page ___ E. T. Herring,
   Quitman,
   Arkansas
   
   The following is from the back of the front of the marriage record:
   
   Certificate of Record
   State of Arkansas
   County of White I, W H Bell
   Clerk of the County Court of said County certify that the above
   license for and Certificate of the Marriage of Mr. R O Ellis
   and Miss Alta E Foreman was filed in my office on the
   10 day of Dec. 1915 and the same is duly recorded on page
   594 of Book T of Marriage Records.
   Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 10th
   day of December 1915
   W H Bell
   Clerk
   By _________
   D.C.
3. [S502] 1920 U.S. Census, Kentucky Township, White Co., Arkansas Supervisor's Dist. No. 2 Enumeration Dist. No. 172 sheet 6A (219 stamped 5050 and 2356 written in) (Roll: T625 85, Page: 6A ED: 172, Image: 0439)
   farm dwelling visited 99 family visited 99 Ellis, Robert O. head renting male white age 29 married able to read able to write born in Arkansas father born in Arkansas mother born in Tennessee able to speak English farmer general farm emloyer;
   Ellis, Alta female white age 24 married able to read able to write born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas able to speak English no occupation;
   Ellis, Carl E. male white age 1 year ? months single born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas no occupation;
   Ellis, Bruce male white age 7 months single born in Arkansas parents born in Arkansas no occupation.
4. [S503] 1930 U.S. Census.
5. [S509] Death Certificate, Kansas State Department of Health
   Division of Vital Statistics
   Certificate of Death
   DECEASED: Alta Erlene ELLIS
   Sex: Female
   Date of Death: February 22, 1974
   Race: White
   Age Last Birthday: 78
   Date of Birth: Sept. 24, 1895
   County of Death: Reno
   City of Death: South Hutchinson
   Inside City Limits: Yes
   Hospital or Other Institution: Mennonite Friendship Manor Nursing Home
   State of Birth: Arkansas
   Citizen of What Country: U.S.A.
   Married, etc.: Married
   Surviving Spouse: Robert O. Ellis
   Social Security Number: 525-44-0903
   Usual Occupation (even if retired): Housewife
   Kind of Business: Homemaker
   Residence: Kansas, Reno, Hutchinson 67501
   Inside City Limits: No
   Street and Number: R.R. No. 3
   PARENTS
   Father: William Edward Foreman
   Mother: Willie Vashti Pearson
   Informant Name: Bruce W. Ellis, Son
   Mailing Address: Rt. 3 - Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
   CAUSE OF DEATH
   Immediate Cause: Intestinal Obstruction
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: 3 months
   Due to or as a Consequence of: Atherosclerotic Carcinoma of the stomach
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: 6 months
   Due to or as a Consequence of:
   Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death:
   PHYSICIAN
   Attended Deceased from: 15 Jul 63 to 22 Feb 74
   Last Saw Him: 11 Feb 74 Did view body after death
   Death Occurred: 7:30 a.m.
   Certifier Name: J. S. Spitzer, MD
   Signature: J. S. Spitzer, MD
   Date Signed: 23 Feb 74
   Mailing Address: 1100 N. Main Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
   BURIAL
   Cemetery: Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens - Clovis, New Mexico
   Date: February 26, 1974
   Funeral Home: Johnson & Sons, 134 E. Sherman, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501.
6. [S507] Obituary, CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO - ABSTRACTS OF OBITUARIES - EADES-EZELL
   <http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nm/curry/obits/ecnjobit.txt>
   
   Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
   E.C. Shaeffer - <e-mail address>
   February 26, 2001
   
   TO OBTAIN A PHOTOCOPY OF AN OBITUARY, please send a self-addressed, stamped
   envelope along with a check (made out to Ella Michael) for $1.00 for obituaries
   1990 through 2001. For obituaries 1912 through 1989 please send $10.00 for the
   first obituary and $2.00 for each additional obituary. Mail to the Clovis
   Branch Family History Center, 112 W. Yucca, Clovis, NM 88101.
   
   LAST NAME: ELLIS
   FIRST & MIDDLE: ALTA
   TITLE: MRS
   AGE: 79
   DATE OF PUBLICATION: FEBRUARY 24 1974.
7. [S509] Death Certificate.

           

Compilers:
Tom McBirnie and Cathy (McBirnie) Griffin

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Site updated on 24 Feb 2007 at 9:35:49 PM from MCBIRNIE; 111 people