ELLIS Thomas Cargill Warner Ellis, III ("Tommy"/ "TCW") died of natural causes at his home on Monday, July 28, 2008 at the age of 80. Mr. Ellis was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. He was the son of Ezekiel Parke Ellis and Marguerite Rightor Ellis, and was born in New Orleans on September 17, 1927. Mr. Ellis graduated from New Orleans Academy in 1945. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged. He attended Millsaps College and Tulane University, and graduated from Tulane Law School in 1951. He was a member and president of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was active with Tulane University, president of Tulane Tip Off Club, Green Wave Club, and a lifelong sports fan. Mr. Ellis was a partner in Faris, Ellis, Cutrone and Gilmore, and most recently was of counsel with the Fowler, Rodriguez firm. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Louisiana Bar and practiced law for 57 years in New Orleans, specializing in the fields of maritime and insurance defense law. Mr. Ellis had extensive experience in handling Latin American maritime casualties, and handled personal injury defense, collision and cargo claims in the United States and Latin America, principally Venezuela. He was a member of the New Orleans, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations, the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity. For the past 25 years, Mr. Ellis devoted himself to development and expansion of the campus of the Louise S. McGehee School, where he received an honorary diploma in 1998, and was a life member of the Louise S. McGehee Board of Directors. His civic of interest encompassed the Preservation Resource Center, the Lafayette Square Association, Orleans Neighborhood Centers, United Way and various other organizations. Mr. Ellis was a member of the New Orleans Country Club, the Covington Country Club, the Stratford Club and several Carnival organizations. His greatest interest rested with his beloved family, his host of friends, and with the City of New Orleans. Mr. Ellis is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marcelle deBuys Ellis, and his four children, Laurie Parke Ellis Doyle (John Warren Doyle), Thomas Cargill Warner Ellis IV, Duggan Fowler Ellis (Blesilda "Bessie" Quiniones), and John Cothran Ellis (Anna Burge). He is also survived by his brother, The Hon. Frederick Stephen Ellis (Haydee Lafaye) of Covington and was predeceased by his other brother, Richard Parke Ellis. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Kathleen Duggan Doyle, John Warren Doyle, Jr. (Heather Millican), Patrick Rightor Doyle, Taylor Bronson Doyle, Marcelle Adelaida Ellis, Brenda Marguerite Ellis, Miriam deBuys Ellis and Susan Sledge Ellis. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Ave., on Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. A memorial visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. at church. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery at the Rathbone deBuys tomb. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Louise S. McGehee School, 2342 Prytania St., New Orleans, LA 70130, are preferred. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.
Published in The Times-Picayune from Jul. 30 to Jul. 31, 2008.