February 8, 1933 – October 18, 2023
Stella Mae (Wilson) Ells, 90, Westfield, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. She was born on February 8, 1933, to Leslie and Annie Lee (Bailey) Wilson in Lawrence County, Tenn.
Born in Tennessee during the Depression, gardening, canning, and preserving was a necessity for Stella and became a life-long passion. With a large garden, apple trees, and a vineyard, she and Sam took their extra produce to local farmer’s markets to sell. They also had a good eye for antiques. For more than 12 years, Stella owned and ran a drapery shop behind her home.
She gave her life to Christ when she was a teenager. She treasured the Bible, loved prophecy, and taught Sunday School for children and adults. She loved traditional hymns and old southern gospel quartet music. Stella was a member of the Mts. Runn Baptist Church in Zionsville.
Everyone who knew her learned how to love because she was the example of unconditional love for her friends, neighbors, and more importantly, her family. Second only to her love for Christ was her love for family. She lit up when any child or grandchild came into the room, and they had her undivided attention and excitement the entire visit. She made sure her family had food and their needs were met and would share everything she had to provide for the family, even to the last days of her life. She loved hard, worked even harder, and her large family felt her love as if they were the only family member she had.
She is survived by her children, Ron (Clydora) Ells, Dennis (Tammy) Ells, Phyllis (Ralph) Shelton, Randy (Cathy) Ells, Greg (Elizabeth) Ells, and Mary (Tom) Carr; 18 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren (and one on the way); four bonus great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and siblings Mary Lee Wilson, Howard (Gracie) Wilson, Vernell Posey, Ester Faulkner, Jennie Davis, Martha Parker, Marcus (Linda) Wilson, Travis (Sharon) Wilson, Jean Lantvit, and Eloise (Newton) Miller.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Sam; grandson, Matthew; siblings, Almon Wilson, Alice Killen, and Marjorie Wilson; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Mts. Runn Baptist Church, 250 S. 775 East, Zionsville, with Pastor James Bruhn officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to the time of the service at the church. Burial will be at Mts. Runn Cemetery in Zionsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mts. Runn Baptist Church Missions, 250 S. 775 East, Zionsville, IN 46077; or Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (samaritanspurse.org).
Condolences: randallroberts.com