The Going Home Celebration for Callie Mae Ellis, 85, of Chickasha, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel.

Callie Mae (Turnerhill) Ellis was born July 22, 1940 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Edward Turnerhill and Elouis (Johnson) Turnerhill. She went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Chickasha, Oklahoma, surrounded by her loved ones.

She and her siblings were raised by their grandparents Louis and Sarah Turnerhill on a farm in Rush Springs, Oklahoma. While attending Rush Springs High School, she was a Redskin Majorette and crowned the Football Queen. She spent the majority of her life residing in Chickasha.

She began her nursing career at Eventide Nursing Home and then went on to work at Grady Memorial Hospital for the next 36 years. She was adored by her patients, as she assisted in the delivery of many babies within the community, helped in surgeries, and trained new nursing staff. After retiring, she would travel with her daughter Gloria to many parts of the United States.

Callie loved working in her yard and cooking for her family. She enjoyed watching football and NBA games; she was an avid OKC Thunder fan. She also loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her family treasured her dearly and she will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Sarah and Louis Turnerhill, parents Edward and Elouis Tunerhill, sons Kenneth Sterling Ellis, III and Carl Harris, daughter Jackie Ellis, sisters Juanita Brown and Noreen Wills, brother Virgil Turnerhill, aunt Lillian Prince, and uncles James Berry, Emmett Turnerhill, William Turnerhill, and Amos Turnerhill.

Loved ones left to cherish her memory are her common-law husband Laverne Mallard of 63 years; children Ricky C. Ellis of Richmond, California, Tony G. Ellis and wife Tasha of Chickasha, Sheran Ellis Robinson of Oklahoma City, Vernon “Pancho” Ellis and wife Merkeb of Chickasha, Stanley R. Ellis of Berkley, California, and Gloria J. Ellis of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 11 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.

Viewing for Mrs. Ellis will be held on Thursday, March 26th at Ferguson Funeral Home from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.