Harvey Gowan Ellis

Rev. Harvey Gowan Ellis went to meet his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of September 17, at his home in Clinton.

He was born December 19, 1935, in West, MS, to Richard Bryant Ellis and Frances Adcock Ellis. He graduated from West High School in 1953 and knew what would become his life’s work, surrendering to preach at an early age at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church, Holmes County.

Bro Ellis continued his education at Holmes Community College, 1955; Mississippi College, 1957; and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1959. He pastored small Baptist churches throughout his college and seminary years.

Gowan met the love of his life, Kay Hannaford Davis Ellis, and they were married June 19, 1960, spending 64 years together. A graduate of Blue Mountain College, Mrs. Ellis subsequently taught elementary school and kindergarten in various locations where they lived. She served faithfully alongside her husband and aiding in his ministry as a pastor’s wife.

Mississippi churches where Gowan pastored include Shiloh Baptist, Gore Springs; Calvary Baptist, Sontag; Pleasant Ridge, Chickasaw County; Sherman Baptist, Pontotoc County; Noxapater Baptist, Winston County; and First Baptist Church, Terry. He retired from the full-time pastorate in 1997 at Terry.

However, he continued to serve part time or on an interim basis for fifteen additional years at Calvary; Melrose; and Hebron Baptist churches, all in Yazoo County. Because preaching was his passion, he went wherever he was invited.

He took immense pleasure in planting and tending a garden, sharing generously the fruits of his labor. He also enjoyed quail hunting and collecting old tools, refurbishing any shovel or rake he came across with a new handle. As a life-long learner, he also spent many enjoyable hours reading.

Gowan was pre-deceased by his brother, Richard Bryant Ellis. He is survived by his loving wife Kay and the three children for whom he always modeled a father’s love: Frances Ellis Mitchell (Cliff), Ridgeland; Harvey Gowan Ellis (Sonji), Madison; and Timothy Selwyn Ellis (Holly), Bossier City, LA.

He was a proud grandfather to Lauren Mitchell Wert (Charlie); Owen Timothy Ellis (Danielle); Davis Glen Ellis; Andrew Neal Ellis; Dailee Elise Ellis; Walker Harvey Ellis and bonus grandchildren Shane Mitchell, Catherine Clayton, and Caroline Clayton Stroo. He was also an exuberant great-grandfather to Webb Sansing; Julianne Sansing; and Mitchell Wert.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, September 21, at First Baptist Church, Clinton. Visitation will begin at 10:30 am, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland.

Bro Ellis leaves a legacy of life-long Christian service in the collective memories of friends and former church members who were touched by his ministry.

In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully acknowledge memorials to The Dale Mission or Mississippi Baptist Convention Disaster Relief. The Dale Mission was begun to encourage others through acts of service, reflecting the earthly life of service which Gowan Ellis led.

The Dale Mission
c/o Lee West
129 Executive Dr.
Suite C
Madison, MS  39110

Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Designation Disaster Relief
P.O, Box 530
Jackson, MS 39205-0530

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