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Ilene Rector Loftis Ellis 		
1914 - 2009

Ilene Rector Loftis Ellis, 95, of Columbus, Miss., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at The Arrington of Plantation Pointe in Columbus.

Visitation was held Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, from 5-7 p.m. at Lowndes Funeral Home in Columbus. Funeral Services will be held Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at 2 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbus, with Rev. Andy Pearson officiating. Her body will lie in state at the church from 1-2 p.m., one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Memorial Gardens in Columbus, with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Ellis was born Sept. 3, 1914, in Lamar County, Ala., to the late Steve and Laura Dowdle Rector and was a resident of Columbus for the past 65 years, having moved from Childersburg, Ala. She retired from United Technology (Bosch) as an assembler after 25 years of service. Mrs. Ellis was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbus.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a loyal fan of the Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Mrs. Ellis bowled for many years in a league in Columbus and was honored by the Mississippi State Women's Bowling Association for her years of participation in her league. Mrs. Ellis loved to garden and fish. She cherished her family and will be remembered for her laughter and her sense of humor, as well as for her delicious fried pies and preserves.

Mrs. Ellis is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Janice Lollar Loftis of Brentwood, Tenn., and by one sister, Betty Jean Holley of Columbus, and one brother, Alton (Deloise) Rector of Vernon, Ala. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Pam Baker of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Susanne (George) Hicks of Nashville, Tenn., and Audrey (Steve) Frist of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; seven great-grandchildren, Ashley Baker, Megan Baker and Randle Baker, all of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Thomas Ervin Hicks of Nashville, Tenn., and Jacob Frist, Gabriel Frist and Noah Frist, all of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; one great-great-granddaughter, Madeline McGee of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Ellis is preceded in death by her husbands, Ervin Loftis and Homer Ellis, and by three brothers and two sisters, Richard Rector, Sam Rector, Oliver Rector, Pauline (Peewee) Thompson, and Hazel Bell.

Pallbearers will be family members. Honorary pallbearers will be staff and friends at The Arrington of Plantation Pointe; members of the Ervin Loftis Sunday School Class at Wesley United Methodist Church, and staff of Unity Hospice.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 511 Airline Rd., Columbus, MS 39702.