Joyce Elizabeth Powell (Powell) Ellis

Funeral services for Joyce Elizabeth Powell Ellis, 63, of Rayville, LA were held at 10:00 AM, Friday, December 21, 2018 at Brown-Holley Funeral Chapel, Rayville with Bro. Troy Dennard officiating. Interment followed in the Rayville Masonic Cemetery, Rayville, LA.

A lifelong resident, Joyce Elizabeth Powell Ellis, was a graduate of Rayville High School and LA Tech University. Joyce began her nursing career as an LPN working while her husband, Carey Jay Ellis, completed law school. After his graduation, Joyce went back to school graduating as a Register Nurse from LA Tech University. As a nurse, Joyce served in a variety of capacities including Floor Nurse, Dialysis Nurse, Hospice Nurse, Home Health Nurse, and later Charge Nurse. Her favorite, being the field of Geriatric care.

In early years, Joyce spent many of her summers in Holly Ridge riding horses and playing with her cousins, Kenny, Bobby, Steve, Ronnie, and countless others. She an her brother, Billy did nearly everything together. Joyce would do just about anything Billy told her, or dared her, to do. Her brother, Bill remains her best friend to this day. Family and friends meant everything to Joyce. When Joyce was just six years old, she took swimming lessons from an older lifeguard at the community pool. Even at that very young age, Joyce was a very determined little girl. She told her mom that she was going to marry that young lifeguard when she grew up. Many years later, she did marry him and for 37 years they lived in holy matrimony and raised a famil

Joyce had many extraordinary talents. She could do anything she se her mind to. She loved sewing, embroidery, needle point, and quilting. Joyce also enjoyed fishing and anything that had to do with animals, especially dogs. Joyce loved the beach and ocean, the mountains and rivers, the hills, lakes and streams of Arkansas. She was also an avid “shopper”. Anyone who met Joyce knew how much she loved all animals but especially her dogs. She was a nature and plant lover. Bluebirds and Hummingbirds were her favorite birds. Her tiny Parrott, Rex, now lives with granddaughter, Ann Clack. Joyce cared for so many people and anyone who knew her loved her. She had a one of a kind spirit and a heart that was bigger than she was.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Gloria Powell.

Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Carey Jay Ellis III of Rayville; children, Jessica Clack and husband, Ben W. of Rayville and James Ellis of West Monroe; grandchildren, Michael Clack of Rayville, Ann Clack of Rayville, and Sydney Clack of Rayville; brother, Billy Powell and wife, Jean of Monroe; nephews, Eric Powell and wife, Joann of West Monroe and Justin Powell and wife, Courtney of Sterlington; and a great niece and great nephews.

Pallbearers were James Green, Ernest Hunt, Walter Shelton, Terry Haire, Jonathan Littleton, and Kenny Powell.

Honorary pallbearers were Larry Morris, The Continental Kats, David Hazelwood, Bill Owens, Donnie Hebert, Jay Shelton, James H. Looney, Timmie Ray Thames, Wade Darnell, Raymond Meijas, The Mixed Nuts, Paul Bairnsfather, Jesse Cochran, Dr. Gordon Massengale, Chad Byrd, Eric Harris, David Standifer, Alan Clack, Ronnie Powell, The Fabric Shop of Ruston and her sewing friends, The Louisiana Appellate Project, The Second Circuit Court of Appeal and staff, The Fifth Judicial District and all Attorneys, and Judges, Past and Present, and staff, Kevin Bates, George Bates, Buddy Hill, The Green Clinic, Dr. Robicheaux, St. Francis Hospital/CCU and staff, Willis-Knighton/CCU and staff, Promise Hospital/ICU and staff, Doug Foy, Bland Greeson, Steve Dean and family, Madison Harrell, J.P. Pritchard, Red Lobster Forever Partners, Kerry Shoemaker, and Mike Byrd.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309.

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