James ‘Jim’ Richard Ellis

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Oct. 28, 1965 - July 2, 2008

James "Jim" Richard Ellis, 42, Altoona, died Wednesday at Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Altoona, son of Melvin L. and Eleanor A. (Keller) Ellis. He married Tanya Grimm in 2001 in Lock Haven.

Surviving are his wife; his parents of Altoona; a brother, David Ellis of Altoona; three sisters: Sue Forster and husband, Peter, of State College, Terri Riccio and husband, Dan, of Tyrone and Patty Vladic and husband, David, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 14 nieces and nephews; beloved father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dave and Nancy Grimm of Lock Haven; brother-in-law, Kris and wife, Susan Grimm in New York; and aunt, Karen Temple, widow of Robert Temple, and their children, of Williamsport.

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Juniata.

Mr. Ellis was the owner of Advanced Investigations of Pa., Altoona, and a paralegal for the law firm of Bierbach McDowell of central Pa.

He was a 1983 graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle High School and a 1987 graduate of Lycoming College, where he was a member of the men's basketball team and served as president of Sigma Phi Episilon Fraternity. He was Bishop Guilfoyle High School J.V. basketball coach from 1998 to 2004 and most recently served as assistant coach of the men's basketball team at Penn State Altoona.

Mr. Ellis was a member of the Eldorado Kiwanis Club and former member of the Bishop Guilfoyle High School board.

Friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona, where a vigil for the deceased service will be held (www.stevensmortuary.com). A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 7, 2008, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Juniata, by Father Raymond J. Crosser. Committal at Grandview Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Jim Ellis Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 428, Altoona, PA 16603.