We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear father, Jack Richard Ellis, on August 23, 2026, at Glen Haven Manor at the age of 95.

Born on November 2, 1930, Dad was the son of Odber and Elsie Ellis of Port George, Nova Scotia, where he spent his early childhood. He grew up in Port George, Annapolis County, and loved walking along the bay shore on his way to school, looking for treasures washed up by the tide.

In his earlier years, Dad worked as a cook on several gypsum boats with his father, travelling and visiting many places up and down the U.S. coast. He later worked as a steward on the Princess Helene Ferry, which travelled between Digby and Saint John. After that, Dad helped with the cooking at his father’s restaurant in Annapolis Royal.

After marrying the love of his life, Doreen, the couple moved to Stellarton, where Dad lived until he moved into Glen Haven Manor. Over the years, he enjoyed being self-employed with the Fuller Brush Company and even employed both of us, selling Fuller Brush items door to door. He was a great boss! After Fuller Brush, he sold Electrolux vacuums, working in both sales and management. Dad was a charter member of the Stellarton Lions Club, and we attended Sharon St. John United Church, where he was a member of the Session.

One of Dad’s greatest joys was music. He loved playing guitar and eventually taught himself to play the fiddle, mandolin, banjo, steel guitar, and some accordion, our grandfather’s favourite instrument. He was a member of the Pictou County Fiddlers, which he truly enjoyed. Dad brought music into our home and performed with several bands throughout the years, including: “The Easternaires,” “The John Curry Band,” “Willey and the Boys,” “Rusty Nails,” and later, “The Jack Ellis Band.”

Dad and Mom loved to travel. Over the years, they visited Hawaii, Spain, Italy, and many states in the U.S. We went as a family to Expo 67. One summer, they took us trailering across Canada and down through the United States, visiting family and friends along the way. It was an awesome trip! Dad even managed to get tickets for the family to see Elvis Presley perform at the Las Vegas Hilton!

Dad was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Family was very important to him. Dad and Mom enjoyed fishing together and portaging their canoe through the bush to find a good fishing spot. They usually came home with a basket of trout! Dad shared his wonderful talents for cooking, baking, and music and was always there for his family. He made Christmas even more magical by jingling bells under our bedroom window and making deer prints in the snow. He also helped us put on variety shows in our basement for the neighbours to attend. Dad built outdoor rinks in the backyard, took Donna and her friends skiing, made early morning drives to the New Glasgow rink for figure skating practices, and drove Sherry to dance lessons, band practice, piano, and church choir practice. Dad taught us both how to play the guitar, which allowed us to play together at concerts, other venues, and with friends.

Dad loved spending spring, summer, and fall at the cottage he built in Chance Harbour. There, he provided many happy hours of boating, water skiing, and tubing. The grandchildren especially loved those activities, along with swimming, building and watching fish in the homemade fish trap, and riding in the back of Grampie’s ride-on mower cart. During their time at the cottage, Dad and Mom welcomed family and friends for wonderful vacations filled with music, card games, great food, and lasting memories.

Dad and Mom spent 17 wonderful winters in Florida, where they made many new friends, played music, golfed, enjoyed shuffleboard, and took many mini trips together.

Dad is survived by his daughters, Donna Pike of Calgary and Sherry (Bob) Thistle of Cole Harbour; grandchildren, Brennan (Hanna) Pike of Calgary, Carly Cunningham of Truro, and Evan Cunningham of Bedford; great-grandchildren, Sophie and Gabrielle Pike of Calgary and Zachary Cunningham of Truro; and sisters, Jane (Ron) Downey of Cold Brook and Pat Whitlock of Farmington; Sister-in-Law, Jean Ellis; step- Granddaughter Ashley (Connor) Jesso, Clam Point; Step Grandchildren, Joey Thistle, Wolfville; Austin and Theresa Hammond, Clam Point, and many nieces and nephews whom he cherished.

Dad was predeceased by his beloved wife, Doreen, with whom he shared 66 wonderful years of marriage; his brother Carl (Lucille) of Manchester, Tennessee; his brother Phillip of Halifax; his sisters and their husbands, Madelyn (Jess) Janes of Granville Ferry and Dolores (Jerry) Fleet of London; his brother-in-law, Gordon Whitlock of Farmington; and his son-in-law, Byron Pike of Calgary.

Dad had a fabulous life and made the most of each day. Age was never an obstacle for him. This was clear to us when, at age 82, he replaced two of the cottage windows by himself while standing on boards laid across the back of his truck!

Dad will be deeply missed. May God bless him and keep him in His love. We love you, Dad!

Visitation will be held Sunday, September 6, 2026 from 1:00-2:00 at H.W. Angus Funeral Home, a Celebration of Dad’s Life will be held on Sunday, September 6 at 2:00 following the visitation. A reception will follow in the Reception Room at the same location. A family interment will be held at Heatherdale Memorial Gardens.

Special thanks to the River Glen Staff at Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow, especially for making him comfortable in his last days.

Donations in Dad’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, alzheimer@asns.ca. or the Lymphedema Association Of Nova Scotia (LANS) lymphedemanovascotia@yahoo.com