Ellis McCullough 12/26/1935 – 3/22/2024

Ellis Coleman McCullough passed away on March 22, 2024, in Spring, TX. He was 88 years old.

Ellis was born in Austin, TX, the only child of Ellis Clem McCullough and Charliss Smith McCullough. The family moved to Ft. Worth where Ellis graduated from Paschal HS in 1954. He attended Rice University on a Naval ROTC scholarship and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served in the US Navy from Aug 1958 to March 1962, earning the rank of LT JG. Ellis moved his small family to Houston, where his aunt and uncle were living. While growing his family, Ellis went to work for Armco Steel and attended University of Houston Law school at night, earning his Doctor of Jurisprudence. He entered the legal profession as an Assistant US District Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and eventually went into private practice as a criminal defense attorney – a career he held until 2018 when he retired at the age of 82. He became fluent in Spanish, read voraciously, particularly non-fiction histories. Ellis worked out at the gym daily, had lunch every day with the youngest son, Sean, and enjoyed getting together with family, be it Thanksgiving, monthly dinners out, or Pie Night.

Ellis is survived by his children, Kimberly Lytle Roberts (husband Bryan), Kathleen McCullough, Kristie Barbee (husband Mike), Karla Zly (husband Mike), Audrey Maker (husband Carlos Reina), Richard McCullough and Sean McCullough, and eleven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

Visitation with family will be Tuesday April 2, 2024, starting at 1pm with a memorial service to follow at 2pm at Klein Funeral Home, 16131 Champions Forrest Dr., in Spring, Texas.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters or to the YMCA.