Art Ellis

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After a very long Alzheimer’s goodbye, Art Ellis 86, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, completed his time on earth holding his wife’s left hand while Jesus took his other, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne. 

Art was born to Ida Jewell and Merle Ellis on February 11, 1938, in Upton, Wyoming on his grandparents homesteaded.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, Ida and Merle and his brother Charles Ellis. He is survived by his wife Cathy Ellis, son Jeff Ellis, daughter Jennifer (Sam) Calvetti, grandsons Dustin Ellis, Colter Calvetti (Dianna) all of Cheyenne; granddaughter Ellisa Catlynne (Brandon) Shadakofsky of Littleton, Colorado; sister Shirley (John) Roberts of Sheridan; sister-in-law Nikki Ellis of Buffalo; and his great grandchildren Blaze, Bliss and Karma Ellis, Vanellope and Alice Calvetti; as well as nieces and nephews and their children. His ever faithful dog Gracie misses him dearly.

Art never had a job he didn’t like. His first job was selling newspapers on the streets of Sheridan where he doubled his money buying papers two for a nickel and selling them for a nickel a piece. Don Strelow of owner of the Strelow Office Supply employed Art at one time and said “Art was the son he never had.” He gave Art his first antique car.

He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1957 and moved to Laramie, Wyoming to pursue higher education.  Upon graduation from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, he moved to Sundance where he started his teaching career. He loved working with elementary students in Sundance, Buffalo, and Sheridan. If you asked him what he taught he would say children, not what grade he taught because his students were most important in his mind. He firmly believed that no one can take away from you what you know.  

After he earned his Master’s Degree in Adult Education, Art worked with student teachers for the University of Wyoming. Later he earned his Ph.D. but was never interested in being called Doctor. 

Then he supported the founding of Laramie County Community College where he worked for the next twenty years. While employed at LCCC, Art took a one year leave of absence to work on President Nixon’sAdvisory Council on Adult Education in Washington, D.C. It was a great opportunity for his family to tour the east coast and develop a deep appreciation of the Capital of the United States.  Of LCCC he alwayschuckled “I held every job there except the presidency and the custodian. When they suggested I become the custodian, it was time to go.” This was his first retirement.

Rocky Mountain Bank welcomed Art to the trust department and he enjoyed the change in careers. Following that he was his second retirement.  He left the bank to work for the State of Wyoming as the Director of the Administration and Information Department. After his third retirement, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center hired him to serve asAmy Davis’ Personal Representative in building the Davis HospiceCenter. With a smile in his voice, he would say, “I got good at finding jobs. Actually, the truth is, they always found me.” 

Art loved and was dedicated to his family. He chose to live as an example instead of teaching lessons. He often said, “You only have to work half a day to get ahead—the first twelve hours or the last twelve hours.” He showed this philosophy when he and his family built their home. He taught Jeff and Jenny to drive nails with a setting tap and one hard whack. Although everyone called it Gram’s House, Art generously shared it with many in tours of his garage and his office (the Art-chive),patio parties, birthday celebrations, a wedding, Christmas, and of course, all the “Well, hi! What brings you to town?” occasions. One time there were two war veterans who camped out on his well-kept lawn overnight until he took them coffee the next morning and gave them a ride to Comea Shelter. 

Art enjoyed Civitan, Rotary Club, Oak Spokes, coffee with the “State of the State Boys”, and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church. 

Art was a man of many skills, talents, accolades, and qualities.  We thank him for setting a good example and gifting a legacy beyond measure.