RUCKER, Ellis Leo

The Daily Miner, Kingman, AZ - Published on Sunday, July 24, 2011 - After living a life full of love, success and adventure, Ellis was called home on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Ellis was born Aug. 28, 1927, the fifth of six children to Oscar and Margaret Rucker in Barstow, Calif. Shortly after, the family created a ranch on the Colorado River near what is present day Bullhead City. During his childhood he trapped muskrat and beavers, and roped wild burros; many were sold to support the family. Ellis and his siblings were the first pupils of Big Bend School, which was opened for the six of them. After the death of both of his parents, Ellis joined the United States Army and served in Japan. While in the service, he sent his jump-pay home to his brother Raymond, and upon his return, Ellis proudly used the funds to purchase his first vehicle - possibly the foundation for his love of the automotive industry. Ellis was an entrepreneur, beginning with his first job at only age 6 shining shoes, then a paper route, and later he helped install the last turbines at Davis Dam. Ellis' career path became the automotive industry, and in 1969 he opened Northwest Motors in Kingman. After a few years of growth, he bought out his partners and the dealership was renamed Rucker Motors, with expansion later into Bullhead City. The dealership proudly carried the Toyota, GMC Truck, Jeep, Eagle and American Motors lines. Ellis was a dedicated community member, including a life member of the Elks, life member of VFW, past president and Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary, past president of the Jaycees, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other organizations. Ellis was an avid outdoorsman, with a deep passion for hunting and fishing. Some of his most memorable moments involved his beloved family and friends on many excursions; a few even involving some "misunderstandings" with the Game and Fish Department. Ellis was a loving and dedicated family man, with tremendous love as a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Thelma Rucker; his son, Clifford Rucker; his parents, Oscar and Margaret Rucker; his brothers, Frank and Raymond Rucker; and sisters, Zenith Seaman and Iris Smith. He is survived by his sister, Patsy Warren; his children, Richard (Susie) Rucker, Eileen Rucker, and Lucinda DanDyke; stepchildren, Doris (Bill) Goodale, Diane (Wayne) Walkup and John (Dana) Wells; his grandchildren, Brad (Peggy) Rucker, Tom (Michelle) Sissom, Casey (Antonia) Rucker, Tracy Sissom, Trisha Rucker, Christopher (Monica) Pearce, Leah (Mike) Thoemess, William Logas, Stephanie Goodale, Mike Goodale and Randy Wells; and numerous great grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at Manzanita Baptist Church, 2040 Golden Gate Ave., with a brief graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery, 1301 Stockton Hill Road. There will be a celebration of Ellis' life at the Kingman Elks Lodge, 900 Gates Ave., following.