Ellis, Kippy
Born in Fort Wayne on October 11, 1955, Kippy LeRoy Ellis died in Bradenton, Florida, on May 21, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Denise, and children, Cassie and Elicia.
Kip was Carol Lou Lesh and Arlie LeRoy Ellis’s first child. He was always excited to participate in sports, family, and friends, even as a young youngster. While attending Homestead High School, Kippy worked diligently at the family’s Ellison Bakery. Even yet, he managed to earn varsity letters in basketball and football. Kip gained fame throughout his early years thanks to his wonderful grin and endearing demeanor.
He received a football scholarship to Bowling Green University in Ohio after graduating from high school in 1974. After Kip returned to Indiana, he was hired by Ellison Bakery as a cookie route salesperson in South Bend, which is how he got the nickname Cookie Man. He met Denise, the love of his life, while traveling. Elicia and Cassie, their two beautiful daughters, were born shortly after their marriage. Life eventually brought them together as co-owners of Argos’ Marten’s & Ellis Strawberry Farm and Market.
It took a lot of effort to grow strawberries and other vegetables, and Kip loved water skiing in his spare time. Every time they had, the Ellis family would be on the boat and skiing at Little Tippecanoe Lake, which was close to their home. In addition to skiing for pleasure, Kip had the skills and patience to instruct friends and family in the sport he loved.
Following the birth of his daughters, Kip and Denise resided in Garfield, Arkansas, then Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, before settling in Bradenton, Florida.
Kip’s parents, Arlie and Carol, passed away before him. He is survived by his wife, Denise, of Bradenton, Florida; daughters, Cassie (Chris) Hillyer of Santa Barbara, California, and Elicia Kingrey of Leesburg; sisters, Julie (Steve) Twehues of Fort Thomas, Ky., and Mary Kay (Sue) Wallace of Fort Wayne; brother, Todd (Gary) Ellis of St. Petersburg, Fla.; four grandchildren, Aydence and Patience Kingrey of Leesburg, Daegan (Terica) Kingrey of North Manchester, and Caitlin (Tyler) Hitchcock of Warsaw; and one great-grandchild, Kipplyn.
On July 11 and 12, Beaver Lake in Garfield, Arkansas, will host a family water skiing celebration of life. At 4 p.m., a tree will be planted as a monument. On Saturday, July 19, at the Center School House (near Jorgensen YMCA), located at 10537 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne.
The arrangements are being handled by Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Homes, Bellevue, Ky. You can send condolences online at dmefuneral.com.
