Gene Marie Palfrey Ellis passed away on May 20, 2018 in Evans, Georgia.
She was born on February 2, 1921 in Franklin, Louisiana. Gene was the eldest child of Helen Welch Palfrey and William Taylor Palfrey, and the sister of William Gorgas Palfrey, MD (wife Rosemary Carrere). The family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Gene’s father worked for The City National Bank. Gene attended public schools in Baton Rouge and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1941. She remained a devoted Tiger fan all her life. She taught school for several years before moving to New Orleans, living with friends in the Garden District, and working at Charity Hospital in the radiology department. There she met her future husband, Atlanta native, John Oliver Ellis, MD. Gene and John married on May 21, 1946 at the University of Alabama in the home of her Gorgas family. Following the completion of his residency program, they moved to Atlanta and established their home and his radiology practice. They raised their children, John Oliver Ellis, Jr. and Gene Gorgas Ellis McCutcheon, “Gigi”, with the loving and devoted assistance of Mrs. Minnie Miller.
Sharing a mutual interest in Southern architecture, Gene and John built a home in 1964 patterned after Gene’s cousin’s historic Louisiana home “Shadows on the Teche”, located in New Iberia, Louisiana. They both appreciated and sought after antique furniture and decorative arts for their home. They were members of the Antique Study Club of Atlanta. Gene was passionate about her friends, old and new. She loved to entertain and to share good times in their home on Paces Valley Road.
Gene was a lifelong Roman Catholic and belonged to The Cathedral of Christ the King, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, and Saint Mary on the Hill Church. She enjoyed her membership in the Junior League of Atlanta and the Piedmont Driving Club. She also enjoyed spending time with friends and family at Sea Island, and the mountains of North Carolina.
Gene is survived by her son John, his wife Carol, and their children Connor and Sloan Ellis of Whitefish, MT. She is also survived by her daughter Gigi, her husband Hugh, and their children and grandchildren, Amelia and Kevin McDougal, sons Fripp and Crawford McDougal, Beth and Ellis McCutcheon, daughters Eliza and Caroline McCutcheon, Meredith and Stephan Hollis, Katie and John Bates McCutcheon, MDs, and Taylor Palfrey McCutcheon, all of Augusta, Ga. Gene was devoted to her Ellis, Palfrey, and Simons nieces and nephews.
The family sincerely appreciates the kindness of Mrs. Janice Seymore and the many caregivers from Brandon Wilde over the past years. We will forever remember the attention and love shown to her.
Arrangements by Platt’s Funeral Home, Augusta, Ga. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, May 25, 2018 at Platt’s Funeral Home located at 721 Crawford Avenue, Augusta, Ga. A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga.
If so desired, memorials may be made to Saint Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, Ga 30904 or The Brandon Wilde Employee Scholarship Fund, c/o University Healthcare Foundation, 2100 Central Avenue, Suite D1, Augusta, GA, 30904.