Alece Ellis Celebration of Life

Alece Ellis

Celebration of Life

August 17, 1954 -December 1, 2021

On July 23, 2022, a multitude of friends from Tennessee and surrounding states gathered at the STAR (Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding) in Lenoir City, Tennessee, to celebrate the life of Alece Ellis. We were also joined virtually by family members and friends across the nation. Dear friends Buddy and Jenny Brewer and their friend Jackie, did an awesome job of hosting and decorating the facility. There were photos of Alece throughout her life on the tables where we sat and two memory tables that displayed special items throughout her life. Dear friends Lynn and Jerry Lambert made the rolling slide show presentation of Alece throughout her life and made the virtual event possible.

There was such an outpouring of love from so many people for such a phenomenal person whom we lost

Alece Ellis

Celebration of Life

all too soon. Alece was a vibrant person—always jovial and ALWAYS advocating for the horse. She made friends wherever she went—people were naturally attracted to her. She gave back in so many ways—mentoring, volunteering, teaching, educating, training and contributing to her horse related causes that were so important to her.

Many of those present, physically and virtually, spoke of their friendships with Alece and how she impacted their lives. We learned things we never knew. When she was little, she had a pony named Dynamite that she and her cousin rode; she was in a Miss America pageant and won Miss Congeniality (no surprise there! LOL). We enjoyed listening to her sister, Robin, tell about her childhood—rosy cheeks, always happy, following her father around on their farm and loving animals. She was also artistic and one of her pastoral country scenes was on display on a memory table.

Alece was such a giving person and touched so many human and horse lives. I think we all felt that words could not express how Alece had touched our lives and made them better for having known her. The pain of losing her so early in life still brings on the tears.

I think Chris Irwin expressed our feelings best on Alece’s Facebook Page. “Alece was a joy. Alece was the Spirit of living and loving. Alece was goodness personified. Alece was a sister to us all. I am a better person because of Alece. Thank you, Sister. Rest in Peace.”

Photos courtesy of Cris Van Horn.