George Meece Ellis

September 27, 2012 George Meece Ellis, Jr. of Whittier, NC passed away on September 27, 2012. He was born on August 5, 1936 in Ft. Myers, FL, the son of the late George Meece Ellis Sr. and Era Mae (Wamble) Ellis. Raised in Collier County, Meece grew and worked at his parent's service station, restaurant, and cabin resort at Royal Palm Hammock on the Tamiami Trail; he later built and ran the first Gulf full-service filling station on Marco Island. He worked at Airport Garage in Naples from 1979-2000 as head mechanic and wrecker operator. Meece enjoyed airboating and was one, if not, the first to build airboats using Cadillac engines. Meece loved going to the sawgrass and would go whenever he was able. Meece is survived by his loving wife Barbara Ann Grant Ellis; his children, Steven Meece (Tracey) Ellis, Katherine M. Ellis, Mary Lessie ( Jeryl) Buck, Jessie Mae(Tony) Urbanowski; his grandchildren, Steven R. "Bobby" (Jessica) Ellis, Brian Meece Ellis, Kerilyn M. (Michael) Blum, Brittney D. (Jeremy) Ellis-Sesti, Lonnie James Sutton, Elizabeth Urbanowski, Hunter Urbanowski, Billy Meece Buck, Jonathan "Jon Jon" Buck, Emma Leigh Urbanowski, Kayla Olivia Urbanowski, Gracelyn Ann Buck; his great-grandchildren Devon Meece Ellis, Briana L. Ellis, expecting Rylee Michelle Sesti; Sister-in-law, Charlotte Grant Wangerin and brother-in-law G.B. Wangerin. A heartfelt message from his children. "Our father passed away. We have such heavy hearts and wish there were a way to change things so we could have our dad back. He taught us so many wonderful things. We can't ever put into words how much he meant to our family. We know how much he loved us, and we wish we could see him one last time. We love and miss you Dad. You are our hero. " A quote from Meece's grandchild, "Grandparents are special. I love them and they tell jokes. They love to play games with me and cook mashed potatoes." Visitation will be Tuesday, October 2, 2012 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 at Akin-Davis Funeral Home, 560 E. Hickpochee Av, LaBelle, FL 33935. The funeral will be on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 1:00 p.m. at Akin-Davis Funeral Home in LaBelle with Rev. Thomas Odom officiating and graveside services following at Fort Denaud Cemetery in LaBelle. Pall Bearers; Steven Meece Ellis, G.B. Wangerin, Steven R. "Bobby" Ellis, Brian Meece Ellis, Michael J. Blum, and Jeremy P. Sesti. Arrangements by: Akin-Davis Funeral Home-LaBelle