Ellis Knight Barrier, a faithful husband, father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather, passed away on September 10. He was born to Morris Weldon and Arden Lyle Barrier on October 28, 1936, in Cookville, Texas, and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1955. Ellis met Rachel Loretta Gant in 1960, and married on December 23, 1960, by the late Dr. W.A. Criswell at First Baptist Dallas. In the summer of 1977, the Barrier family moved to Gunter, Texas, to raise their four children.
Ellis, aka “Snuffy”, worked at the General Motors parts warehouse for 30 years until his retirement in 1987. Out of his genuine love for Texas history, he started a company called Ellwood of Texas and began making antique barbed wire displays. These Texasshaped plaques were sold at courthouses, restaurants, and shops throughout the state. He became a familiar face to the thousands of people he encountered while selling his craft across Texas.
He expressed his faith in the Lord through giving and song. He and Rachel were members of First Baptist Gunter for 45 years and rarely missed a choir rehearsal or Sunday morning worship service. He loved to sing at church, at funerals, and with his family. He supported and encouraged the ministers.
Ellis expressed his love for family and friends through giving gifts, whether it be a novel gadget, cash, or a story or two. This is especially true of his family. He had 14 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild that he enjoyed lavishing with toys or humorous anecdotes from his childhood or history of Texas. He had a tremendous appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation: mountains, streams, meadows, and wildlife, which he especially savored through his travels to Colorado. He was a voracious reader and maintained that curiosity to learn and explore through books, magazines, and maps up until the end.
Ellis was preceded in death most recently by his beloved wife Rachel in 2021, his parents Morris Weldon and Arden Barrier, and his brother Franklin. He was preceded also by his brother-in-law Rodney Gant, his wife Katherine, as well as his sister-in-law Louise Cucovatz. He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Moore, Ellis Kyle Barrier(Tonya), Jennifer Barrier Jones (Mark), Kristie Barrier Stith(Jeff), Morris Knight Barrier(Heidi), grandchildren- Stephanie Jones, Mallory Jones, Andrew Barrier, Eric Barrier( Alex), Ben Stith(Meagan), Ryan Barrier( Elizabeth), Hannah Stith Pennington(Brett), Bethany Stith, Abbie Stith Douglas(Micah), Julia Stith, Joshua Barrier, Caleb Stith, Anna Kate Barrier and Avery Barrier, and one great-granddaughter, Sadie Jean Pennington. Ellis also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews. He is forever adored and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the First Baptist Church of Gunter, 99 Gentle Creek Lane, Gunter, TX 75058, with Pastor Scott Jordan, officiating. Burial will follow at the Gunter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30PM to 2:00PM prior of service at the church.
Services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne, Pkwy. Van Alstyne, TX, 75495. You may sign the online register book at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com.
