Ellen Speed

Ellen Speed, 83, of Memphis died Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Daniel Downey officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements were by Hughs Funeral Home of Memphis.

Ellen was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Clarendon to Jewell Copeland and Virl Prock Copeland. She was a graduate of Hollis High School. She married Orace Speed on May 21, 1947, in Childress. He preceded her in death on Jan. 23, 1999.

They moved to Memphis in 1963 from Hollis, Okla. Ellen worked for the Burlington Sheet Factory as a hemmer instructor. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She loved playing the piano at church, taught Sunday school and was very active throughout the church. She also loved to make crafts and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

She also was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Newell Copeland.

Survivors include two sons, Tommy Speed and wife Carol of Lubbock and Garvin Speed and wife Lucheryl of Memphis; a sister, Zelma Kennedy of Paris, Texas; six grandchildren, Shane Speed and wife Tricia of Tulia, Joshua Speed and wife Melinda of Phoenix, Kelly Speed and wife Misty of Clarendon, Kira Boyd and husband Damon of White Deer, Chad Ellis and wife Melissa of Mansfield and Stacey Ellis of Kerrville; and five great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 726, Memphis, TX 79245; or Meals on Wheels, 515 S. Ninth St., Memphis, TX 79245.

Sign the online guest book at www.hughsfuneralhome.com.