Paul C. Ellingsworth

Rev. Paul Clifford Ellingsworth was born in Stone County, Missouri, on July 24, 1929, and entered into Heaven’s Gates on October 1, 2023, at the age of 94. He was the firstborn son of Oliver Arvin and Stella Hammonds Ellingsworth. Five siblings followed - Betty Jo, Doyle (Curly), Carroll Dee, Jerry and Treva.

On April 30, 1950, Paul was united in marriage to Della Rea Hedrick in Harrison, Arkansas. They spent their honeymoon camping and swimming in the creek. The mornings were spent picking strawberries to barter for their groceries. They welcomed their first daughter, Pamela Paulette on June 1, 1951. The young family moved to California where a second daughter, Debra Jeanette, was born July 7, 1953.

Entering the work force, Paul supported his family in a variety of ways selling watermelons, door-to-door Bibles and paintings, working in various harvests and finally in building trades where he excelled as a carpenter. There is very little he has not tried and every endeavor was a success: film developing, taxidermy, basket making, sewing (even creating a dress as a surprise for Della - she actually wore it!) and built a classic "Pink Convertible," that has achieved fame of its own.

In the fall of 1962, Paul and Della loaded up their two daughters, left their first little home with the beloved lemon tree, to travel to Missouri, where Paul was called into the ministry. Paul built the brick church on the corner of Green and Williams in Chillicothe, where he pastored until his retirement in 1997.

Paul enjoyed traveling, spending time with his friends and family, and studying God's word. He was a great Bible teacher and loved to sing and worship the Lord. He played the guitar and could make a harmonica hum.

Pastor Ellingsworth (as he is called by many) was always ready to lend a hand and he usually had exactly what you needed to complete the project. (IF he didn't have it; you didn't need it!) Of course, his life lessons always included directions for living a joyful life, being thrifty with your money and always putting God first; family second and yourself last.

This much-loved man leaves behind a host of friends and family including his wife Della, daughters Pamela (Donald) Anderson and Debbie Gabrielson, and eight grandchildren: Stephanie (Lance) Harvey, Amy (Shawn) Clark, Steve (Kelly) Gabrielson, Jon Gabrielson, Phillip (Amanda) Anderson, Katie (Jeremy) Purdy, David (Morgan) Gabrielson, Micah (Aaron) Douglas, and Matthew (Ashley) Gabrielson.

Twenty-five great-grands call him Papa: Gracyn and Piper Harvey; Lane and Dylan Clark; Ethan, Juliann, and Lydia Gabrielson; Keith, Aaron, and Kaitlyn Gabrielson; Maddie Anderson; Gage and Graham Godsey and Zayne and Shay Purdy; Litton, Greenly, and Fallon Gabrielson; London, Kobe, Malachi, and Salem Douglas; and Halle, Gentry, and Rorie Gabrielson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons-in-law; David Leach and Steven Gabrielson.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Cornerstone Church, Chillicothe, Missouri on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at Cornerstone Church, Chillicothe, Missouri on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri on Friday, October 7, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com .

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.