Ellis Edward Amburn

Ellis was born in Jermyn, Texas August 2, 1933. He was the youngest of three children of the late Belma Lucille and Edgar Douglas Amburn.

Ellis graduated from Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, Texas. At Poly he edited the school paper “The Parakeet”.

Ellis earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Christian University. At T.C.U. he edited the University’s newspaper “The Skiff”. In his senior year at T.C.U. he won a national contest sponsored by Newsweek Magazine. He was awarded a position with Newsweek reporting on Movies, Music, Dance and Life and Leisure.

The Army intervened in 1958, he served at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After the Army he went into book publishing, working the next 25 years at several top publishing houses, including G.P. Putnam’s Sons. At Coward McCann he became vice president in the 60’s. In the 70’s, Delacort Press named Ellis editor in chief. After 8 years he left Delacort for William Morrow and company. In 1980 G.P. Putnam’s Sons, the nations 2nd largest book publisher, brought him back as editorial director. He left corporate world in 1986 and collaborated on celebrities’ memoirs’. After a few years he fulfilled a life-long desire and became an author in his own right. He had 9 books published from 1990 until his latest, a biography of Olivia DeHaviland which was published just weeks prior to his death.

Ellis lived in Key West, Florida for many years, then in High Springs, Florida for about 15 years, and about 3 years in Gainesville, Florida.

On September 22, 2007 Ellis had the honor of being inducted into the Texas Christian University SCHIEFER SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM for “constantly maintaining and demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism in the field of communication” thus becoming a member of “THE TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM HALL OF EXCELLENCE”

Ellis is survived by an extended family, his sister Eddie Lucile Bradbury of Benbrook, Texas. Lucile’s family William Jr, Charles and daughter Karen Bradbury and her granddaughter Natalie Dunn-Vennett (John). Ellis’ brother Billy Edgar, wife Joyce, children Lynn Amburn, children Jeffrey (Jen), Andrea and Joshua (Jessica). Richard of Sheffner, FL and his son Richard Paul and daughter Sydney Lynn. A great number of friends, fans and admirers.

Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law William E Bradbury, niece Tiffany and nephew Billy Edgar Amburn II.

A Memorial service honoring the life of Ellis Amburn will be held at the Canvas Church, Alachua, Florida, Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 11:00 A.M.

Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 A.M.