Elmer Ellis Oliver Jr

A devoted husband to Karla Raker Oliver and a loving father to Matthew Oliver, Rachel (Oliver) Wheeler, and Elijah Oliver, Ellis’s life was defined by his unwavering love for his family. He also cherished his role as a grandfather to Autumn Powers, Jesse Oliver, Rylee Stewart, Thomas Wheeler, Carter Wheeler, Aurora Oliver, Madison Wilson, and Karla-Jane Oliver. His brother Ralph Oliver and his sister Yvonne (Oliver) Dorsey along with numerous nephews—Lynn Oliver, Wendy Oliver Patterson, Wesley Oliver, Bart Warmack, Chad Warmack, Todd Warmack, and Scott Warmack—also held special places in his heart. Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Ellis Oliver Sr. and Leth Oliver Revell; and two of his brothers, Ted Warmack and Glen Warmack. A man of profound faith and humility, Ellis loved the Lord deeply. He spent countless hours studying the Bible and immersing himself in theology. His spiritual devotion was not only evident in his studies but also in the way he lived—selflessly serving others with kindness and compassion. Ellis was born in Tallahassee, Florida, and raised in Wakulla County, where he grew up fishing the Gulf with his father who was a commercial fisherman. At 18 years of age, Ellis received Christ as his Lord and Savior and grew a relationship with the Lord while reading the New Testament on his dad's fishing boat in the Gulf. Ellis attended Bible College in Pensacola, Florida, and after graduating, moved to northern Ontario, Canada with his family. There, he devoted nearly fourteen years of his life to ministry among the Cree people in Fort Albany, where he learned the native language and earned a deep respect among some of the tribe. Ellis instilled in his children grit, an unwavering commitment to truth, a determination to conquer life’s challenges, and a tireless work ethic. Though often quiet in expression, Ellis's love for his family was fierce and steadfast, marked by a heart willing to sacrifice anything for those he held dear. Above all else, he loved his Heavenly Father. An avid outdoorsman with an insatiable curiosity for the natural world, Ellis found joy in fishing, reflecting on cherished memories of time spent fishing the gulf with his father, simply being on the water, and in hunting the swamps. He had an extraordinary talent for working with his hands—whether building structures from scratch or crafting intricate pieces from wood. There was nothing he couldn’t fix or create. His passion for gardening extended far beyond planting seeds; including experimenting with grafting different plant and tree varieties to adapt them to Florida’s climate or to blend fruit varieties. Using science and math as his tools, he approached every project with precision and creativity. Ellis’s love for animals and nature was matched only by his enthusiasm for learning how things worked. He was known for taking every endeavor to the next level—not out of pride but from a genuine desire to understand more deeply and give more fully. Those who knew him often marveled at his encyclopedic knowledge of plants and many other things and admired his ability to bring beauty and function together through craftsmanship. Despite all of these gifts and accomplishments, Ellis remained humble—a man who never sought recognition, but whose presence left an indelible mark on everyone around him. He was truly one of a kind: kind-hearted without being self-righteous; brilliant without boasting; generous without expectation. May the memory of Elmer Ellis "Ellis" Oliver Jr.—his faithfulness, ingenuity, integrity, gentleness, and love—bring comfort to all who knew him. A service will be held on February 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Young Family Funeral Home in Crawfordville, Florida. Following the service, the family invites all to Ellis & Karla’s home for food and fellowship, where memories may be shared and God’s faithfulness remembered among family, friends, and loved ones.

Elmer Ellis Oliver Jr

May 20, 1957 - February 13, 2026