Carol Ann Ellis (“NeNe”), 78, of Vidor, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at her residence.
Carol was born on November 8, 1947, in Beaumont, Texas. She was a longtime resident of Vidor and a proud graduate of Vidor High School, Class of 1966. While attending Vidor High School, she was a drummer in the band, a twirler, and a drum major, and in the 9th grade she met the love of her life, Petey. They were high school sweethearts and married shortly after graduating. Their love gave them four children: Kristi, Trey, Dan, and Fara; seven grandchildren; two extended grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.
Carol worked for Smith Home Builders in Vidor, worked for her father at Oilfield Welding Services, and later built a successful career as a paralegal working for Rodney Price. She was also an escrow officer and closed many real estate transactions in Orange County. She continued her love for real estate and history by becoming a self-employed landman. If you ever worked with Carol, then you know she was known for her strong work ethic, independence, and dedication to everything she pursued.
Above all, Carol’s life centered around her family, who meant everything to her. She cherished every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy came from being “NeNe,” a role she embraced with love, laughter, and devotion. Known not only by her family, but also by many of her children’s and grandchildren’s friends. “NeNe” became a second mother and grandmother figure to countless people throughout her life. Her home was always open, and she took many people in, giving them a place of comfort, love, and a home they could always count on. She loved and was loved by many “extras” who became family throughout her life.
Carol also had an incredible sense of style and carried herself with grace and beauty in every walk of life. No matter the occasion, she was always beautifully dressed and remembered for her elegance, confidence, and warm presence. Her gentle spirit was easily altered if one of her family was tampered with. That tiny structure of a woman would fight a grizzly if needed to protect those she loved!
She enjoyed fishing, hunting, trips to the lake and beach, relaxing in the swimming pool, music, dancing, and traveling with her family, always making memories with those she loved most. She was very talented in many crafts and loved painting. She painted on just about everything, including canvas, jackets, blue jeans, T-shirts, and glass. She loved giving to others to make them smile.
If she wanted her family to come together, all she had to do was make biscuits & gravy and deer meat. Family and friends would all come running. If you never had NeNe’s homemade biscuits and gravy, you truly missed out. Her cooking brought people together and created countless cherished memories around her table.
She is survived by her children, Kristi Lightfoot and her husband, Les, of Vidor; Trey Ellis and his wife, Diane, of Vidor; and Fara Hollyfield and her husband, Brent, of Vidor; her grandchildren: Buddy Lightfoot and his wife, Brooke; Hayden Lightfoot; Kaleigh Harris and her husband, Cameron; Printis Ellis IV and his wife, Alyssa; Jake Lightfoot and his wife, Emily; Joey Zelgowski and his wife, Kayla; and Connor Ellis; her extended grandchildren: Charlee Harvill and her husband, Skyler, and Mason Hollyfield and his wife, Kailee; and her great-grandchildren: Porter, Owen, Maggie, Miles, Rayburn, Coe, and Callum, with two more on the way, Maryn and Olivia. She is also survived by her brother, Russell Farrow and wife, Bernice, of Winnie; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law whom she considered sisters and brothers; and many nieces and nephews. She had a huge family and loved each and every one.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Printis “Petey” Ellis, Jr. (“BooDaddy”); her son, Dan Allen Ellis; her mother, Isabella Yerion Farrow; her father, William Bland Farrow; her brothers, Donnie Farrow and Phil Farrow; and her sisters, Charlene Woods and Debbie Yager.
Carol will be remembered for her strength, her beauty inside and out, her welcoming spirit, her love of the outdoors, and, most of all, her unwavering devotion to her family and everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her presence will be deeply missed, but the love, warmth, and memories she gave to others will live on forever.
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