Ellis Earl Chance, Jr. 81, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at Anderson's Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the Newton County Funeral Home-South in Newton, Mississippi with funeral services immediately following.  Burial will be in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, MS.  Fr. Augustine Palimattam will officiate. Newton County Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (601) 635-3200.

Ellis was born September 2, 1938 in Meridian, MS to Ethel Branton Chance and Ellis E. Chance, Sr.  He attended elementary, high school (Class of 1956) and junior college in Meridian. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1960 and then taught Junior High and High School in Meridian until 1965.  During his teaching career in Meridian, he served both as President and Vice President of the Meridian Teachers Association.  In 1965 he returned to Mississippi State University as a Graduate Assistant to work on a Master's Degree, teaching two classes while taking three classes each semester.

He served in the Mississippi Air National Guard in the 153 ^rd Tac Recon Sq. for six years.

In 1967 he moved to St. Louis, MO to work for the computer division of RCA which later merged with Univac and then with Burroughs to become Unisys Computer Company.  After 24 years he began work for the Information Systems Division of SSM, a large Catholic health care system based in St. Louis.

He retired and moved to Ft. Myers, FL in 1998 and then back to Meridian in 2005.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ellis, Sr. and Ethel Branton Chance; step-mother,  Loyette Chance; brothers,  Milton Chance and John Chance.

Survivors include brothers:  Paul Chance (Nita), Dr. Rickey Chance (Vena); nephews Justin Chance and Ethan Chance (Brooke); niece, Laura Boudreaux (Ryan); great-nephew, Ian Chance and great-nieces Collins Chance and Ella Boudreaux; lifelong friend Les Phillips, and many friends in St. Louis, MO.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Barnett, Rusty McMillan, Ethan Chance, Ryan Boudreaux, Justin Chance, and Brad Herman.