Ellis Robert Johnson

Ellis Robert Johnson, 17, was born to Tim and Jennifer Johnson in Abilene, Kan., on Mar. 24, 1999, and died Dec. 1, 2016. He was a senior at Abilene High School where he was an Honor Roll Student, a member of the Student Council for three years, a member of the German National Honor Society, and a writer for the AHS Booster. Elliss part-time employment included the Abilene Public Library as a circulation desk attendant and Holm Automotive Center. He began showing his artistic skills as a preschooler and continued drawing into high school as he drew caricatures for friends. He enjoyed doing low poly graphic design artistry and received a Judges Choice Award at the NCKL Art Competition. Ellis was a natural with technology and built his own computer. He was a skilled photographer and made an online video seriesThe Hoodie Brotherswith his friends. Ellis appreciated many types of music and excelled at playing the trombone. He was selected to the Kansas Honor Band, played in Jazz Band in both middle school and high school, and played with the Abilene Municipal Band. He was also a member of the 2014 Sister City Delegation which traveled to Omitama, Japan, and made many lasting friendships. Even more important, Ellis was a creative, self-directed individual who, at the age of three, told his mother, "I want to do, what I want to do, when I want to do it." This perseverance and independence never wavered. He was the youngest member of the Great Plains Theatres first improv ensemble, a lover of idiosyncratic film makers such as the Coen Brothers and Monty Python, and a fan of an eclectic mix of music including Big Band, 90s Hip Hop and A Tribe Called Quest. To his friends and family, he was a generous, subtly affectionate, and patient individual with a brilliant mind and wit that matched no other. Ellis was a life-long member of the Abilene First United Methodist Church and was active in the youth group. He was recently accepted to Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and was to begin in fall of 2017. He was awarded scholarships for academics, music, and science. Ellis is survived by his parents, Tim and Jennifer Johnson of the home; his brother Gabe Johnson of North Newton, Kan.; paternal grandparents Mike and Gwyn Johnson of Abilene; and maternal grandparents Retha (Bill) Antoniello of Leavenworth, Kan., and John Wayne (Verna) Raines of Leavenworth, Kan.; aunts Katy (Kenny) Graves of Salina, Kan., Betsy (Hardy) Whitten of San Diego, Cal., Emily (Jason) DeSanto of Chicago, Ill., and Jill (Michael) Van Houweling of Urbandale, Ia.; and eight cousins, all who adore him immensely. Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 3 from 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. A second visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 4; Service of Death and Resurrection will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 4. Everything will take place at the Abilene First United Methodist Church. Donations in Elliss memory may be made to USD 435 Abilene High School Band, 1300 N. Cedar St., Abilene, KS 67410, the Abilene Public Library, 209 NW 4th, Abilene, KS 67410 (http://abilene.lib.nckls.org/), the Great Plains Theatre, P.O. Box 476, 401 Cottage Ave., Abilene, KS 67410 (http://www.greatplainstheatre.com/), the Abilene Municipal Band, c/o Abilene City Hall, 419 N. Broadway St., Abilene, KS 67410, or the Midwest Transplant Network, 1035 N. Emporia Ave. #100, Wichita, KS 67206. Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com