Ellis Carroll Magee, beloved and admired by family and friends, passed away in Covington on June 26, 2016, after a brief illness and hospital stay.

Born in Franklinton on Feb. 18, 1928, he grew up on a dairy farm and graduated from Franklinton High School as valedictorian, before earning his juris doctor degree from LSU Law School, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class. He served in leadership roles throughout college and was on the Louisiana Law Review staff.

After serving in the army during the Korean War as an instructor in psychological warfare, he was on staff for U.S. Sen. Russell Long before opening a general law practice in Franklinton. His ties to the dairy industry continued as he became general manager of the Gulf Milk Association and legal counsel for the Louisiana Milk Commission in the 60s and 70s.

He then served until retirement with Attorney General William Guste as the First Assistant Attorney General, overseeing the Civil Division and the Baton Rouge office. Some of his many duties included drafting legislation, media relations, litigation and lobbying.

After retirement, he served as counsel to the Zachary Taylor Parkway Commission, which built the Audubon Bridge in West Feliciana Parish. Ellis had a huge network of friends and admirers with his generous, charming, and witty ways. He was sincerely interested in people and knew how to win people over with real kindness.

A longtime resident of Baton Rouge before moving to St. Tammany Parish, he was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church. Ellis also really enjoyed residing at Christwood Retirement Community in Covington and cherished all the friends he made there.

He is survived by his devoted daughter, Janet Fabre Smith and son-in-law Larry Smith; daughters, Melanie Dixon and Marsha O’Brien; and son, Steven Magee and daughter-in-law Sherryl Magee. He also adored his granddaughters, Alicia Magee and Victoria and Grace Dixon.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Hilda Joyce Magee; and his parents, Steve and Florence Magee.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Covington, located at 16333 Louisiana Highway 1085, Thursday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Christwood Foundation at 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, LA 70433 or to the LSU Foundation online at lsufoundation.org/magee to benefit the Ellis C. Magee Forestry Scholarship.