Ellis retires after 50 years in insurance industry

MEEKER I She has been the face of Meeker’s Farm Bureau insurance agency for more than 13 years and worked at the Colescott Agency for five years before that. All together, January 2012 marks Elaine Ellis’ 50th year in the insurance industry and, she has decided, a good place to stop. She’ll retire at the end of December.
Anyone who spends half a century in one industry must love their work. For Ellis, helping people and “giving them options instead of a stamp on their previous coverage” has been the best part of her job.
She’ll miss her right-hand partner and friend at the agency for 11 years, Linda Cogswell, and all the clients she has helped with their insurance needs over the years.
I would like to thank all of my clients for their patronage and friendship over the years. I will miss each and every one. May the Lord bless all of you,” she said.
Ellis’ husband Fred is well-known for his cowboy poetry and his prison and youth ministries.
“I will be traveling with Fred in his ministry and his one-man show as well as working with his youth ministry during the summer. We also plan to invite chaplains and ministers and their wives to stay with us for a getaway where I can pamper and cater to them.”
The Ellis’ have three sons and five grandchildren and she plans spend more time with them “since I will have the time.”
Farm Bureau clientele will have a new agent to pick up where Ellis leaves off, ensuring continuity in their service.
“My replacement will be James Amick. I pray that the Lord blesses him in his new position and feel confident he will fill my shoes,” Ellis said.