Elliott Silas Eley, Sr. was born March 9, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri to William Henry Eley and Nellie Harrison. He was raised by his mother and grandmother, Lula Harrison, whom he held dear to his heart.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Mattie J. Eley; great aunt, Lelia Hughes-Foster; grandmother, Lula Harrison; mother, Nellie Swink; stepfather, William Memphis Swink; father, William Henry Eley; sister, Erma Jeanette Martin; and brother, Agreatt Theodore "Teddy" Johnson.

Elliott was the oldest of his two brothers, Agreatt Theodore "Teddy" Johnson and Dennis Swink. He took on the responsibilities that came with being an older brother. He walked the path first and they followed.

He was educated in the Kansas City, Missouri School District and graduated from Manual High School in 1960. He earned an athletic scholarship and played football at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. After playing football, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a highly skilled sharpshooter.

Elliott was naturally gifted in several disciplines. Because he was a natural athlete in track and football, he tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs. His true passion ever since childhood was to get his mortuary license and open his own funeral home.

Before the manifestation of the funeral home, he married Mattie Jean Richard on October 1, 1966. Three children were born into this union: Elliott II, Rossilyn, and Richard. His spiritual journey moved him to join Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ in 1983, under the leadership of the late Rev. Earl Abel. He served our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by singing in the Mass Choir and serving as a Trustee.

Elliott was a Kansas City, Missouri Firefighter for 29 years. While he worked as a firefighter, he had a job on the side as all firemen did during that time.  He revisited that dream he had since high school, to be a mortician. He earned his Mortuary License in 1971 from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and worked for Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Chapel as an Embalmer. He was past President of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association.

He eventually pursued his childhood dream by opening his own funeral home business, E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc. in May of 1980. It was a family affair with his wife and children handing out flyers about the opening of their new business. The first funeral home was located at Linwood and Olive. As business increased, he moved business to another site located at Truman Road and Lister, where the business continues today. He gained some incredible friendships and mentors in the industry with Bill Meyers from ACME, Charlie Passantino from Passantino Funeral Home, and Mr. Lawrence A. Jones, Sr. from Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. He was highly respected in the Death Care Industry by many Funeral Directors, Funeral Home vendors, and customers.

Outside of being a Firefighter and Funeral Director, he loved bowling and playing pool checkers. He played on the traveling Palestine Missionary Baptist Church Bowling Team. He also traveled around the state, region, and America playing pool checkers. One year, he was crowned National Champion. He could be found at Gregg/Klice Community Center or Mohart Center (formerly the Linwood Multipurpose Center) playing checkers with friends. He was a 33rd Degree Mason and Past Master with Widow's Sons Lodge #17 of Kansas City, Kansas, Consistory #7, and Koran Temple #33.

Elliott was not a one-dimensional person. He also had a love for the precision, discipline, and musicality of the National Drum and Bugle Corps teams. He would have family vacations at the sites of the National Drum Corp competitions.

He always had a joke to tell, a city he wanted to visit, a King he wanted to crown in checkers, a buffet he wanted to try, a jazz song he wanted to hear. Elliott was a widower, father, and grandfather to seven grandchildren; and a great-grandfather to seven great-grandchildren. He was a cousin to the Hughes family, a friend to his firefighter buddies, a leader to his funeral staff, and a friend to those who he met. He will be missed.

Elliott leaves to celebrate his life and memories, his children, Elliott Eley, II (Angela), Kansas City, MO, Rossilyn Banks, Wichita, KS, and Richard Eley, Sr. (Silinda), Kansas City, MO; brother, Dennis Swink (Donna), Kansas City, MO; seven grandchildren, Jessica Eley, Reginald Burgin (Domina), Richard Eley II, Shalonda Eley, Isaiah Eley, Anthony Eley, and Meaghan Eley; seven great-grandchildren, Domiyla, Royale, Arjay, Robert, Autumn, Zakariah, and True; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Please join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Mr. Elliott S. Eley, Sr. at 11:00 A.M., Friday, August 2, 2024, at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, Kansas City, MO.  Burial, Mount Moriah Cemetery.  Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until 8 P.M. Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the chapel and from 9:00 A.M. until service time, Friday, August 2, 2024, at the church.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E.  S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc.