Jody Lynn Ellis was born August 12, 1963 at Star Valley Hospital to Leonard and Kayleen Ellis. On that blessed Monday parents, relatives and big sister Trenda, were all ecstatic to meet the new 7lb 3 oz baby girl. She grew up in Woods Cross, Utah and after a while the family moved to Arizona where a baby brother and sister were added to the family. During this time Jody showed an immense love for her siblings and all of the family pets. Jody as a little girl loved to sing to her Aunt Kathy who just knew she was going to be a famous singer someday!

About the time Jody was nine her parents parted ways and her mother, Kayleen, moved the family of five to her own hometown, Star Valley. It was here that Kayleen met and married Jody’s new step-dad, Ross Dana. Jody by now was focusing on her love and skill of working with horses. She and her mother’s horse, Shamey, were highly involved in 4-H and showing in multiple events at the Lincoln County Fair. Together they worked hard and accumulated several ribbons and awards through the years. One of her fondest memories was beating her Aunt Kathy in a Halter Class one year.

Jody graduated from Star Valley High School in 1981. She then found work in Bondurant doing seismographing and later transferred to Eagle Butte, S.D. It was there that Jody’s oldest daughter, Ember Lynn Dana was born. Then another daughter, Mandy Jasperson, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Then came the boys, Dylan and Rusty ChasingHawk, who were born in Eagle Butte, S.D. and Kermit (Kye) Ellis, who was born in Rapid City, S.D. Jody dearly loved her children and wanted nothing more than for them to be happy and live happy lives.

Jody left this earth on Feb. 18, 2009 and will always be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. She’s survived by her father, Leonard Ellis (Oracle, Ariz.), her mother and step-father, Kayleen and Ross Dana (Thayne), her daughters; Ember Dana (Buffalo) and Mandy Jasperson (Gillette), her sons; Dylan ChasingHawk (Timberlake, S.D.), Rusty ChasingHawk (Pierre, S.D.) and Kermit (Kye) Ellis (Pierre, S.D.), grandchildren; Dyson Van Dana and Tehya Spring Bagaso (Buffalo), brother Stan “Karla” Ellis (Duncan, Ariz.), sisters; Trinda Brown (Tuscan, Ariz.) and Michelle Dana (Tooele, Utah), several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents.