Funeral Services for Ellis R. “Sonny” Passmore of Hattiesburg are Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. at Rosehill Cemetery.

Visitation is Sunday, Feb. 14 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Ellis R. “Sonny” Passmore, 80, died peacefully with his family by his side on Feb. 11, 2016, in Hattiesburg. Sonny, formerly of Brookhaven, had resided in Hattiesburg with his wife and children since 1989. He was born in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 1, 1935 to the late Ellis Russell Passmore and Elizabeth Bacon Passmore.

Sonny attended the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State and the University of Florida. He graduated from Dallas Institute-Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Services in 1959. His career in the funeral business spanned 25 years in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sonny was a former private pilot, Master Mason (York Rite) and 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner and member of the Civitan Club. Sonny was baptized with his wife and daughter into the First Baptist Church of Brookhaven in 1985. After retiring from the funeral business he became a bench jeweler, opening Passmore’s Jewelry Repair, before finally retiring in Hattiesburg.

A doting husband, loving father and grandfather, Sonny is survived by the love of his life, Caroline Cohen Passmore, formerly of Brookhaven; his two daughters, Jennifer Passmore of Hattiesburg and Beth Boutwell of Columbia; his two sons, Mark Passmore of Petal and Russ Passmore of Kennesaw, Georgia; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and sister, June Williams of New York.

Memorials may be made to University Baptist Church, 3200 Arlington Loop, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.