Margaret Juanita Ellis
February 23, 1936 – May 29, 2021
MARGARET’S OBITUARY
Margaret Juanita Ellis, nuclear activist and longtime resident of Oak Cliff and Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2021 at the age of 85. Juanita was born February 23, 1936 in Tyler, Texas to Violet Bynum Truitt and J.L. Truitt. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 52 years Jerry Lee Ellis.
She is survived by her cousin Nyles Bynum and wife Jan of Farmers Branch, Texas.
Juanita met Jerry while she was a parishioner and church secretary at Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church. Following their marriage, Juanita and Jerry worked together for many years in the family business, Ellis Nursery and Garden Center on Clarendon. Juanita’s career as an activist began when she became aware of safety concerns at the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose. Juanita joined and then assumed a leadership role for Citizen’s Association for Sound Energy (CASE), a consumer watchdog group. As president of CASE, Juanita responded to the concerns of a growing number of frustrated Comanche Peak whistleblowers, and under her leadership CASE intervened in the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) proceedings for Comanche Peak. A 14 year battle against TU Electric before the ASLB and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ensued. With the help of the whistleblowers, Juanita and CASE produced evidence of dangerous construction and design flaws that led the ASLB to order reinspection and reconstruction of major portions of the plant. Following that victory, Juanita was able to negotiate an unprecedented settlement that included fair compensation for the whistleblowers and a five-year safety oversite role, allowing CASE engineering consultants to monitor operations inside the plant. Through her leadership and determination millions of residents in the Southwest United States and beyond are safer for generations to come.
Our sincere gratitude goes out to the caregivers who assisted Juanita at the end of her life. Many of you held a special place in Juanita’s heart and ours.
A funeral service will be held Friday, June 11 at Hughes Funeral Home – Oak Cliff Chapel, 400 E. Jefferson Blvd, Dallas; 11:00 AM visitation followed by 12:00 PM service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Environmental Defense Fund (edf. org/donate)
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VISITATION
Hughes Funeral Home – Oak Cliff Chapel
- Friday, June 11, 2021
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- 400 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75203
FUNERAL SERVICE
Hughes Funeral Home – Oak Cliff Chapel
- Friday, June 11, 2021
- 12:00 PM
- 400 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75203
INTERMENT
Oak Grove Memorial Gardens
- Friday, June 11, 2021
- 1413 E. Irving Blvd
Irving, TX 75060
