Ellis' Final Days Made Colorful –Cagle

"He never thought he was a good artist," Ellis' widow, Maria, told the newspaper. "He knew color, but he never in his life imagined putting it on a canvas."

As his condition worsened, Ellis would rely on his daughter, Gina, to carry out his artistic vision. He would text her ideas and, toward the end, would use eye blinking to communicate. Even when his body wouldn't respond, Ellis' heart helped convey his sentiments, courtesy of his daughter.