Edward Lawrence Ellis

Edward Lawrence “Ed” Ellis, 84, passed away January 3, 2017, at his home in Olympia, Washington. He was born August 4, 1932, to Fred Lafayette Ellis and Mary Viola Leighty Ellis in Orlando, Florida. Ed married Phyllis J. Miller in 1951 and they had five children, Pamela J. Giddens (deceased), Debra E. Short (deceased), Edward L. Ellis Jr., Patricia A. Holloway, and Barbara J. Gallagher. In 1971, Ed married C. Kay Fillmore, who brought three children to the union, Patricia L. Rhodes, S. Colleen Ives, and Erin U. DeAtley. Together they added Steven R. Ellis and Marsha K. Rand to the family. Ed served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. After retiring from military service, he took a managing position with Hertz Rental Cars. With his positon at Hertz, Ed was able to take Kay and the kids for a vendor preview to Disneyland before officially opening to the general public. Then he worked video security for the United States Postal Service, moving the family to Morrow, Georgia. A short year and a half later, Ed and Kay took the family to Kay’s family home in Stevensville, Montana, where they all dived into dairy farming and country living. As Ed’s working days wound down, he spent several years as an area manager and regional manager for Bally’s Aladdin’s Castle in Missoula, Montana and Kaysville, Utah. Before leaving Montana, Ed and Steve worked together, manufacturing and delivering munitions for law enforcement in Montana, Idaho, Utah and Arizona. When Marsha and Steve graduated from high school, Ed and Kay moved to Battleground, Washington, where they managed apartments before finally retiring and moving to Olympia, Washington. From the “yours, mine and ours” union, Ed is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kay; eight children, 32 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren whose lives will all be lessened without him. He is also survived by his sisters, Barbara C. Laws, Thelma Pagelow, Sarah Barker, and Juanita Williams. Edward was predeceased by two children, his parents, three brothers, and a sister. Please leave memories of Ed or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.