12/12/2025
Edward Ellis
Edward LeRoy Ellis passed peacefully from this world, at the age of 83, on November 28th, 2025, in St George Utah, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Ed had been a resident in memory care at The Abbington Senior Living facility for 1 year and 8 months where he was both very stubborn and very charming, depending on the day.
Eddie was the pride and joy and only child born on August 1st, 1942 in Price Utah to Charles LeRoy and Melba Elizabeth (Laursen) Ellis. He grew up in Helper Utah where he loved playing baseball from Little League to American Legion. He was among the very first class to graduate from Carbon High School in 1960 where he was known for being charismatic, handsome and had a love for classic cars. He attended and graduated from electrician school in California and returned to Carbon County where he met his devoted wife, Margaret Ann Martin. They were married in Price on October 8th, 1963 (but he swore it was the 10th) and enjoyed each other’s companionship for 61 years before Margaret’s passing in 2024.
After five years of marriage, they were blessed with their only child, Anna Lee. Dad learned to like dance recitals and all things girly as I grew up. When I was 16, Dad bought me a 1981 Z28 Camaro and his love of cars was reignited. Growing up, Dad loved his toys, and we always had a trailer or motorhome for camping and a boat for fishing and waterskiing. I have very fond memories of trips to Lake Powell with all of Mom and Dad’s special friends who all became like family.
Dad loved riding his Harley and took several trips to Sturgis. He loved to party with friends at the Elks, where he was a lifelong member, and even liked to jitterbug with Mom after a few drinks. He loved his two grandsons, Christopher and Michael, with all his heart. He loved spending time with them when they were young and he could do all the “boy” things like baseball, fishing and camping. He spent many summers prepping baseball fields and cheering on Michael and his teammates. As the boys grew into young men, he loved being around them and having deep conversations about girls, politics, sports and everything in between. He was always so proud of them no matter what they did. Losing Chris was the hardest day of his life and it affected him deeply for the rest of his life.
Dad was a jack of all trades and had many careers throughout his life. He was an electrician at Tram Electric, a coal miner at Soldier Creek Mine, a salesman for Lawson (where he was salesman of the year twice), a dispatcher for the Utah Highway Patrol, a mechanic at the Bullfrog Marina in Lake Powell, a maintenance man at Castleview Hospital, and at age 50 he went through the Utah Police Academy and became a Corrections Officer where he worked for the Carbon County Sheriff’s office for many years before retiring in 2006. He could build anything and had every tool you could ever imagine and you only had to go into his garage to find what you needed. He never threw anything away because “someday you might need it” and it drove Mom crazy! While clearing out the house in Price when it sold, there was everything and anything from 55 years of living there. We could have opened a store and called it “Anything You Need & More”!
His longest job wasn’t really a job. Dad was a member of the Carbon County Search & Rescue for 45 years, and he was one of the founding members when it was known as the Jeep Patrol. He served as Commander for several years, as Secretary/Treasurer, and was instrumental in bringing the Demolition Derby to reality and becoming a Carbon County tradition to this day. He had a passion for helping people and went on every search he was called out on. It didn’t matter what time, where or what the weather was, he was always ready to serve. He went on plane crashes, floods, drownings, lost or missing persons, and even searched for a victim of Ted Bundy.
Dad was a lifelong resident of Carbon County until 2020, after living in the same house on 2nd South for 55 years. He was snow-bird resident of St George since 2018 to be close to us and then became a full- time resident when he and Mom started having health issues. He lived at The Abbington Senior Assisted Living for the last few years, where he loved to flirt with “the pretty girls”. Once we got him there, he never wanted to leave. He received great care and we would like to thank the staff at the Abbington and Applegate Hospice for their professionalism and patience.
Edward is survived by his loving daughter Anna Lee and James Cordova, who he considered his son and best friend. (St George, Ut); his beloved grandson Michael Ezequiel Cordova and his beautiful great granddaughter Aviana Love Cordova (West Valley City, Ut). He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret Ann, and grandson Christopher James Cordova.
Dad was never much for funerals and chose cremation like Mom. Graveside services will take place at a later date in St George, Utah where both Mom and Dad will be buried next to Chris. Though our branches are few, our roots are strong and we will miss your sense of humor and stubborn ways. We know you are with Mom and Chris and happy again. Love you Dad…….
Arrangements are in the compassionate care of Castle Valley Funerals & Cremations where family and friends are always welcome and may share memories online at www.castlevalleyfunerals.com.
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