ROBERT WAYNE ELLIS

Robert “Bob” Wayne Ellis, 80, a longtime resident of Skagit Valley, died in the morning on Sunday, December 6.

Bob was born in Deer Lodge, Montana in October 1935, the second of five children to Edith and Wayne Ellis. He moved to the valley with his family as a young boy.

Bob attended school in Mount Vernon until he transferred and graduated in 1954 from La Conner High School. He was an All American track athlete, which continued into his time serving in the Army, when he was drafted in 1958 until 1960. During his service, he continued to participate in track and played football and basketball.

In 1964, Bob married his sweetheart, Charlotte Youngquist, a local farm girl and nurse. Together they raised two children and took in another.

In 1969, they settled in their Pleasant Ridge home, where they have resided since, surrounded by their family and wonderful neighbors.

As a young boy, Bob started his venture as a farmer. Whether it be berry picking or hauling hay, he grew fond of it — so much so, from there he started a partnership in dairy farming but eventually sold his cattle. Soon after, around 1970, he began his career at Texaco Refinery and retired in 1997. Many of his refinery coworkers like to remember him as “Lumpy.”

Bob was a wonderful gardener, sharing his gardening knowledge with his kids and grandkids, and sharing all that he grew with his neighbors and friends. His greatest joy was taking part in the lives of his children and grandchildren in everything they did and gathering together with his favorite Pleasant Ridge friends every week for lunch or dinner.

His favorite song was “You are my Sunshine,” and to his family, that is what he was, a man full of light, kind-hearted and generous, bringing laughter and joy wherever he went, always seasoned with a lil’ bit of ornery sass.

Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Charlotte, two sisters, MaryLee (Dave) Hurley, Sharon McIntyre, one brother, Jerry (Nancy) Ellis, three children, Wayne (Maria) Ellis, Jayne (Troy) Gilkey, Jarin Sliger, seven grandchildren, Jessica Ellis, Myca Gilkey and Alexander Kramer, Tara Gilkey, Kelly Gilkey and Kenneth Jungquist, Jacob Gilkey, Zoe Gilkey, Jessica Sliger, great-grandson Wyatt Kramer and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom he loved dearly.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Wayne Ellis; sister Glaine Olson; grandson, Joshua and his wife, Vanessa Ellis and great-grandson Hudson Ellis.

Thank you to all the doctors and Hospice personnel who treated and cared for our dear Robert.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., today, Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. A reception will follow at the McLean Road Fire Hall at the corner of Beaver Marsh and McLean Road.

You may share memories of Bob and offer your condolences to his family online at http://www.kernfuneralhome.com.

Services of under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.