Nov. 26, 1945 ~ Jan. 30, 2021
Robert James Ellison, age 75, passed away January 30, 2021 in Richfield, Utah.
He was born November 26, 1945 in Eugene, Oregon to Albert James and Ruth Marie Neuschwander Ellison. Robert (RJ or Bob) was the second of seven children born to them.
RJ grew up on the family farm on the banks of the Willamette River outside of Creswell, Oregon. There he learned to work hard and to enjoy life with his family. He enjoyed caring for the young animals especially. During the farming off-season, he spent a lot of time with extended family hunting in Eastern Oregon and salmon fishing off the coast.
After graduating from high school, RJ enlisted in the Navy. Later he became a sheet metal worker. He had a sense of adventure and set off to work on the Alaska Pipeline and then went to work in Hawaii leading mule trains into the Leper Colonies there. He has held many jobs in various places since then, mostly as a truck driver.
Eventually RJ moved to Aurora, Utah, and married the love of his life, Pamela Ann Young on July 28, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was able to help care for her when she became ill.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, RJ became concerned with getting his life in order. With the help and teachings of missionaries, friends, and neighbors in Aurora, RJ was able to return to the temple and had plans of continuing to study and learn more of the gospel.
RJ had many challenges and hardships in his life. He lost his dear wife Pam in January 2018 and immediately became very ill himself, spending the past three years under medical care.
He is survived by his children: Ryan Ellison, Aurora, Utah; Jeremy (Heather) Ellison, Bend, Oregon; Kimber Ellison, Payson, Utah; stepdaughters: Stacy Ann (Jim) McAlister, Rancho Cucamonga, California and Tracy Bullard, Saint Regis, Montana; 5 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, 5 step-great-grandchildren, and siblings: Donna Welty, David (Wendy) Ellison, Terry Hazelton, and Barbara (Ken) Moxley.
RJ is preceded in death by his wife, Pamela; his parents, Albert and Ruth Ellison; and his twin brothers, Billie Lee Ellison and Bobbie Dee Ellison.
