Ronald “Ron” Lee Ellis, 80, of Cottage Grove passed away March 22, 2020. He was born Oct. 27, 1939, in Armathwaite, Tenn., to parents Clarence and Reba (Payne) Ellis.
Ron attended Cottage Grove High School and then went into the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves. He married Shirley Stephenson on Dec. 30, 1957, in Roseburg.
Ron was a mechanic working mainly on vehicles in the agricultural field. He tinkered on anything he thought he could fix. He loved to work on anything with a motor. Ron restored and modified many vehicles in his lifetime.
As he became more ill, he would take old clocks and bring them to life, many of which were on his walls at his time of death. Ron was also comforted by his beloved dog Diva.
He is survived by his wife Shirley; daughter Debby Roman of Roseville, Calif; son Ron Ellis of Pleasant Hill; son Vince Ellis of Cottage Grove; son Russell Ellis of Cottage Grove; sister Wilene Hultberg of Corvallis, Ore; sister Jeannie Needham of Pleasant Hill; 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
A private family graveside service was held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove.
