Evard Pitts Ellison

Evard Pitts Ellison, 89, passed away on the 10th of August 2012, in Houston. Evard was born to Everett John Ellison and Effie Pitts Ellison on the 25th of January 1923, in San Francisco, California. Following his graduation from Balboa High School, he worked in Los Padres National Forest as a fire lookout. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and was selected for the Army Specialized Training Forces. He met his sweetheart, Laurie Lee (Sandy) Brame, while stationed near her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Following his honorable discharge, Evard obtained his Bachelors in Geology from the University of Missouri. Evard and Laurie Lee were married in 1947 and returned to San Francisco where Evard worked for Shell Development. He later received a Masters in Geology from the University of Missouri. He worked for Texaco in Houston, then they moved to Beaumont, Texas, to work for Sun Oil as a petroleum geologist. In 1962, he and his family moved back to Houston where he worked for North Central Oil Company. Two years later he started Elloco Oil as an independent geologist and was an original founder of the Houston Log Library.

A lover of nature and travel, Evard spent his formative years hiking the Sierra Nevadas. As his family grew, his weekends and summers were spent at their lakehouse on Lake LBJ, where he taught his daughters and their friends to sail and waterski. Later in life he enjoyed sailing Galveston Bay and chartering sailboats around the world, including the British Virgin Islands. Perhaps most enjoyable for all were car trips throughout the Rocky Mountains and the American West with the whole family. He instilled his passion for the natural world in his children and grandchildren. He was also known for his mischievous streak, always keeping the grandchildren on their toes as they awaited his next antic.

Evard is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Laurie Lee; daughter, Edell LaRue and husband Robert; daughter, Elaine Schneider and husband Kenneth; and daughter, Elizabeth Craig and husband George. He is additionally survived by grandson, Ryan LaRue and wife Katie; granddaughter Dr. Lauren LaRue Walker and husband Kenneth; granddaughter, Virginia Schneider Keith and husband Charles; grandson, Eric Schneider; and granddaughters, Kristen and Melanie Martin, all of whom he was immensely proud. He is also survived by Kristin Groth, a "bonus" daughter and sister who lived with the Ellison family as an exchange student from Norway.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the health professionals and Palliative Care team at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

The memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 14th of August, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Senior Associate Rector for Pastoral Care, and the Rev. John R. Bentley, Jr., Priest Associate for Pastoral Care, are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Yosemite Conservancy, 101 Montgomery St, Ste 1700, San Francisco, CA, 94104, or www.yosemiteconservancy.org.