Michael Lee Ellard

Michael “Mike” Lee Ellard, 77, of Grants Pass died Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Three Rivers Community Hospital. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Anne Catholic Church at 10 AM on Friday, January 10, 2025, with a Rosary being recited at 9:30 AM. All are welcome. Burial will follow at 1 PM at Eagle Point National Cemetery with military honors. All are welcome at this ceremony as well. Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapel-valley.com. Contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Social Services 132 SE H St. Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Mike was born April 7, 1947, in Evansville, Indiana to Abel Herman Ellard and Juanita Alma Robertson. While attending high school he helped to supplement his family income by working in a local restaurant and conducting lawn maintenance, while also participating in football, baseball, wrestling, and earned a few different belts including a black belt in martial arts. He was able to graduate high school on time from Bonita High in 1965. He then went on to attend Mt. San Antonio Community College where he also taught martial arts during this time. However, due to the progression of the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

During his time in the US Air Force, Mike earned the rank of Sergeant and was in Special Ops. He engaged in combat during Vietnam during which time two different planes he was on were shot down and he was engaged in the Tet Offensive. He served in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. He survived when many of his brothers in combat did not. Because of his time in the service and seeing some of his closest friends not come home, Mike was a proud patriot and held a deep love for our country.

After being honorably discharged from the Air Force he continued his education at Boise State College in Idaho. During Mike’s professional career he held four main jobs over the years. He became a photojournalist for United Press International where he traveled the world and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for featured photography. Later he became a newscaster for ABC Chanel 6 in Boise where he was nominated for a Northwest Regional Emmy for best news story. During his time in newscasting, he was co-owner of Rising Star Productions bringing classic jazz performers to Boise, Idaho.

Mike later became an engineer for Hewlett-Packard until the company moved oversees where he traveled to China on numerous occasions to train new employees. Prior to retirement, Mike lastly worked for the State of Idaho as a Procurement Manager for 49 offices of vocational rehabilitation.

On January 5, 2014, Mike reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Maureen, after not seeing or talking to each other in over 50 years. They were married at St. Anne Catholic Church on June 11, 2016. They enjoyed many adventures in the 10 years they were together. Mike passed on the 11-year anniversary of their reconnection.

Mike enjoyed fly fishing, golfing, gardening, photography, music (country, folk, jazz, and blue grass). He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion. He also had a great love of horses and enjoyed riding in his younger years. Classic trucks and cars were also a passion, and he owned many of them throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen Hutcheson-Ellard, of Grants Pass, his three children, Scott Movius, of Hemet, California, Wendy Selesky, of Alton, New Hampshire, and Jacquelyn Blackstone, of Westerville, Ohio. In addition, he is also survived by his brother, Gary Ellard, of Evansville, Indiana and two stepchildren, Christopher Hutcheson, of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Allison Martin, of Grants, Pass, Oregon. He is further survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is proceeded in death by his brother, Tommy Ellard.

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A funeral service for Michael will be held Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Anne Catholic Church, 1131 NE 10th St, Grants Pass, OR 97526. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at 1:00 PM at Eagle Point National Cemetery, 2763 Riley Rd, Eagle Point, OR 97524.