Jeffrey Derek Ellison

Jeffrey Derek Ellison was born on June 27, 1961, in Orange, California, and he left us far too soon on December 21, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. Throughout his life, Jeff’s light touched the lives of others in ways large and small, known and unknown. From being a well of strength and support for loved ones during challenging times to bringing a smile to a stranger’s face with a kind word or deed, Jeff was always there for others.

Words can never capture the totality of Jeff’s life, but the highlights include being an alumnus of Bremerton High School, Class of 1979, where he excelled in both basketball and track, and set the school record in 1979 for the 440-yard dash—a record he held for 34 years.

Following his high school graduation, Jeff enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a distinguished military career of which he was enormously proud. He served 13 years on active duty with assignments to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Osan Air Base, Korea; McClellan Air Force Base, California; and Sembach Air Base, Germany. He completed his military service primarily in the United States Air Force Reserve, assigned to the 446 Mission Support Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, with a recall to active duty during the Gulf War. He officially retired on August 1, 2012, at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant after a combined 33 years of service, but his heart was always Air Force.

While serving in the Reserves, Jeff began a civilian career with the Washington State Department of Corrections in 1993. He served as a Corrections Officer and later as a Shift Sergeant at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, where he was recognized as the CCCC Correctional Officer of the Year in 1996. He continued his career with DOC, becoming a Correctional Investigator at Washington Corrections Center and retiring in August of 2022.

Jeff met the love of his life, Yvonne Jennings, at Keesler Air Force Base in October 1982 and they were engaged two years later. Unfortunately, life and circumstances intervened, and they ended their engagement several months later with both going on to build separate lives. Jeff then met and married Denise Beaudette, with whom he shared nearly 32 years of life filled with family, friends, and numerous adventures until her passing.

Finally, as sometimes happens, Jeff and Yvonne found each other again and were finally married on October 10, 2020. Though long delayed, they were grateful for and cherished every moment of their second chance. All day and always!

Jeff is survived by his wife Yvonne Ellison and step-children David Thomas, Patrick Stevens, and Jessica Steiger; his mother M. Frances Morris; his brother Tom Ellison, sister-in-law Karla Ellison, and nieces Kylah and Tiana Ellison; his sister Cynthia Ellison; his brother

Craig Morris, sister-in-law Regina Morris, and nephew Seta Kotoisuva; his aunts Patricia Lampkin and Nel Anderson; and his cousins Ciana Cullens and Mark Anderson.

Jeff will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery on January 20, 2026, at 11:30 AM with a reception to follow from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Meridian Grange, 15422 SE 272nd St., Kent, WA 98042. Space may be limited at the interment, but any and all who wish to join in remembrance at the reception are welcome.