Donald Evan Ellibee

Donald Evan Ellibee June 5, 1939 ~ October 12, 2021 Don passed in peace after reaching the young age of 82, although he always said he was eternally 16. He was welcomed home by his Savior, his parents, Leroy Tolen and Bessie V. Ellibee, all of his 15 brothers and sisters, his son, David Russell Ellibee, and various other family and friends. He grew up in Parma, Idaho, with family surrounding him. He worked on the sugar beet farm, planting, caring for and harvesting them. It is from his family that he learned to love others and to work hard. His nieces and nephews were his friends, as he was one of the youngest of the 16 children. He enjoyed school, math, science and reading, as well, and his love of knowledge for many things stayed with him throughout his life. After meeting the love of his life on a Greyhound bus years earlier, he married Juanita Berniece Barrett July 8, 1966. Don and Anita were sealed for Time and All Eternity in the Mesa, Arizona temple December 17, 1981. They’ve lived from Florida to Wyoming, San Diego to Idaho, Virginia Beach to finally where they settled in for the last 43 years in Cedar Grove, New Mexico. Loving dad of Richard James (Karen Bernice) Ellibee, of Lawton, Oklahoma, David Russell Ellibee, Sheila Jo (Mark Allen) McBryant, of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and Nicole Ellibee (Kurtis Louis) Brown of Pleasant Grove, Utah. Proud grandpa of Jessica Shannon (Sean) Curran, Ryan Curtiss Ellibee, Hannah Nicole Blackman, Richard Seth (Kaitlyn Nicole) Alexander, Joshua Kurtis Brown, Manuel Evan David Alexander, Ethan Cougar (Josie Dannielle) Brown, Aundrea Nicole (Quinton) Downs, Lillian Emma Isobel Alexander, Kaden Drew Brown, Santana LeNora Alexander and Peyton Tolen Brown. And even prouder great-grandpa of Shannon Rylie and Hannah Claire Curran, and Eli Gavin, McKenzie Nicole, Roman Ty, Maddox Bentley and Christopher Adam, Jr. Blackman. Don will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a loving husband, favorite dad and dear friend and Bishop, a collector of arrowheads, bolo ties and belt buckles, seeing people for who they are, his quick hug, his steadfastness in the gospel, his diligence and sense of duty. His love of country was profound and he proudly served 20 years in the US Navy, retiring as an E-7 Chief Petty Officer in 1978. He received the Good Conduct medal, Vietnam Service medal, Vietnam Campaign medal, Navy Achievement medal and the National Defense Service medal. He also received the Expert Pistol and Rifle Qualification and was a member of the Navy Shooting Team for many years. After retiring from the Navy, he spent his career as an electrical technician, working on many projects, and was published numerous times in various journals and papers with regards to his high standards of work and experimentation. Don was a giant of a man. He was loyal to his family, friends, employers and community. There’s nothing that a few Oreos, 1. always eaten in 3’s, 2. *across* the package, of course, a good bowl of beans or a stop at Dairy Queen for a #3 couldn’t cure. He’s known for his dignified ways, quick wit and big smile. He was a knowledge-base of our family history, enjoyed sitting down to a show or two of M*A*S*H or a good old-fashioned western. He loved camping with his family and often brought others with him, showing them the ropes to even the most trepidatious of explorers. You could always find him with a package of Oreos, a tool or a steering wheel in his hand, usually being used to help someone else. He often said he was the doer of much and a master of none. To all of us that know him, we loved him dearly. He was the calm in our storm and a light unto many. His quest for knowledge will live on through his great posterity. His love for his Savior was pure and known. He didn’t shy away from what was right and loving others into believing it within themselves. He also loved the gospel and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the people he came in contact with because of it. He treasured all of his relationships. He simply liked people. Services will be held October 23, 2021 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 18 Edgewood 7 Edgewood, New Mexico. There will be a viewing at 10:00 am, day of. Funeral services will be 11:00am. Graveside services will commence thereafter at the Stanley Cemetery 3947 NM-41 Stanley, New Mexico. Lights on, please. Dedication of the grave will be given by Jim Kearns. Full military honors provided. A luncheon for family and guests will be provided at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Edgewood. Please come, have an Oreo and visit for a while. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to The Estancia Valley Classical Academy Foundation to help preserve our nation’s founding principles. Please email contactus@evcafoundation.org to donate or call (505)-431-3822.