Ellis Bland Hancey

Our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, and friend, Ellis Bland Hancey, 72, died quietly Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at his home in Hyde Park from complications of an extended illness. He was surrounded by loving family members. Ellis was born May 7, 1930, in Hyde Park, Utah, to John Willard and Elvira C. Hansen Hancey, the eighth of nine children. He married Dora Jean Buchanan Oct. 21, 1949 in Lafayette, Indiana. They then returned to Logan. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple three years later on Oct. 21, 1952. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary three years ago. Ellis attended Cache County schools, graduating from North Cache High School and Seminary in 1948. He left that summer for Lafayette, Indiana, where he attended Purdue University, pursuing an education in the field of electronics that would culminate in a lifetime occupation of electronic service work. He graduated from the DeForests Training Institute in the field of electronics in 1952. In 1954 Ellis and Dora bought the house and shop on the corner of 1000 North and Main in Logan and successfully ran Intermountain Radio and TV for 36 1/2 years. In 1983, Ellis was hired as a bio-medical engineer by Logan Regional Hospital. There he maintained and repaired most of the electronic medical devices, from fetal monitors to dialysis machines. He derived a great deal of joy and satisfaction in this work. Ellis had a deep and abiding love for the outdoors. From his youngest days he preferred to be outside. This love carried over into his adult years and manifested itself in many ways. He was an ardent gardener, producing literally tons of potatoes, as well as other produce in his garden. One of the greatest pleasures of his life was sharing the harvests of his work. He also loved the mountains and knew the ranges, hollows, and springs around Cache Valley by sight and name. He instilled this love in his family through camping trips, picnics, and extended hiking excursions. He was an original member of the Cache County Sheriff?s Search and Rescue Jeep Patrol, and his knowledge of the mountains proved invaluable in many situations. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. For 31 years, he hunted elk during archery season. Fishing was another great pleasure to him, and he spent many mornings and evenings on the rivers. His love for the outdoors was shared by sons and grandchildren who accompanied him on these ventures. Many scouts were blessed by his knowledge of Scouting ethics and love of the outdoors. He served as a Scoutmaster for many years, and was awarded the District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver award. He obtained his pilot?s license in 1950 and was an original member of the Logan Civil Air Patrol. He loved flying, especially over the mountains to check on television translator systems he installed, and on elk herds. He was a licensed Ham radio operator with the call sign, KC7CXE. A faithful and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ellis served with great spirituality and love in many callings including bishop, Seventy, and stake and ward mission leader. At the time of his death, he was serving as Patriarch to the Hyde Park, Utah Stake. One of the high points of his life was an 18-month mission he and Dora served in the New York, New York North Family History Mission, from 1998 to 1999. There they served in the Family History Center in Manhattan assisting patrons in genealogical research, sharing the gospel, and working with the young missionaries. A devoted genealogist, Ellis researched and extracted thousands of names, submitting hundreds for temple work. Together he and Dora researched family lines back for many generations, creating volumes of lineages and histories as they bound their families together. He loved attending the temple, doing the work for his ancestors. A faithful journal writer, he wrote daily in his journal for nearly 26 years. Serving others brought Ellis immense joy. Family, neighbors, friends, even strangers were blessed by his constant giving of self as he served in countless ways. His enthusiasm for life was contagious. He was loved by all who knew him. Above all, Ellis loved being with, teaching, and serving his family. Ellis is survived by his wife, Dora, of Hyde Park; son Curtiss Barbara of Livermore, Cal.; daughters Donna Danny Erickson of North Ogden; Louise John Brown of Layton; Sylvia Lornel Tibbitts of Logan; Marianne Casey Christensen of Los Angeles, Cal., and sons David Laurel of Hyde Park; and Neil Lauri of Clearfield; 23 grandchildren, five great grandchildren; brothers Lynn Roxie of Providence; and Glenn Betty of North Logan; and sister Julene, Loyd Gustaveson of Washington Terrace. He was preceded in death by his parents; one infant son, James Willard; a brother, Ray; and sisters Bertha Gittins, Norma Skabelund, LaVerne Dukes, and Iva Smith. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Duane Bohman, Dr.Glen Mortensen, Dr. Edward Redd, and the nurses and staff at Logan Regional Hospital for their loving and tender care. If preferred, the family offers Ellis?s request that donations be made in lieu of flowers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? missionary fund. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7, 2003, at noon in the Hyde Park First Ward, 480 North 100 West, Hyde Park, Utah, with Bishop Chris Randall conducting. Friends may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home in Logan, 162 East 400 North, and Monday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Hyde Park Cemetery. Condolences to the family may be extended online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .