Edmund G. Ellis, Sr.

Edmund G. Ellis, Sr., died Nov. 17 on Bainbridge. He was 98.

He was born July 4, 1906 in Minneapolis, Minn. His family moved in 1911 to Port Townsend, Wash., where his father worked as a customs inspector. Ed started work at the age of 5 as an agent for the Saturday Evening Post.

The family moved in 1917 to Seattle, where Ed started his shipping career working for George S. Bush in the Colman building.

He graduated from Garfield High School in 1923 and worked for American Hawaiian Steamship Company, loading their ships as a supercargo.

He joined the Navy when World War II broke out, and served as the port captain for Adak, Alaska, the forward supply depot for the war in the Pacific.

He retired from the Navy at the rank of lieutenant commander. Returning to Seattle, he started his career with States Steamship Company.

In 1948, he met Mary A. Nattinger of Port Angeles, and they were married in August of that year. Their first son, Ed Jr., was born in 1949, and their second son, John, in 1953.

In 1951, the family moved to Portland where Ed served States Steamship as vice president and Northwest general manager. He also was president of Portland Stevedoring Company.

He was active in local community service and in promoting trade relations with the Far East.

Some of the groups with which he was associated were: president, the Propeller Club; president, the Japan-America Society; board of trustees, Lewis and Clark College; head of the first delegation from Oregon to China in 1973; member, governor’s advisory committee for maritime affairs; vestry, St. Michaels and All Angels Church; and Boy Scouts of America. He was an active member of the Portland Downtown Rotary Club and the Scottish Rite Freemasons.

In 1968, he retired from States Steamship Company, and with his brother William P. Ellis, started Cascade Shipping Company, which grew to encompass offices in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He retired from Cascade in 1992.

At that time he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan in recognition of his efforts to promote trade and strengthen relations with Japan. He was also awarded the “Old Salt” for his lifelong service to the Portland shipping community.

He was passionate about his family, his work and, regardless of the score, his golf. He joined Waverley Country Club in Portland in 1962.

He and Mary moved to Bainbridge Island in 1994 and became members of Wing Point Golf and Country Club where he played with the “Wrinklies” up to the age of 92.

He is survived by his wife Mary; his sons Ed and John; his brother Bill; and his grandchildren Christina, Charles, Robyn and Elizabeth.

A memorial service and reception for friends and family will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island. In lieu of flowers donations are requested to the Rotary Foundation c/o Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, P.O. Box 11286, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

Arrangements are by Kass Funeral Home.