We regretfully announce the passing of Marvin Gordon “Gordie”  Ellis  on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 at the age of 61 years.

Gordie  was born in  Ile a la Crosse on April 4th, 1964.  Gordie’s grandparents are Cyprien & Madeleine (Opikokew) McCallum of Ile a la Crosse. His parents Gordon & Adeline (McCallum) Ellis and three brothers, George, Ronnie and Gerry died in a Skidoo drowning accident in 1967. Sometime in early 1970’s  he was put into the foster care of Rick and Estelita Legario’s family of the Battlefords. Along with his foster siblings, Ronald Legario, Haydee Legario and Brendan Legario, Gordie had 11 biological siblings. Gordie was predeceased by two sisters and a brother, Linda Ellis, Dorothy Kocur and Raymond Ellis. Surviving siblings Ray McCallum, Lary Sanders, Lorraine Ates and Ben Hamm.  He has many nieces, and nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Ray McCallum passed away the week following Gordie’s passing on Tuesday, Dec. 9th. Ray and his wife Judy were the ones that had started the McCallum/Ellis annual family reunion in Prince Albert.  In August of 1998, Rick and Estelita packed the motorhome and headed to PA with Gordie to meet his surviving siblings for the first time. It was noted at the reunion that he had quickly formed a close bond to his sister Lorraine. Gordie had lived with the Legario family for 30 plus years. Shortly after Rick’s passing, Gordie’s health was beginning to falter, losing his balance more and more and unable to walk. He was then placed into the care of The River Heights Lodge for the last 17 years of his life.

Growing up with the Legario family, Gordie quickly fit into a Filipino culture, with it’s many celebrations and gatherings of friends and family. He loved the Filipino cuisine, but his favorite foods were hotdogs ,pork and  beans, rice and Coca-cola. He went to Centennial Park School in his younger days, then attended day programming at The Vida Macdonald Center. Rick and Estelita also cared for 2 other foster brothers, Terry Sawarin and Tommy Eberle, who have also passed on. These 2 were special to Gordie, as it was a morning ritual  to see the 3 of them, standing by the curb to catch the bus to go to Vida Macdonald and return at the end of the day.

Gordie loved watching The Edmonton Oilers back in the day and was a Wayne Gretzky fan. He especially loved watching the dramatics of WWF Wrestling on TV. He’d watch anything visual and action-packed as well as cartoons. His room was adorned with posters of Wayne Gretzky, WWF, and Elvis Presley, amongst other posters. He most enjoyed playing with his Rubics Cube always willing to show how he could get one side at your color request. Brendan’s go to Xmas gift most years was a new Rubics Cube or a variation of it, having had worn out his older ones. Puzzles at the table were another favorite past time and not just easy ones, but ones with 100’s of pieces. He enjoyed playing his many harmonicas and loved the Magic Mic karaoke machine. He liked hearing his voice through the speakers, especially if there was a crowd on hand.  He loved spending time at the cabin during the summers boating, barbeques, playgrounds and enjoying the sun. He loved all the pets that were also a big part of the Legario family of which there were many, dogs, cats and birds. Hs infectious personality was one of mischief, giggling, laughing, smiling and brightening the spirits of those around him which was a God given gift.

He received the best of care with his last 17 years at The River Heights Lodge and “Everybody loved Gordie”. Stacey Delorme was his guardian at the Lodge, giving him the best of care. The wide-open spaces of the Lodge gave him the freedom to roam in his wheelchair and mingle to touch the lives of the other residents and staff as he made his rounds. It was noted by a close family friend and former staff member that she would go into his room and put on some Abba and dance for a much needed body break. Gordie would giggle, laugh and smile, a remedy we all will miss. He had a soft spoken voice with his own brand of English which you could easily understand if you had spent some time around him. Brendan, his foster brother, will miss regularly seeing Gordie sitting front row and center when he comes with his Battleford Central School students to entertain and sing Xmas Carols with the residents of River heights Lodge on the East side.. We will surely miss that spirit of an innocent child most worthy of the Gates of Heaven that he embodied, as with all Down Syndrome children. Rest well Gordie!

A Funeral Service will take place Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 at 11:00 am at the Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish with a luncheon gathering to follow immediately in the basement at St. Bernadette’s Hall. All are welcome! Please come to celebrate in his legacy!

In lieu of flowers, donations on Gordie’s behalf may be forwarded along to the good folks at The River heights Lodge Recreation Department 2001 99th St North Battleford, SK S9A 0S3.

 

“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories”.

We remember Gordon Ellis, whose kind heart touched the lives of everyone who knew him.  Gordon passed away at the age of 61 years, leaving behind cherished memories and life long friendships.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date where we will share stories of Gordon’s life.

Condolences can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium – Trevor Watts Funeral Director.

• Date : 2025-12-10
• Location : North Battleford, SK