David Ellison

David Elwin Ellison, 59, of Pawnee, OK, passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home and a service celebrating his life will be held at 2:00pm Wednesday April 30, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Pawnee with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 12pm to 8pm with the family greeting friends at the funeral home from 6pm to 8pm Tuesday evening.
David was born in Lubbock, TX, on March 20, 1955, and graduated from Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, NM, in 1973 where he was a starter for the football and basketball teams. He earned a B.S. degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology-Criminology from the University of New Mexico in 1977. He married the love of his life on February 17, 1978, in Albuquerque, NM, and thereafter moved to Pawnee where they raised their two children, Ryan and Ashley. He was a devoted husband and very proud father. His zest for life was apparent to all who knew him. He very much enjoyed cattle ranching, golf, scuba diving, skiing, spending time at Grand Lake with friends, Navy football, and any activity involving his children. David was a past member of the Board of Directors of the Pawnee National Bank and the Pawnee Lions Club. He attended the First Christian Church in Pawnee.
David worked as the Deputy Director for the United Community Action Agency for 36 years where he worked diligently to better his community and state. He was an officer and member of the Oklahoma Transit Association and received the Transit Manager and System of the Year Award in 2003. He authored transit grants and planning to bring public transit to five Oklahoma counties, providing more than 1.2 million passenger miles annually. He was instrumental in securing an additional five million dollars to help support state transit programs.
David was founding president of the Oklahoma Weatherization and Housing Advisory Council and served three terms. He helped to establish the Ted Allen Memorial Award for outstanding service to address housing needs in Oklahoma, commemorating a friend and colleague who was killed in the OKC bombing. David later received the Ted Allen Memorial Award. He was a liaison between community action agencies, HUD and OHFA. He was a key advisor in assisting over 17 state agencies in establishing new housing programs, and was recognized for establishing over 400 affordable housing units. David was instrumental in establishing the Community Housing Development Organization in Oklahoma. He also received several citations from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for services to low income families, received a service award for 30 years of helping people help themselves from the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, and was recognized for support of the Pawnee/Osage CASA project.
David lives on in the hearts of his many friends and family who had the privilege to know and love him. He is survived by his wife, Eileen; two children, USN LT Ryan Ellison and wife Traci, of Corpus Christi, TX; USN LT Ashley Ellison and wife Jen, of Chesapeake, VA; one granddaughter, Audrey Grace; his mother, Sue (Burkdoll) White; father-in-law William Doyle of Scottsdale, AZ; one brother, Burk Ellison and wife Kathy of Cypress, Texas; one sister, Lisa White and husband Don of Edmond, OK; brother-in-law Ted Doyle and wife Stacey of Austin, TX; brother-in-law Patrick Doyle and wife Diana of Scottsdale, AZ; sister-in-law Janice Griego and husband Rick of Santa Fe, NM; six nieces and nephews, Brett Ellison and wife Cathy of Houston, TX; Kenzi Ellison of Cypress, TX; Tess Doyle of Austin, TX; Chris and Nic White of Edmond, OK; Stephanie Mahnke and husband Marc of San Francisco, CA; his aunt Charlotte Maltsberger and husband Jarrett and cousins Rene Bridges and husband Frank, Suan Tinsley and husband Reed, and Lore Burchette. David was preceded in death by his father, Curry Ellison; his grandparents, Loyd and Loretta Burkdoll; and his mother-in-law, Suzanne Doyle.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude and sincere thanks to Dr. Jim Riemer and the staff at the Tulsa Cancer Institute in Tulsa.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial contributions to be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Network (pancan.org) at 1122 NE 13th, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.
Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com

Funeral Services:
First Christian Church
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, 2014