Richard Moore Ellis Obituary (1929 - 2012)

Fairfield, Maine-Richard M. Ellis, 83, of Fairfield, Maine, passed away in the home where he was born on September 5, 2012 after suffering a long illness. A horticulturist by trade, he died in the height of the harvest season, surrounded by Floralie his beloved wife of 64 years and their children. We honor the life and many accomplishments of our much loved husband and father. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1946, and attended the agricultural program at the University of Maine in Orono while simultaneously working on the family farm where he would later raise his own family. During these scholastic years, he enjoyed a real love of sports including football, baseball, and basketball. Throughout his life, Richard worked hard to provide for his family. He combined intelligence and a common sense approach to life’s challenges and opportunities with a passion for working with his hands to build a business that sustained his growing family. His legacy will continue for generations to come. Richard and his wife were the founders and co-owners of Sunset Greenhouses in Fairfield, Maine. Sunset Greenhouses grew out of their lifelong commitment to agriculture and Sunset Ridge Farm. This seventh generation agricultural farm has transformed into a thriving greenhouse/nursery business. Richard was active in Fairfield town government, where he served as past chairman of the town council. A past member of the Exchange Club and Fairfield Center Grange, Richard also was active in the Lawrence High School Alumni Club, and was honored to be a recipient of the prestigious Bulldog Award in 1976. Through Sunset Greenhouses, he and his wife Floralie supported many local organizations and activities. Throughout their long marriage, they shared a love of travel and wintered in Arizona for many years. He was an avid gardener during his life. In later years, his love of nature and animals was sustained by feeding and observing birds in his yard. We are truly grateful for the foundation and life he worked so hard to build for his family. His quiet strength, love and dry sense of humor will be missed on a daily basis. Words cannot adequately express how much his loss is felt. He was the son of Donald W. Ellis and Hazel (Moore) Ellis, born on January 30, 1929. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Rachel Nelson, and his brothers-in-law Gordon Nelson and David Jones. He is survived by his wife Floralie (McKechnie) Ellis; their children Lynda E. Flood of Augusta, Maine, Catherine E. Hebert and her husband Stephen of Clinton, Maine, Kenneth W. Ellis and his wife Sandra of Fairfield, Maine, and Susan E. Goodell and her husband Warren of Birmingham, Michigan. He also is survived by his eight loving grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brother Walter and his wife Michaeleen of Tiverton, RI; and his sister Elizabeth Jones of Melba, ID. Richard especially enjoyed his relationship with Floralie’s cousin Edward P. Beckett. The family would like to welcome neighbors and friends to celebrate his life at funeral services to be held at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main Street, Fairfield, Maine on Sunday, September 9, at 2:00 pm., with the Rev. Judith Gould officiating.