Ellis Ervin Gilbert was born July 8, 1952, in Downey, Idaho to Ervin and Colette Gilbert. He was raised on a farm with his three brothers Doug, Kent and Scott and one sister, Carol. Although he disliked milking cows, he loved the other aspects of farming and developed a work ethic that served him well all his life. He attended school in Downey and graduated from Marsh Valley High School. He excelled in both football and wrestling and attended Ricks College on a wrestling scholarship. The love of wrestling has been passed on to his son and grandson. He met his best friend and soulmate, Paula, at Ricks College and they fell in love and married shortly after graduation. Ellis and Paula were blessed with four children. Melanie, Eugene, Stacy Jo and Susan were the light of his life and brought him much comfort and joy throughout his life. His grandchildren, Jordan, Joey, Emma, Ellise, Tristan, Tylee, Ethan and Paizlee were the icing on the cake. His love for family was endless. Ellis worked many jobs in his lifetime, both as a laborer and maintenance mechanic, but he made a career out of what he loved doing most, farming. He was a successful farmer and cattle rancher. Although he served on many boards during his life, his special interest was the Portneuf Marsh Valley Canal Company. He served many years, to try to improve the system and his greatest desire was to see ample water delivered to all the patrons in the Valley. Ellis was an avid sportsman, camper, hunter and fisherman and his favorite activity was going on road trips. He loved to explore new roads to see where they would take him. He was a gun enthusiast and collector and sharpshooter. He enjoyed competition shooting and won many awards for his shooting abilities. He made many friends, who shared his enthusiasm for fun and looked forward to time spent with his family and his buddies. Ellis ran his farm with the help of his father and his four children until health issues forced an early retirement. Ellis would be farming to this day if his health had allowed it. He sold his farm and cattle and retired with his wife to Arizona to seek cancer treatment and to travel and have fun in the sun for the remainder of his days. He battled metastatic prostate cancer with everything he and medical science had to offer for thirteen long years. He was a warrior and our hero. On January 23, 2015, he saw a new road and decided to explore it. He died peacefully, with his family at his bedside. His final days were spent at his home in Idaho surrounded by family and friends that Ellis had touched in some way in his very memorable life. Those who knew him and were touched by his goodness understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time one lives. Ellis lived life to the fullest. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him but we wish him Godspeed on his new Journey. Ellis was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and numerous Uncles, Aunts and cousins. Ellis is survived by his wife Paula, their four children and spouses, by eight grandchildren, by his parents, three brothers and spouses and his sister. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 11:00 a.m. in the Horsley’s Marsh Valley Funeral Home 570 N. Meadowview Dr. in Arimo. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to the service.