April 30, 1925 – June 10, 2014
Arlie Lee Elliott, Jr., 89, of Sweet Home died June 10, 2014 at Avamere Rehabilitation of Lebanon.
He was born April 30, 1925 in Devol, Okla. to Arlie Lee Elliott, Sr. and Vera Vesta (Coursey) Elliott. He grew up on a farm that was “on a dirt road, off of a dirt road” in rural Oklahoma, along the Wichita River, near the Texas border. He learned to fish and hunt. His family traveled to a community church by wagon every Sunday. They survived dust storms and hid from tornados in a root cellar.
After his infant baby sister died from a dust-related illness, the family moved to California. Mr. Elliott completed his formal education at the eighth grade. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, during World War II, and served as a member of Admiral Wagner’s staff in the South Pacific. He attended flight school and received his private pilot’s license in 1947.
He met Margaret Ekholm in Santa Monica, Calif., where they were married on Aug. 5, 1948. In the late 1940s they moved to
Oregon. During the 1950s Mr. Ellliott worked in timber and lumber-related jobs. He studied for his real estate license during the evening hours.
He became a real estate and insurance salesman in the early 1960s, while living in Scio. He served as the municipal judge and city recorder in Scio for a number of years.
Mr. Elliott moved his family to Sweet Home in 1963, where he was a real estate broker for more than 35 years. He received local, regional, state, and national honors as a Realtor. In 1997 he received the Santiam Board of Realtors’ Hall of Fame Award.
He was heavily involved in the community. He received the Chamber of Commerce First Citizen honors, was active in the Kiwanis, and helped establish what is now the Elm Street Baptist Church congregation. He was also the Sportsman’s Holiday “Mystery Prospector” and in 2008 served as the parade’s Grand Marshal.
He really enjoyed golf.
When the local community college asked him to consider teaching real estate classes, he completed his GED.
Mr. Elliott is survived by his sons, Bob Elliott and daughter-in-law Karen of Lebanon, Martin Elliott and daughter-in-law Marsha of Forest Grove, and Steve Elliott and daughter-in-law Ginny of Sweet Home; brothers Kenny Elliott of Albany, Laddy Elliott of Port Alsworth, Alaska, Clayton Elliott of Banning, Calif., and Bill Elliott of Scio; sister Joyce Straw of Scio; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Elliott on Feb. 26, 1998; sister Vesta Lou Elliott, who died in infancy; and his parents.
Private family services will be held.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.