MARTIN ELL, beloved husband of the late Marie Ell of Lethbridge, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, November 26th, 2010 at the age of 87 years. Martin is survived by daughter Glenna Ell, son Dennis (Dianne) Ell, grand-daughter Sue (Mike) Medhurst, and was the beloved “Papa” of great-grandchildren Zachary and Gen?vi?ve, all of Lethbridge, Alberta. Martin was born September 21st, 1923 to Joseph and Philomena Ell of Grassy Lake. The eldest of four children, Martin received his education at the Sherburne School and was the Catcher for the championship Grassy Lake Baseball Team. He came to Lethbridge in the mid-40’s to work at the O’Sullivan Bridge & Construction Co. Knowing his young employee was on his own and new in town, Martin’s foreman invited him home to Sunday dinner and there he met Marie MacCormack, his wife, partner and helpmate for more than 60 years. The newly-wed Ells travelled the countryside living out of a small trailer near the construction camps where Martin worked as a dragline operator. Some of the bridge and road projects he was involved with are very familiar landmarks, such as the highway traffic bridge over the Old Man River at Lethbridge built in 1947 and the bridge over the river at Cluny built in 1949. The young family, by this time including daughter Glenna, followed Martin’s work throughout Alberta, living at Gliechen, Etzikom, Cardston, Waterton, even the Lethbridge river valley for a time. After the birth of son Dennis, the Ells began construction of the homestead located on land owned by Martin’s father (NE 1/4 18-9-13 W4) near Grassy Lake, Alberta and the family moved into the house in 1955. They would eventually buy the quarter outright in 1968. A farmer and rancher, Martin supported his family with crops and livestock, including cattle, pigs, chickens and the occasional flock of turkeys. Martin’s wizardry with machinery and his understanding of how things worked meant the innovator and inventor could be counted on to keep any piece of machinery working, regardless of its condition. His family, friends and neighbours would often come by to consult him about things needing replacement or repair and Martin always had a solution for the problem, making do with what was on hand. Although in remission from MS in his later years, in 1974 Martin’s health prompted the sale of the homestead and early retirement from farming when he and Marie moved to “town.” The small trailer of the construction camps was many years behind them, but the Ells still enjoyed travelling and, in the summer, were as often gone with their motorhome and fishing boat as they were home. A farmer at heart, no dandelion dared show yellow in his grass nor any potato bug appear in the magnificent gardens he grew every year. Martin always had a “project” or two on the go and enjoyed working with wood, building many pieces of furniture, personalized house signs, collector’s spoon racks, bob-necked geese lawn ornaments and the 5ft tall windmill that graced his backyard for decades.
Martin was an old-fashioned fellow who knew that a man earned respect based on his honesty, integrity, and willingness to work hard. He would never quit until the job was done and passed that hard-earned work ethic on. Martin loved a good visit and was a gifted storyteller; when something caught him the right way, he would laugh until he couldn’t catch his breath. He could fix anything and always had time for his family, whether for emergency repair or rescue, or to teach a child to ride a bike, hold a hammer, whittle a stick, or cast a line.
He was predeceased by both parents in 1977, brother Henry Ell in 1978, sisters Louise Zatko and Lorraine Reber in 1993 and 2004 respectively, and by his beloved Wife, Marie, in 2008.

Relatives and Friends are invited to a Prayer Service at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge on Tuesday, November. 30, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 917 - 4th Avenue South, Lethbridge on Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Tim Boyle, Celebrant. A private family Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Memorial donations in Martin’s honour may be made to the MS Society of Canada, Lethbridge & District Chapter, 724 - 13th Street North, Lethbridge, AB, T1H 2T1, the Canadian Diabetes Association, 210D - 12"A" Street North, Lethbridge, AB, T1H 2J1, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, #207, 542 - 7th Street South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 2H1, or to a charity of your choice. Honoured to serve the family, CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 7B1. Telephone (403) 381-7777. E-mail: care@cornerstonefh.ca