Obituary of Drew Michael Ellison

Drew Michael Ellison passed away on March 20, 2012 – he will always be a handsome 27 year old. He is survived by his father, Leif; mother Lily; sister, Bree; grandfather, Alfred Ellison; a large extended family and friends. We remember Drew as a natural athlete and avid sports fan. He had a large collection of sports team caps which he kept pristine, and he went through many cans of shoe cleaner to keep his basketball shoes always looking new. We can still picture him in a pair of oversized basketball shorts, white undershirt and a hoodie sweatshirt. No matter if he played ping-pong, baseball, basketball, golf, or Wii; he was a perfectionist in sports and he hated to lose. But he and Auntie Andrea graciously took second place in the annual doubles ping-pong match on New Year’s Eve. He also shared the love of card games with his father and grandfather. Lake Chelan, Maui, and Packwood were some of Drew’s favorite vacation spots. He and his cousins spent many days biking, camping, and lounging during school breaks. Drew was a night owl, staying up late to watch TV or play video games and sleeping until early afternoon. He loved his cats and the family dogs. Drew and his cat Little Man were so much alike. They were scrappers and one could not stay mad at either of them for long. Drew had a twinkle in his eyes, a sheepish grin, and an outrageous sweet tooth. He loved to cook and he enjoyed eating even more. At family dinners, he was always the first in line – after the younger children, of course. We will miss Drew’s many wonderful qualities. He was smart and loved to debate controversial issues; he had a mischievous sense of humor knowing how to push one’s buttons. Despite this, he was laid back, a good listener, and a dedicated friend. He loved his family and was known to be protective of his “sis.” But his “Pops” held a very tender place in Drew’s heart. The family is consoled that Drew’s last weeks of life were spent reconnecting with family and close friends Curtis and Robert. He was happy and optimistic of turning his life around, confident that this time he would triumph over his struggle with addiction. The night before his death, Drew and his mom stayed up late talking about the future. Lily recalls his joy over buying a couple of new t-shirts and a new hat that would go with more of his clothes. Although he journeyed far from home at times, his path always brought him back to family, especially his “momma.” She was always there for him and never gave up hope. Drew, you came into this world prematurely and you left the same way. You are loved and will forever be missed.