Ellis Bailey - loving husband, father and grandfather, engineer, computer scientist, builder, Scouter, Church leader, volunteer, story-teller, joke master, teacher, and friend – passed away peacefully after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on March 11, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was 63.

Ellis was born in Salt Lake City, UT on January 13, 1956 to Keith Lewis and Clarice Olsen Bailey. They moved shortly thereafter to Whittier, CA where he spent his formative years roaming the orange and avocado groves on his bike and having many outdoor adventures with his parents and older brother Lew Bailey.

He attended BYU and then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Frankfurt, Germany from 1975-1977.

He met his wife Betsy Lee at BYU in 1978. After they married, they moved to Whittier, CA where they started raising a family and he began his career in Computer Science. Ellis was good at convincing employers to hire him even if he lacked the required education. After a few years, he got a job with Northrop Grumman where he was on the team that supported the first 7 launches of the Space Shuttle. All this while he was going to school to finish his Bachelor’s Degree -- first in Mechanical Engineering and Math. In time, Cal State Fullerton notified him that due to his work experiences (and the relevant classes he was taking), that they had changed his major to Computer Science and then insisted he graduate. Computer Science was a brand new field then, and Ellis loved being on the cutting edge of technology. He later worked for Hewlett Packard, then Cray Research where he supported the most powerful super computers in the world. He went on to build super computer centers for the Navy in Monterey, CA; the Army in Aberdeen, MD; and the Department of Defense in Princeton, NJ. He earned his Master’s Degree in Computer Science, his MBA in Business, and his certification in Project Management from the University of Maryland University College. In 2009, the family moved to Provo, Utah. At the time of his death, he was close to retirement from L3 Technologies in Salt Lake City, UT.

He has served in many leadership positions in his Church and the community, including 36 years of service in the Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded the Silver Beaver in 2018. He loved the outdoors and took many opportunities to camp, hike, bike, swim, ski, snow shoe, kayak, run marathons, and race in triathlons. He loved designing and building – anything from home renovations, to Children’s Theater scenery and props, to a Napoli style wood burning pizza oven.

Ellis is the father of 7 children and grandfather of 23. He is survived by his parents Keith and Clarice Bailey; older brother K. Lewis Bailey; wife Betsy Lee Bailey; children: Michael Lee Bailey and wife Stacie (4 children), Kathryn and husband Adam Rock (8 children), Carolyn and husband Jacob Cornwall (4 children), Katelyn and husband Brendan Cochrane (3 children), Matthew R. Bailey and wife Ruth (4 children), Camilyn and husband Morgan Workman, and Mitchell A. Bailey. 

He will be remembered most for his smile and his limitless energy. He was always ready to help on projects, to offer advice and counsel, and to bear fervent testimony of the Lord and His goodness.

Viewings will be held from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, March 15th at Nelson Family Mortuary (4780 N University Ave, Provo, UT 84604) and from 9:30am to 10:45am on Saturday, March 16th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (925 N Temple Dr., Provo, UT 84604) The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am in the chapel following the viewing. Interment will be at the Provo City Cemetery 610 S State St, Provo, UT 84606