I first met Tim through our Car Fanatics lunch group in Portland and soon learned that we were both alumni of that huge Los Angeles-area high school class of war babies graduating in 1960. We swapped tales of our adventures, Saturday night cruising in Hollywood and the Valley, rubbing shoulders with others who went on to fame and fortune. Of course we also shared our love of Porsches and racing, some of it legal, some otherwise.

All of us enjoyed Tim's love of outdoor adventure, and looked forward to his return from his frequent sailing trips and SCUBA outings. His was a life lived to the fullest.

Tim's last few years were difficult, but he soldiered on with the support of Jorie, his family, and his wide circle of friends and business associates. He was a great friend, and we'll all miss him.

I am fortunate to have called Tim my friend. We met through our mutual love of cars (primarily Porsche) and our friendship grew from there. Over the years we discovered that we both grew up in the Los Angeles area during the car-crazy days of the 1950s. We enjoyed many moments remembering those times and laughing over the silly things we did growing up then.

One of my favorite moments with Tim was a boys' weekend in Southeast Oregon terrorizing the locals with a Humvee. It was a wonderful time and one I will never forget.

Tim was generous to a fault and a role model as family man. He was a consummate traveler with a never-ending sense of curiosity and loved he telling stories about his world wanderings.

Timmy, you are sorely missed.

Having just now looked through the wonderful pictures, stories and tributes to Tim, I am inspired to add my memories. Tim, my 1st cousin Jorie, my wife Jan and I shared much family time together mostly in Portland and also in our home in North Carolina. Our family roots run deep and we all considered each other close loved ones. My time especially with Tim was as a car nut. We loved to talk cars, look at them and basically ignore pleas from our wives to join their conversations. Seriously though we four had great times together and i personally am so pleased that whenever Jorie and I talk the subject of Tim's wonderful life comes up and stirs many wonderful memories. Tim will be in our hearts forever and I will cherish our future family times with Jorie remembering Tim.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute.
I only had the opportunity to meet Tim in person a handful of times, but still, I feel like I knew him well. This is because when I was with my dear friend and colleague Jorie, it seemed Tim was always at her side, even if not present physically.

Jorie, your love and commitment to Tim, and his for you are an inspiration!

I was blessed to know Tim for over 50 years….through Unihi , then as football rivals between Ore and USC!  Tim was my husbands Tom’s closest lifelong friend. They shared a very special bond as childhood friends and on into adulthood! We lost my Tom just four months before Tim …..I will always cherish his words at Tom’s Celebration of life. Jorie and I now share their bond and beautiful memories of happy times we spent as couples.  Thanks to Tim organizing a Deacon club reunion, Tom and I reconnected and married……we had 41 beautiful years.
 They are having fun up there watching over us with Pete Newman.  
They will be in our hearts forever.  Sending lots of love, Judi.  

I am so grateful to have known Tim - my father in-law - and for the many fond memories of experiences we shared over the past two decades. Tim was an adventurer who deeply loved his family. He was a devoted husband and caring father and father in-law. He was intelligent and hardworking. I admired his resilience and strong will to live his life to its fullest despite the curveballs cancer and Parkinson’s kept sending him.

When I think of Tim, I think of traveling, big band music, cars, off-roading in Baja, snorkeling and sailing in the Whitsunday Islands, rafting the Deschutes, boating and camping on the Willamette, desert hiking in the Palm Springs area, the “pots and pans man,” sunny days and the ocean.

I can say without any second thought that time spent with him have been a treasured time in my life. I am thankful for the many memories and for witnessing my husband, David, in another light, as a faithful and loving son. We miss you dearly.

Rest easy Tim.

July 2nd, 2021



My friend Tim Ellis.

How do I start a eulogy to someone who means so much to so many?

Tim was more than a friend to me. He was my mentor, confidant and most importantly someone who could always bring clarity to many situations.

He battled for many years many ailments but approached each one with a positive view and intense focus and getting better under the most trying of times. He never felt sorry for himself but thought of others, especially Jorie and his family. He suffered much pain at times but made sure we did not see it.

He was a unique and rare person whose principles drove him throughout his life, personally and in business. Passionate in all aspects of his life. While our loss is immeasurable, we will all remember our good times together. Rafting the Deschutes, scuba diving and sailing throughout the world or just enjoying a cold beverage from time to time brought so much joy to his life and sharing these moments with family and friends. We should all strive to live a life of adventure and exploration as Tim did. In parting, I will always cherish our times spent together in business and leisure. You could always bring a smile to my face, and I choose to remember yours too. I wish we could sit and talk and share more experiences. Always my friend and mentor- until we meet again.

Without friendship, a human being is lost. A friend is someone who makes you feel alive.

Your friend always, Andy DeHaan

On March 1, 2020, Tim passed away after yet another battle for his health. I lost my best friend and my forever love. He had fought many health challenges and to both of us, this was just another one to conquer. Just days before he passed, he was adamant that we have a serious chat about when we were going to travel again and that we should definitely start planning. 

Fortunately his family and friends were able to be with Tim by his side during his last days. (David, Steve, Kae, Don and Jorie) Liz and the boys also saw Tim just before that!

Tim is survived by our daughter, Elizabeth and our two grandsons Sebastien and Xavier, our son, David and his wife, Kim, and his brother Steve Ellis.


He loved life and valiantly fought many health challenges over these last two decades. He had a very strong will. No matter what the health challenge was, he believed he would beat it. He was an easy patient, compliant and amazingly pleasant even when suffering. Many people mentioned that they could not believe his zest for living and the strength to keep going. One of his buddies, Don, nicknamed him the energizer bunny as he just kept bouncing back. In early February 2020, when his back and groin area hurt so bad, it was the only time that I heard him say he wasn’t sure if he could fight yet one more time.

Tim was a man of simple pleasures and many talents. 

His simple pleasures were being together whether it was eating out, hanging at home, watching sports, or sharing treats. He wanted to be involved in every aspect of our life together whether it was selecting paint, planning a trip, or what art to put on the wall. 

Tim loved me unconditionally and he told me often, I just love you sooo much. (It was a deep love, always strong, never wavering from these feelings). He let me be who I wanted to be. He encouraged my work interests and each day after work, he would ask if my day had been good.  Many people would tell me how proud he was of my accomplishments and our relationship. It is unlikely I will ever be loved like this again!



Tim’s many talents developed at an early age. He grew up in the Brentwood/Santa Monica/Palisades. He spent time on horses, motor bikes, cars and athletics. After moving to Oregon for the rest of his life, he developed even more talents. Tim was an accomplished snow and water skier, a captain of many boats including sailing, motor boats and navigating white waters on a raft. After we had been married a few years, he decided he wanted to dive again. He had learned in an old fashioned bell off Catalina as a kid. So, since I loved the water we took diving lessons and travelled around the globe looking for favorite dive spots. On our last diving trip we qualified as passing the Rescue Diver course in Chuk Micronesia. 

My first date with Tim I learned about another one of his talents. We went downtown to have a drink and he suggested dancing. It had been quite awhile since I met a man that actually loved to dance. Tim was an excellent dancer, particularly swing, and we danced as long as his mobility allowed.


We both wanted to see the world! We have a big map of the world in our garage with pins on all the locations we visited. We loved the challenge and the adventure of seeing new places.  Two of his favorite accomplishments were hiking Kilimanjaro and Machu Pichu. 

Tim was not a demonstrative his children deeply. He liked being a dad and wanted to expose Liz and David to many activities and places. He wanted them to see places and experience activities that might last a lifetime. And for both of them, many of those early activities are part of their lives now. As I was going through his files, I found this note to Elizabeth and David from sometime in the late 80s.

Elizabeth and David,
If tomorrow never comes will you know I love you enough to last.
Much love, Dad

Another talent of Tim’s was a successful business man. He spent years in banks, open his a bond business with a partner, and loved investment advising. He followed the stock market every day and up to his last few days, would continue to talk to his last partner, Andy. 

Thank you for visiting this memorial to Tim. You have been incredibly caring and dear friends for both of us. And all of you know the battle Tim fought to be alive and continue making memories with his family and friends.