Paul Ernest Ellsworth, 97, passed away on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at his home in Woodruff. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at the Woodruff Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, preceded by visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. The burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Safford Cemetery. He was born Dec. 28, 1919, in Thatcher to Ernest Ellsworth and Julia Virginia Curtis Ellsworth. Paul was a past member of the Navajo County Sherriff’s Posse, serving as captain several times. He was an active member of the LDS church, serving as a ward missionary, building maintenance missionary in Farmington, N.M., and many other positions throughout his life. He graduated from Safford High School in 1936, received his B.S. degree from Colorado State University in 1949, and worked in range management in New Mexico and Arizona. He was a gunsmith, carpenter, electrician and emergency services director among other things. Paul married Beth Christensen in the Mesa LDS Temple on June 14, 1944. She preceded him in death. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to camp, fish and hunt. One of his favorite things was taking care of his garden in Woodruff. Survivors include his three children, Beth Ann (David, deceased) Gardner, Julia Jane “Jill” Ellsworth and Paula Mary Ellsworth; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Johnson; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Gerald “Jerry” Johnson, and a granddaughter, Jessica Young. Owens Livingston Mortuary of Holbrook was in charge of the arrangements.
