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Idaho County Free Press
April 17, 1958
STITES OLDEST RESIDENT DEAD AT NURSING HOME
Percy Ellis, 89, Stites postmaster for nearly 40 years died Sunday afternoon at
Grangeville nursing home, where he had been under care for the past two weeks.
He had been in failing health the last three months.
Mr. Ellis was born November 19 1868 at London, England, the third of a family of
14 children. At the age of 18 he went to Canada and settled at Winnepeg. In 1889
he moved to Spokane where he worked as a carpenter and I the early 1900's went
to Palouse where he held the position of assistant postmaster. Later he held the
same position at Wardner, now Coeur d'Alene.
In 1902 he move to Stites where he started a small variety store. Two years
later he purchased a drug store, which he operated until his retirement in 1954.
Mr. Ellis served as postmaster at Stites from the early 1900's until 1940. He
also founded the Stites Telephone Co. and opened telephone lines to Harpster,
Grangeville, Red River Hot Springs, and Elk City.
He married Zoe E. Fifield Dec. 25, 1926 at Moscow. He was a member of Excelsior
Lodge #2 Knights of Pythias, Lewiston, and attended Stites Community Baptist
Church.
Surviving relatives include his wife, at home; a daughter Ethel Netz, Lewiston
and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Trenary Funeral Home at Kooskia with the
Rev. E.E. Ronsenkilde of the Presbyterian Church officiating.
Mrs. Ed Gilroy and Mrs. Miles Engle sang hymns with Mrs. Elmer Wilburn, Floyd
Newland, The Rev. I.E. Sperry and Ernest Hartman. Burial was in Pine Grove
Cemetery.
*Note: He is found in Prairie View Cemetery
Submitted by Chris
Cornett
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