Obituary of Martin W Ellis

Martin W. "Butch" Ellis was born on February 24, 1949 in Long Beach, California and passed away on October 28, 2015 in Oroville, California. Butch grew up in Oroville and attended St. Thomas School and graduated from Oroville High School in 1968. He earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice at Butte College. Butch chose a career in law enforcement and started as a Reserve Deputy with the Butte County Sheriffs Department in 1971. Soon after he became a full time Deputy. Many of the early years with BCSO were spent assigned to the Gridley area. Butch was a Field Training Officer for much of his career. He really wanted the new recruits to learn how to do thew job correctly, how to treat everyone with respect, how to see humor in the job, and most importantly how to get home safely to their family after every shift.Family was important to him. Butch spent 4 years as an investigator in child abuse and sexual assault cases. He had a special with children. Butch was promoted to Sergeant in 1996. He was assigned a team in Chico until his retirement. He always called the team "his kids". He mentioned them and was proud of them. Butch retired from the Sheriffs department in June 2002. After retirement he stayed on as a Reserve Officer and worked part time in the courts. He went to work part time for the Butte County District Attorneys Investigation Unit in 2005 and retired completely in 2011. Butch met Barbara in 1988 and married in 1992. Every summer they would travel on their motorcycle around the country. Cal-Tex Riders was the excuse for the trip and they attended the last 26 summer rides and numerous fall and spring rides. Motorcycle riding was the freedom and relaxation that dreams are made of. Many days the decision on where to go was a coin flip of right, left, or straight. They were magical trips. They covered 34 states and western Canada on the bike (5 motorcycles over the years). Butch has one son, Matthew William Ellis, daughter-in-law Heather and grandchildren Alexis and Jonathan. He is also survived by his sister Christine Conner, her husband Chris Lamb, and niece Dena Guerin. The family will be holding a party in his honor on November 14, 2015 at 5:00 PM at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2010 Montgomery Street, Oroville, California. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Butte County Search and Rescue or North Valley Animal Disaster Group. Arrangements are entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877.