Elton Lacey MacPherson passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025, in Ventura, California, at the age of 83, following a short illness. Born on October 1, 1942, at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, Montana, Elton was the eldest child of Kenneth Orlando and Elva Louise (Lacey) MacPherson.
Elton spent most of his childhood in Helena, attending local public and parochial schools, serving as an altar boy at the Cathedral of St. Helena and working for his stepmother at Knox Flower Shop where he discovered a love of floriculture. His final two years of high school were spent at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, where he played hockey, soccer, and baseball and sang in the choir. It was there, after meeting a dorm mate who had never seen snow, that Elton decided he would one day move to California. True to his word, he headed west after graduation, enrolling first at Claremont McKenna College to study economics and later earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
During his time at CMC, Elton met his first wife, Lucinda ("Cindy") Reynolds, a student at Scripps College. They married in December 1963 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and welcomed their daughter, Lori a few years later.
Elton began his professional life at NBC, serving as Business Manager for the NBC Orchestra in Burbank. In 1969, he transitioned into feature film production when Paramount Pictures hired him as Location Auditor for Love Story, sending him to New York City. The experience launched a distinguished 30-plus-year career in motion-picture finance and production. Elton worked around the world as a Production Accountant, Controller, and Executive on over fifty films, including The Firm, 10, The Getaway, Day of the Dolphin, Night Shift, Hoffa, Star 80, and Anna and the King.
His work suited his love of travel, taking him to Prague, Mexico City, Vancouver, Calgary, Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane, Rio de Janeiro, the Cayman Islands, Nashville, Dallas, New Orleans, and San Francisco. Yet Southern California remained home. In 1979, he bought a house in Topanga Canyon, where the wide-open spaces reminded him of Montana. He cherished driving his sports cars along Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at Gladstone's, and watching the sun set over the ocean.
That same year, Elton joined Blake Edwards Entertainment in Culver City, beginning what he considered the most rewarding chapter of his career. From 1979 to 1991, he served as Executive in Charge of Production, Vice President of Post Production, and Second Unit Director, becoming a proud member of the Directors Guild of America. Many of his closest lifelong friendships were formed on the historic Culver Studios lot.
In 1986, Elton met Diane Gavran at a holiday party in his home. They married on December 14, 1988, in Malibu. Diane was his great love and constant companion, joining him on adventures around the world and remaining by his side throughout their 37 years of marriage.
After retiring in 2001, Elton and Diane moved to Ventura, where they enjoyed life by the ocean. Elton devoted himself to roses, becoming a certified rosarian and serving for many years as President of the Ventura County Rose Society.
In addition to his love of roses, Elton treasured football, opera, musical theater, movies, and television. His fondness for showtunes was shared with his family, and he was often heard singing favorites to his wife, daughter, and grandsons.
A true gentleman, Elton was principled, gracious, humorous, intelligent, and deeply devoted to the people he loved. He cherished his family, his roses, a good movie, and a great LA Rams game.
Elton is survived by his wife, Diane; his daughter, Lori, and her husband, Keith Rawlinson of Pasadena, California; and his grandsons, Liam and Aidan.
A Celebration of Life will be held at The Crown Plaza Ventura Beach on January 24, 2026. The family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Ventura Botanical Gardens.
Elton spent most of his childhood in Helena, attending local public and parochial schools, serving as an altar boy at the Cathedral of St. Helena and working for his stepmother at Knox Flower Shop where he discovered a love of floriculture. His final two years of high school were spent at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, where he played hockey, soccer, and baseball and sang in the choir. It was there, after meeting a dorm mate who had never seen snow, that Elton decided he would one day move to California. True to his word, he headed west after graduation, enrolling first at Claremont McKenna College to study economics and later earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.
During his time at CMC, Elton met his first wife, Lucinda ("Cindy") Reynolds, a student at Scripps College. They married in December 1963 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and welcomed their daughter, Lori a few years later.
Elton began his professional life at NBC, serving as Business Manager for the NBC Orchestra in Burbank. In 1969, he transitioned into feature film production when Paramount Pictures hired him as Location Auditor for Love Story, sending him to New York City. The experience launched a distinguished 30-plus-year career in motion-picture finance and production. Elton worked around the world as a Production Accountant, Controller, and Executive on over fifty films, including The Firm, 10, The Getaway, Day of the Dolphin, Night Shift, Hoffa, Star 80, and Anna and the King.
His work suited his love of travel, taking him to Prague, Mexico City, Vancouver, Calgary, Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane, Rio de Janeiro, the Cayman Islands, Nashville, Dallas, New Orleans, and San Francisco. Yet Southern California remained home. In 1979, he bought a house in Topanga Canyon, where the wide-open spaces reminded him of Montana. He cherished driving his sports cars along Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at Gladstone's, and watching the sun set over the ocean.
That same year, Elton joined Blake Edwards Entertainment in Culver City, beginning what he considered the most rewarding chapter of his career. From 1979 to 1991, he served as Executive in Charge of Production, Vice President of Post Production, and Second Unit Director, becoming a proud member of the Directors Guild of America. Many of his closest lifelong friendships were formed on the historic Culver Studios lot.
In 1986, Elton met Diane Gavran at a holiday party in his home. They married on December 14, 1988, in Malibu. Diane was his great love and constant companion, joining him on adventures around the world and remaining by his side throughout their 37 years of marriage.
After retiring in 2001, Elton and Diane moved to Ventura, where they enjoyed life by the ocean. Elton devoted himself to roses, becoming a certified rosarian and serving for many years as President of the Ventura County Rose Society.
In addition to his love of roses, Elton treasured football, opera, musical theater, movies, and television. His fondness for showtunes was shared with his family, and he was often heard singing favorites to his wife, daughter, and grandsons.
A true gentleman, Elton was principled, gracious, humorous, intelligent, and deeply devoted to the people he loved. He cherished his family, his roses, a good movie, and a great LA Rams game.
Elton is survived by his wife, Diane; his daughter, Lori, and her husband, Keith Rawlinson of Pasadena, California; and his grandsons, Liam and Aidan.
A Celebration of Life will be held at The Crown Plaza Ventura Beach on January 24, 2026. The family asks that memorial gifts be made to the Ventura Botanical Gardens.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elton Lacey MacPherson, please visit our flower store.
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