Ely Elias Granillo

ELY ELIAS GRANILLO

Apr. 20, 1916 - Apr. 12, 2008

Ely Granillo passed away Saturday, April 12, 2008, just one week shy of his 92nd birthday.
Ely was born April 20, 1916 to Tiburcio Sotelo Granillo and Theresa Elias Granillo on the family homestead at Robbin's Butte near Buckeye, AZ and was one of eleven children. His brothers, Ambrose and Felix Granillo and sisters, Eva Thedford, Mena Glikos, Anna Molles, Theresa Machado, Angela Caldwell, Lula Caldwell, Gerry Kilgore all preceded him in death leaving Lalie Jackson the only surviving sibling of this family.
Ely came to the Imperial Valley as a young boy in the 1920's and his family ran a dairy in the Holtville area. He attended Jasper School and Holtville High. He worked for Arden Farms, Golden State Creamery, Fred R. Bright, the Farmers Association and was instrumental in implementing the Bracero Program in the 1950's. Ely spent the better part of his life as an entrepreneur as he owned Anchor Trailer Park and I.V. Sportsman's Mart in Calexico. In El Centro, he owned the El Vaquero Restaurant and built Granillo's Corner Market, a neighborhood icon, over fifty years ago.
Although retired, Ely lived life to its fullest and remained active with his yard, wood shop, his animals, family and hobbies. He was an avid bowler and loved to hunt and fish.
Throughout his life, he married three times. First to Mary Hinojosa, with whom he had his three children and Mary passed away in 2005. Molly Castro was his second wife and although they divorced, Molly continued to be a constant in his life. He was later married to Lydia Robles and she preceded him in death in 2005.
Ely is survived by his sons, Eli Granillo Jr. (Jo) and Franklin Granillo (Jackie) and daughter, Frances Dimmitt (Jack); grandchildren, Eli Granillo III, Deborah Granillo, Icy Bermudez (Cesar), Dawn Granillo, Michelle Gonzalez, David Granillo, Vickie Hayden (Tom), Jack Dimmitt Jr. and Lisa Hernandez (Carlos); great- grand-children, Lawrence, Desiree and Eli Granillo IV, Haidan and Alyssa Hammond, CJ, Brooklyn and Chance Bermudez, Brittany Collins, Braden Gonzalez, Ashley, Andy and Adam Hayden, Anthony and Alyssa Hernandez; sister, Lalie Jackson and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his lifelong fishing and hunting partner and very best friend, Norman Lassey.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 28, 2008 at First Christian Church, 450 So. Waterman Avenue in El Centro, at 10 a.m. There will be a graveside service immediately following at Evergreen Cemetery.