Melvin Loyd "Moose" Ellis

Melvin "Moose" Ellis passed peacefully from this life at his home in Hanford on March 18th, surrounded by his loving wife of 55 years, Patsy, and undoubtedly, his loyal dog, Peppa, nearby. At 77, Melvin had lived life to the fullest and was ready to rest.
Despite his roots in Stratford, Melvin had a unique way of speaking that no one could quite place-his deep drawl and pronounced twang made him stand out, often leading to comparisons to Boomhauer from King of the Hill. Always full of personality, Melvin's catchphrases were "ghat dawg!" and "10-4." He loved giving people nicknames, such as calling his daughter "Curly" and his son "Lance-O." He fondly referred to his wife Patsy as "Mom." Ironically, while his nickname was Moose, Patsy's as a young woman was Mouse-proof that they were destined to be together from the very start.
Melvin was always working on projects, whether for work or just for fun. One of his proudest achievements was building his barn with the help of his good friends, Don Weber and Owen Schaels. He was truly a man's man, and his close-knit group of friends loved getting together to work on projects, like building enduro cars, including the cow-themed "Cowabunga" car, crafting a go-cart for Whitney (Curly), or restoring a truck for Lance.
Over the years, Melvin enjoyed a variety of hobbies, with camping at Wishon being a favorite. He loved hunting, sitting around the campfire, and, most of all, cooking at camp. Though he was an excellent cook on the BBQ, he always made sure to brag about his wife's culinary skills. Melvin also enjoyed trips to the Pismo Dunes and, in his later years, traveling to visit his children and grandchildren. When he was home, you could always find him in his barn, typically watching NASCAR with a can of Budweiser in reach.
Though Melvin was often quiet and reserved, he truly enjoyed the company of others. He loved welcoming friends into his barn, where he often hosted his annual Christmas Barn Party and Super Bowl gatherings.
Known for his toughness, Melvin had a reputation for street boxing in his younger years and may have even once survived a stab wound to the stomach. But beneath that tough exterior, he had a soft heart. He was moved to tears by engagements, pregnancies, and moments of joy-and equally by the sadness of parting with his beloved truck, "Old Blue."
Born and raised in Hanford, Melvin began his career as a maintenance manager for Safeway's plant before spending 18 years as a Maintenance Supervisor at Leprino Foods in Lemoore. He forged lifelong friendships in both roles, becoming known for his honesty and work ethic. His commitment to family and friends was clear in the support he received when his health began to decline. Patsy is deeply grateful for the help from close friends like Allen Ellis, Mark Levario, and Kenny Rocha, and family members John, Jason, and Johnathan Mello, and John Sousa.
Melvin is survived by his wife, Patsy (Mello); children Lance (fiancée Kim Dunn), granddaughters Presley, Pearl, and Polly; Whitney (Evan Mannering), granddaughter Remington, and grandson Stetson; his brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Mary Mello, and Jim and Diane Martin; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends who were like family.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 26th, at 10 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Hanford. A Celebration of Life will follow on May 31st at 3 p.m. at Melvin's Barn with more details to follow.