Ellis Shaheen

Salina, Utah - Our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, business man, neighbor and friend, Ellis Anthony Shaheen, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Salina, in the company of his loving bride of 69 years and family on Sunday, October 12, 2008. He was born October 1, 1920 in White Castle, Louisiana, a son of Joseph Ameen and Olga Samaha Shaheen. He was raised in Louisiana and went to school in White Castle, where he graduated in 1937 after the 11th grade. He joined the CCC’s that same year and came to Utah as part of President Roosevelt’s plan to help the nation out of the depression. His group came to Salina and he will always be part of the history of the area. It was in Salina that he met his future bride and lifelong partner, Beula Foote. The two were married in Manti, Utah in 1939 and their marriage was solemnized in the Manti Temple. Ellis served as a Seaman First Class in the U.S. Navy, beginning in 1942. He served aboard the U.S.S. Lindenwald in the Pacific Theater and fought at Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Guam and throughout the Marshall Islands. After the war, Ellis returned to his wife and son in Salina and with the help of an uncle, he co-founded the family motel and restaurant with his brother Nick. The two were prominent businessmen for over 62 years and actively contributed to civic and church organizations, with both their time and money. Ellis had a great love of sports, especially baseball, and played with the city baseball teams throughout Sevier and Sanpete counties, where he built life-long friendships. He passed this love onto his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always went above and beyond to support his family in their sports endeavors. Ellis was an example of tough-love, hard work and perseverance. His example came through his works, not his words and above all he taught by example the importance of family and generosity. No one who ever knew him went without and he was always helping others. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of At-Home Health and Hospice for their exceptional care: Vicki, Kallie, Shara, Shauna, LuGene, Danielle C., Cheyenne, Danielle S., Casey, Amanda, Aytana and Kenny; and to Dan Bruse from Physical Therapy, for the care and kindness he has shown to our parents. Ellis is survived by his devoted wife, Beula Foote Shaheen of Salina; son, Chad and Lillian Shaheen of Salina; daughter-in-law: Julie Holton Shaheen of Salt Lake City; grandchildren: Lisa and Brady Edwards, Kelly Shaheen, Aaron and Amanda Shaheen, Beckie and Brandon Fabert, Michael Hales, Krystle Shaheen and Casey and Lacey Shaheen; 9 great-grandchildren; brother and sister: George and Lorraine Shaheen and Amelia S. (Earl, deceased) Lanoix, all of Donaldsonville, LA. He was preceded in death by four sons, Dale Shaheen, Glenn A. (Tommy) Shaheen, Don Shaheen and Ted Shaheen; brothers and sister: Nick Shaheen, Emile Shaheen, Raymond Shaheen and Zelpha Shaheen. Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 17, 2008 at 12 Noon in the Salina LDS Stake Center, 98 West 400 North in Salina, where friends may call for viewing Thursday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Friday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 prior to the services. Burial with military honors accorded by the Salina American Legion Post #36 will be in the Salina Eastside Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.