1937 -2020
Ellis “Skip” Mendenhall of Carefree, AZ passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on February 20, 2020 at the age of 82.
Skip was born on June 5, 1937 in Riverside, CA to Ellis Lewis and Ruth (Cockerham) Mendenhall and was raised in Corona Del Mar, CA. He was a graduate of both Newport Harbor Union High School and Orange Coast College. On June 15th, 1957, he married his high school sweetheart Sally J. Keelan. He worked for the Newport Beach Fire Dept while raising 2 daughters Charis and Charneth. July 20, 1969, on the day the first man landed on moon, he moved his family to Prescott, AZ. Skip followed in his family’s footsteps, to establish and operate a successful custom home building company. Skip had a passion for the outdoors and history of the old west. He enjoyed spending his spare time hiking, camping, shooting, exploring old homesteads, abandoned mines, and traveling old jeep trails. Skip also had a wicked sense of humor. In 1985 he relocated to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and expanded his career to include commercial and residential construction and real estate sales. In 1996, he officially retired to pursue his hobby of gold prospecting and ATV trail riding with his family and friends.
The things Skip loved the most were his girls and the AZ desert.
Skip is survived by his wife of 62 years Sally, his daughter & son-in-law Charis & Michael Gulino of Scottsdale, 1 sister Louise Alton of NV, 3 nephews and 2 nieces. He was predeceased by his daughter, Charneth in 1972.
A memorial service for Skip will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery on 23029 North Cave Creek Rd, March 13, 2020 at 12:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in memory of Skip can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Arizona Chapter, 2777 E Camelback Rd, Ste 320, Phoenix, AZ 85016.
Mom’s Rough Draft:
Ellis “Skip” Mendenhall, much beloved husband and father, died at his home after a long illness of cancer on February 20, 2020. He was 82.
Skip grew up in Corona del Mar, CA, graduated from Newport Harbor Union High School and Orange Coast College and was on the Newport Beach Fire Dept. In July, 1969, the day they landed on the moon, Skip arrived with his family in Prescott, AZ. He was a home builder and built homes in Mtn Club, Haisley Homestead and Bradshaw Estates. In 1985, he and his wife moved to the valley where he built small commercial projects and real estate. He worked for Tom Adam Realty, Realty Execs and Canterbury Realty in Carefree, AZ.
When Skip retired from real estate in the late 1990’s, he pursued his hobby of gold prospecting and riding his quad with his buddies.
Skip is survived by his wife of 62 years Sally, his daughter Charis Gulino & son-in-law Michael of Scottsdale, he was predeceased by a daughter, Charneth in 1972, 1 sister Louise Alton of NV, 3 nephews John Baumann of VA, Robert Alton of TX and Stephen Alton of HI and 2 nieces Laura Alton of NV and Kathleen Coburn of CA.
The things Skip loved the most were his girls and the AZ desert.
A memorial service for Skip will be at the National Memorial Cemetery on 23029 North Cave Creek Rd, March 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Skip can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Arizona Chapter, 2777 E Camelback Rd, Ste 320, Phoenix, AZ 85016.
