Ellis Leonard Leep of Hermiston passed away in Post Falls, Idaho on Feb. 28, 2026 at the age of 74.
He was born on Feb. 11, 1952 in Baker City to Leonard and Ellen Kempas Leep.
Ellis lived in Baker City as a child, where he attended grade school and junior high school. After junior high, his family moved to Milton-Freewater, where Ellis attended high school. He graduated from Mac High School in the class of 1970. He then attended Blue Mountain Community College for two years.
Ellis began his career with a job at Pendleton Woolen Mills, where he worked for a couple of years. He then went to work for Pendleton Grain Growers (PGG) in Pendleton at their feed store in Pendleton. He transferred to the Hermiston feed store four years later and managed the Hermiston store for over 30 years until it closed in 2014.
Ellis married Esther Palacios on Aug. 22, 1981 in Prosser, Wash. From this union a daughter, Stephanie, was born. The couple divorced several years later.
Ellis enjoyed horses, fishing, gardening and growing flowers, cooking and raising livestock. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids.
He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie; grandchildren, Jeffery Leep-McNally, Bianca Jaimes and Eva Jaimes; twin brother, Willis Leep; older sister, Karen Edwards; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard; mother, Ellen; and older brother, Kenneth.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Burns Mortuary Chapel.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
