Clarence K. â??Speckâ? Ellison, DDS

Doctor Ellison passed away Dec. 13, 2007, at Whidbey General Hospital after an extended illness. He was born July 3, 1916, in Montesano, Wash., to Matthew and Sarah Bogle Ellison.

Speck graduated from Montesano High School in 1934, going on to attend Grays Harbor College, graduating in 1936. He briefly attended the University of Washington before entering dental school at the University of Oregon at Portland. After graduation in 1942 he served as a naval officer until the end of World War II, serving at San Diego Naval Station and sea duty in the Pacific.

In July of 1937 Speck married the love of his life, Ruth Arnold.

They were blessed with two sons, Jim and Michael, and over 70 years of marriage.

After his Naval duty in 1946, Clarence set up dental practice in Baker City, Ore. In 1955, Speck and Ruth and their sons took a week’s vacation to the Whido-Isle Resort south of Coupeville and immediately fell in love with Whidbey Island.

They purchased property and the next summer moved to Coupeville. Speck took some time off to work with his builder, Ralph Ward, on their new home. When the home was completed, he built a compact dental office in Coupeville and started his second dental practice. He worked there until 1982 when he sold his practice to Dr. Stanley Anderson.

Speck was an active part of the community throughout his life here on Whidbey.

He belonged to the Coupeville United Methodist Church, where he built the cabinets for the kitchen during a major renovation project. He was a member of the Coupeville Lions Club for over 50 years, being named Lion of the Year in 2000 and receiving the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 2003. He served on the Whidbey General Hospital Board for many years and Coupeville’s first Planning Commission. For 25 years, he served on the Coupeville Library Board and was especially proud of being part of the new Coupeville Library project. And he served a term on the Coupeville Town Council.

Clarence is survived by his loving wife Ruth, son James and his wife Nancy of Seattle; two granddaughters, Denise Merkling of Seattle and Jennifer Ellison of San Francisco; and two great-grandchildren, Konrad and Ruby Merkling.

A memorial service for Dr. Ellison will be held at the Coupeville United Methodist Church on Monday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow. Remembrances may be made to the Coupeville Lions Club Foundation, the Coupeville Methodist Church Memorial Fund, or the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.