Richard Charles Ely

Visitation will begin 11 am Thursday, September 22, 2022 with the funeral service immediately following at 12:00 noon in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton. Dr. Steve Roy, pastor of Hocutt Baptist Church, will officiate. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Hocutt Baptist Church in Clayton, North Carolina.

He was born on April 18, 1940 in Moline, Illinois to Elmer Lance and Marguerite Smith Ely. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1959 while living with his special Aunt Mildred and Uncle Quentin Swanson.

He met his future wife Martha Ann Pugh at a Baptist banquet which was love at first sight, and a date the next weekend. They were married on July 12, 1960 in Vernon, Alabama.

Mr. Ely worked building tractors at the Rock Island, Illinois International Harvester plant for 24 years and then 6 years building large trucks at the International Harvester plant in Springfield, Ohio, retiring after 30 years. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs fan.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by; son Rick (Elizabeth) Ely of Moline, Illinois; and daughter Nancy (Dave) Morse of Clayton, North Carolina; sisters, Kathy Mitton of Hillsdale, Illinois and Elaine Pease of East Moline, Illinois; grandchildren, John (Tanika) Ely of Moline, Illinois, Crystal (Jim) Dupage of Silvis, Illinois, Nikki Ely of Moline, Illinois, Amanda (Morgan) Shepherd of Castle Pines, Colorado, Stacy (Tom) Houzenga of Milan Illinois, Sebastian Grogg of Moline, Illinois, Nathan Morse of Clayton, North Carolina and Heather Morse of Clayton, North Carolina; great grandchildren include Christina Porter, Isaiah Dupage, Aiden Shepherd, Annabella Shepherd, and baby boy Dupage expected in November; other special people in Richard’s life were Sharon Smith of Milford, New Jersey and Connie Patnoe of East Moline, Illinois. Preceding Richard in death are his parents, and brother John Ely.

Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Ely family.