Donald Logan Ely

Donald Logan Ely, 83, of Cleveland, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. He was born on December 4, 1938 in Lincoln, Illinois to the late Raymond and Bertha Ely.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by his siblings, Raymond, Kenneth, Wanda, Clara, and Mabel.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Judith R. Ely; children, Donald W. Ely, John G. (Brenda) Ely, and Amy Ely (Galen) Hixon; his grandchildren, Tim Ely, Anna Ely, Zackery Ely, and Joshua Ely; sister, Alma; along with a host of extended family and friends.

Donald grew up on a farm in rural Illinois with his parents, Raymond and Bertha Ely, two brothers, and four sisters. He was a talented athlete and excelled in sports, especially basketball and golf, throughout high school. After graduating high school, he married the love of his life, Judy. Together, they built a beautiful marriage that endured for the rest of his life – 64 years.

In 1978, Donald bought a house and started a life for his family in Cleveland, where they have lived ever since. Spending part of his career at Cutler-Hammer and most of it at Mars, Donald worked hard his entire life, and through his hard work and love and devotion to his family, he paved the way for his children and grandchildren to pursue their lives and dreams to the fullest.

Donald was an avid and habitual reader and almost never missed an issue of the Daily Banner in his forty years living in Cleveland. He loved sports and Westerns, and he enjoyed these passions long into his retirement. He also loved gardening, tending to tomatoes and grapevines and other plants with skilled and careful hands developed through his early life on the farm.

Donald was a great man of few words and profound wisdom. He was kind, dutiful, honest, wise, and above all, always consistent in these virtues. He showed those around him how to live a good life not through his words but through his actions, which everyday were defined by his calm and consistent good nature. Donald lived a beautiful life and made the world a better place for the people he loved. He is deeply loved by his family, and he will be cherished in their hearts forever.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Donald or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.