Obituary of Ellis M. Collignon

Johnsburg,NY/River Vale,NJ: Ellis M Collignon III, 86, of Johnsburg NY and a longtime resident and native of River Vale, NJ went to be with the Lord on Wednesday May 11th 2011. Born in Oradell, NJ on August 19, 1924, he was the son of Ellis M and Dorothy (Moulton) Collignon, Jr. He served in the US Army during WWII in the Pacific campaign. He married Patricia Rogers Wright on March 1, 1947 and they had 2 sons, Douglas and David. Ellis was a principal in Collignon Insurance Agency, Kerr-Collignon Realty and North Jersey Campers & Trailers of River Vale for 35 years before retiring to Johnsburg. He was a prominent figure in the history and community of the Pascack Valley. Ellis dedicated his life to his community by serving in various organizations in a multitude of positions including the River Vale Volunteer Fire Dept serving as Chief in 1954, a Founder and Sponsor of the River Vale Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Pascack Valley Hospital Foundation, the Lions Club, the Elks and the Pascack Valley Historical Society. He was a 60 year member of the Free & Accepted Masons. A member of Warrensburgh Lodge #425, Ellis served as Worshipful Master of Temple Lodge #173 in Westwood, NJ in 1967, 1994 & 1995. He was also a member of the Shriners and Eastern Star. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Dorothea Kelm and his grandson, Ellis M. Collignon, IV. Survivors include two sons, Douglas and his wife, Debbie of Thurman, NY, David and his wife, June of Westwood, NJ, 8 grandchildren: Caroline, Christine, Douglas, Jr., Duane, Steven, Eric, Austin and Christian, 8 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, Catherine Spencer of Chicago IL and Mary DeMarco of Bricktown NJ, and Linda James Morales, longtime companion and friend. Friends may call on Ellis’s family from 4-7pm, Sunday, May 15th at the Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street, Warrensburg NY. A Masonic service will be conducted at 6 pm Sunday during the visitation at the funeral home. A service with full military honors to celebrate his life will be conducted 12:30 pm, Monday, May 16th at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd. Schuylerville, NY with the Rev. Wayne Schoonmaker, Pastor of the Calvary Bible Church officiating. A Memorial Remembrance Service will be held on Wednesday, May 18th at 7pm followed immediately by coffee and fellowship at the Armenian Presbyterian Church, 140 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ with the Rev. Berj B. Gulleyan, Pastor officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either the NJ Masonic Home Charity Foundation, 902 Jacksonville Rd, Burlington, NJ 08016 or NY Masonic Home Care Community, 2150 Bleecker St, Utica, NY 13501 in his name. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guestbook and condolences.