Ernie McElfresh, 76, son of William Medford and Della Bray McElfresh, was born April 4, 1930, at Duke. He died Feb. 19, 2007, at his home at Licking.
He had fought Lou Gehrig’s disease for the last 16 years and suffered a stroke last March, which left him bedridden.
In 1952, he married Audrey June Barr. They had three children.
Before he was diagnosed with ALS, he worked on cars.
In his early years, he was a mechanic at Fort Leonard Wood at the post exchange garage. He drove a taxi at night.
After the birth of his children, he started a garage at Licking. He was self taught and was good with carburetors.
He loved fishing on the rivers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Vernon and Lester; and two sisters, Lucille Watts and an infant, Helen.
Surviving are his wife of 55 years; daughters, Sherry Wilson and Alicia Swindell of Licking; one son, Douglas McElfresh of Pleasant Hill; one sister, Opal Wofford of Plato; one brother, Robert McElfresh of Pacific; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services were Feb. 21 at the Licking Christian Church with Rick Moser officiating. Burial was in the Licking Cemetery under the direction of Fox Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Care.