P. Martin Ellard

P. Martin Ellard passed away Sunday, September 28th, 2014. He was 87.

Born in Cornelia, Georgia, He moved to Gainesville where he started an accounting firm in 1953.

Ellard Associates Certified Public Accountants grew into a thriving practice but not without hard work and persistence.

When asked about the early days of his career, Mr. Ellard recalled that as he was setting up his new office, there was a knock on the door. Hoping this was a potential client, he thought it might be impressive if he seemed to be busy. So he picked up the telephone receiver and pretended to be consulting someone. When the "client" entered the office, Mr. Ellard said "Have a seat. I'll be with you shortly." He finished the pretend call, and turned to the puzzled looking visitor, and asked what he could help him with. "Well Sir" ,replied the man, I'm with the Phone Company and I'm here to connect your service."

In today's vernacular, P. Martin Ellard definitely married up when he was betrothed to the beautiful, and gracious, Elizabeth Snowden, of Monroeville, Alabama. They were together for 63 years.

One of the sacrifices Mrs. Ellard made during their long marriage, was spending many a Saturday attending University of Georgia football games. UGA was her husband's Alma mater. Now of course Dawg games are a huge deal and often very exciting, so why call it a sacrifice? Because Mrs Ellard's Alma mater is the University of Alabama. No further explaination needed.

An avid golfer, Mr. Ellard enjoyed a regular weekly outing on the links for many decades in the company of new and old friends. Almost always chasing a Titlelist no.1 ball around the course. Self taught, he amassed a grand total of 5 holes-in-one. He could punt a football seemingly a mile. He was a running back on the Cornelia High School team and also played baseball.

He was accomplished at billards, having to some extent grown up in his uncle's pool hall. He imparted his love of sports to his children and generously supported their own athletic pursuits, even when they forsook the football and baseball fields for the alien sport of tennis.

He enjoyed chopping wood and always said that you could figure out a way to solve most problems while gazing into a crackling fire.

If he had any vices, it was the occasional cigar, which it was insisted that he smoke them outside the house. There were many winter evenings where he could be found bundled up and sitting in a rocking chair on the porch enjoying an after dinner smoke.

A favorite possession was a 1931 Ford A Model, red with a rumble seat. He had wanted one since he was very young, and was able to check that off his bucket list many years later. It was also the first "stick" for atleast one of his children, and he drove it in various parades in Gainesville. He donated his beloved A Model to the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) at Featherbone Communiversity where it was pronounced "really cool" by children who spotted it in the museum

A long-time regular for breakfast at the Longstreet Café, where he eating and swapping storiest with friends.

Very active in the professional organizations for CPAs: President of the Georgia Society of CPAs, member of the Council (governing body) of the American Institute of CPAs, and active supporter of the University of Georgia's School of Accounting and the Beta Alpha Psi organization for accounting students and professionals.

His faith was important to him, as was his tenure as a deacon of the First Baptist Church. He enthusiastically sang hymns during services-albeit out of tune.

P. Martin Ellard loved to laugh. He was a positive force. He was generous to a fault. An incredible Husband, Father, and Friend. An inspiration to his children.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Snowden Ellard, Gainesville; son, Daniel P. Ellard and his wife, Meredith of Bettendorf, Iowa; daughter, Nancy Snowden Ellard, Washington, D.C.; son, William M. (Bill) and his wife, Mary-Elizabeth of Atlanta; grandchildren, Garrett Snowden Ellard and his wife, Allysa, North Liberty, Iowa; Schaffer McKay Ellard, Bettendorf, Iowa; great grand-daughter, Payson JoAnn Ellard, North Liberty, Iowa.

Mr. Ellard is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Kathryn Ellard.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday October 7, 2014 at the First Baptist Church on Green Street. Dr. Bill Coates and Rev. Bruce Fields will officiate. There will be a private family burial at the Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church after the service on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church, 751 Green Street, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 in memory of Mr. Ellard.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements 770-534-5201.