Ovid Ernest Ellison, Jr., age 93, passed away Thursday August 17, 2017. A service with his beloved wife Evelyn who predeceased him on August 12, 2017 was held on Saturday August 19, 2017. Ernie was born on September 17, 1923 in Panama City, Florida to Ovid Ernest "Bunch" Ellison and Alice Petty Ellison, and moved to Tallahassee as a young child where he graduated from Leon High School. He served in the Army Air Corps and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Accounting.He began his working career with the State Auditors department and was appointed by Gov. Farris Bryant as State Auditor in 1963. After what was described as a "Coup" in 1967 when the auditing branch of the Florida Government was shifted under the Legislature, Ernie became the first Auditor General of the State of Florida. He served as Auditor General until his retirement in 1986 and was a great steward of the State of Florida assuring taxpayer dollars were spent appropriately.After retirement Ernie and his wife Evelyn moved to St. Teresa Beach and enjoyed many years of travelling in their RV's, having visited every state in the continental United States.He is preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Evelyn Whitney Ellison, parents, sister, Sara Ellison (Eugene) Dunaway, and sister in law Irene Whitney (Block) Smith.He is survived by, daughter Sharon Ellison Johnson, son Ernest Whitney (Lea Ann) Ellison, all of Tallahassee: his sister, Eva Ann (Don) Belcher, Bainbridge, and sister in law, Suzanne Whitney Shaw, St. Augustine. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Samuel Ellison (Candace) Johnson, Little Rock Arkansas, Sarah Kathryn Ellison and Elizabeth Whitney Ellison of Tallahassee, and great-granddaughter, Ellison Nicole Johnson.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Big Bend Hospice, Inc. at 1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.