Ella Carmen Wright Pollard

Ella Carmen Wright Pollard, 90, of Riverdale, passed away October 11, 2021, at RainTree Senior Living Center in Syracuse, Utah, where she had resided for 5 years.

Ella Carmen was born April 7, 1931, in Ogden, Utah, a daughter of Leonard and Ella Johnson Wright.

She grew up in Ogden, attended Polk Elementary School, and later, Lorin Farr Elementary School, Central Junior High, and Ogden High School (Class of 1949). She received her Associate’s Degree in Business from Weber College in 1953. She also graduated from the LDS Institute of Religion in 1953 and was active in Lambda Delta Sigma and the Institute Choir during her time at Weber College.

Ella Carmen married Rodney Gene Pollard in the Logan Temple on June 4,1953. They started their lives together in Ogden. Over the years they would have eight children.

In 1959, Ella Carmen and Rodney moved to Antioch, California, followed by a big adventure to New Zealand, when Rodney was hired to teach school at the Church College of New Zealand, where they lived from 1967 to 1971. They moved back to Antioch, California in 1971, and then settled in Riverdale, Utah, in 1972. Following a stroke in 2016, Ella lived at RainTree Senior Living Center in Syracuse, Utah, until the time of her passing.

Ella Carmen worked at the Utah General Depot as a stenographer and secretary, for 6 years, beginning in 1950. She also did secretarial work at Southern Pacific Railroad in Ogden for 2 years. Ella Carmen worked several different jobs, including 10 years at the Cinedome and Riverdale Theaters beginning in 1974. She worked for 10 years at St. Benedict’s Hospital as an Emergency Room (ER/OR) Admitting Clerk, until her retirement in 1996.

Ella Carmen was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions, including Primary pianist and chorister, Primary and Sunday School teacher, Relief Society pianist, and Visiting Teaching supervisor.

Ella Carmen loved her husband and children and always put them before herself. She also grew to love a wide array of pets that Rodney brought into their home over the years.

She loved music, especially the music of the LDS Church and the Choir at Temple Square. She also enjoyed many songs from musicals and movies.

She was an accomplished violinist, pianist, and vocalist with a beautiful soprano voice. Ella Carmen sang in many choirs and performed musical numbers in church over the years.

Surviving are her eight children: Cheryl Louis, Andrea Pollard, Mark Pollard, Brian (Karen) Pollard, Kathryn Pollard, Nathan (Natalie) Pollard, Tamara (Randy) Anderson, and Jeanette (Jeff) Sebok, two brothers, Grant Wright and Alan Wright, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rodney, her parents, Ella and Leonard, her sister, Norma Fay, and a granddaughter, Eve Louis.

A family service will be held at Leavitt’s Mortuary, 836 36th Street in Ogden, on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Others wishing to participate may attend remotely as the service will be streamed live on YouTube, beginning at 2 p.m.

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According to Carmen’s wishes, a viewing will not be held. Due to COVID concerns, there will not be a reception line. The family requests that all attending please wear a mask.

Interment will follow at Aultorest Memorial Park.

Many thanks to all the wonderful staff of RainTree Senior Living Center in Syracuse who lovingly cared for Ella for five years. She also made many dear friends while at RainTree. The family also want to thank Symbii Home Health and Hospice, especially Ella’s wonderful nurses, Melissa, Callie, and Autumn.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a charity of your choice.