Her growing up years were spent living in Pocatello, Idaho. She attended Pocatello High School until the 10th grade. As a young woman she helped to look after her younger siblings while both of her parents worked. She enjoyed spending time with friends, baby sitting, roller skating, sewing, cooking and crafting. In her teen years she worked as a roller skating car hop.
On December 19, 1957, Ellen married the love of her life, Al Ballard. They lived in various places before settling in Yakima, Washington as their final home. Ellen loved to travel and throughout their married life they traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In December 2017, Ellen and Al celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Throughout Ellen’s life she enjoyed many activities. She enjoyed reading, cooking, baking, canning, sewing, crocheting, knitting, scrap booking, painting and doing a large variety of other crafts. Ellen even dabbled in writing short stories for a time.
She worked in a day care center for a few years, and had her own in-home day care center for several years. She picked seasonal fruit such as apples and pears for a few seasons. In 1990 she entered the workforce full time as a Shopko associate and worked there for 10 years until she was hired on at Yakima Regional Medical Center as a Central Supply Technician, where she retired in 2003.
Ellen dearly loved her family and spending time with them. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren teaching them to cook, sew and do crafts. Ellen was active in community services and held many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ellen is survived by two daughters, Shelley Ballard, and Kimberly (Wayne) Griffith, a son. Albert D. Ballard, a sister, Carla (John) Hoffman, a brother, Ned (Ellen) Anderson, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Albert Ballard, sons Joseph Wayne Ballard and Joseph Raymond Powell Ballard, three brothers and two sisters.
Ellen is loved and will be missed by all those who were blessed to know her. A special thanks to all those who cared for her at Astria Regional Medical Center and Good Samaritan Health Care Center.
Funeral Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 105 Hillcrest Drive on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com.
