Ellen N Harris Pryor

Ellen N Harris Pryor was born February 16, 1928, in Beaver, Utah, and died peacefully, surrounded by her children on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Saratoga Springs, Utah. At age 96, she stepped through the veil into the loving arms of her parents LeRoy and Edith Nielsen Harris, four of her eleven siblings, and her husband Fred Roberts Pryor Jr. 

She is survived by six children, Dorothy Sheffield and her husband Steve, David Pryor and his wife Janis, Keith Pryor and his wife Kristine, Barbara Hale and her husband Mark, Carolyn Cronquist and her husband Doug, Gary Pryor and his wife Sheryl, and 24 of her 25 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. Also, five siblings, Dale Harris and his wife Fae, Frank Harris and his wife Pat, LaVee Collins, Ray Harris and his wife Merlene, Ted Harris and his wife Pat, and Glenna Bradshaw.

Ellen was the oldest of eleven children. She was born the year before the start of the Great Depression and was in high school when WWII finally ended. Her memories of growing up during that time were ones of rationing, walking everywhere, and no sugar.

In high school, Ellen enjoyed being the editor of the Beaver Bee, her High School Newspaper, which earned her a two-year scholarship to Brigham Young University.

Ellen married Fred Roberts Pryor Jr. in the Manti Temple on September 9, 1948. After their marriage, they moved to Logan for five years, where they welcomed the first three children into their family. They moved to Provo, and a year later to North Orem where the last three children were born. 

Ellen was very hard-working. Every year, she would bottle hundreds of jars of produce that came from Fred’s large garden, made her own bread, sewed clothes for her growing family, and always put three meals a day on the table.

Ellen served as Relief Society President, twice! She spent many years as a leader in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Her love of history truly made her time in that organization a joy. She also loved Family History research indexing and had an amazing memory for family history. She loved to read, could write beautiful prose, and had a talent for making friends.

Ellen and Fred served a mission in Chicago, Illinois, photographing naturalization records for the LDS Church Genealogical Department. They produced 350 rolls of microfilm containing the records of one and a half million people. Fred and Ellen served together as temple ordinance workers in Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples for 11 years. 

After Fred retired, they traveled often with friends. Following Fred’s death, she moved into the Seville, an independent living facility, where she made wonderful friends. She lived her last four months at the Saratoga View assisted living facility. Ellen loved her kids and grandchildren. Her greatest joy was visits from all her loved ones.

This is Ellen’s final testimony, recorded in her life sketch. “I love this church! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know he saw what he said he saw. I know he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know if you keep the commandments, you will be blessed, and your life will be better. This life is really very simple, it doesn’t have to be hard. Keep the commandments and your life will be much easier.”

Ellen was loved and will be missed by a multitude of family and friends whose lives were enriched by knowing her.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem UT. Viewing 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM and Funeral at 11:00 AM. 

Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery 1520 North 800 East Orem.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.