Eloise Antonia Ragsdale

Eloise D'Abadie Pollard Ragsdale, our wonderful mother, left this life on Thursday, the 5th of May 2011, at the age of 96. Her strength of character and grand spirit were admired by all who knew and loved her.

Eloise was born on the 18th of October 1914, in Donaldsonville, Louisiana to Antonia Roy and Joseph Charles D'Abadie, the fourth of six children. She graduated from Louisiana State University where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Following graduation, while teaching school, she met William Green Pollard, a geophysicist from Houston. They were devoted to each other over the course of a marriage that spanned thirty-six years until his death in 1975. She later married Rufus Louis Ragsdale who died in 1992. Eloise was also predeceased by her beloved friend, Ben Chenault, whom she met while living at the Hallmark.

Throughout her life, Eloise was actively involved with her girls' activities and many community organizations. These included The Tanglewood Garden Club, The Current Study Club, the Great Books Club, many dance clubs, sewing and bridge groups. For over thirty years, she was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church. Traveling was another love, from the Kentucky Derby to Papua, New Guinea and to Europe on the QE II. When she moved to the Hallmark, she became a vibrant member of the Hallmark community, always remembering everyone's name and participating in activities with her many friends. She loved and appreciated the staff at the Hallmark, who made her life immeasurably better.

Eloise is survived by her four daughters, Nancy Green Pollard Werner and her husband, Christian, of San Francisco, California, Courtney Roy Pollard Steves and her husband, Frederick, of Houston, Texas, Eloise Antonia "Pinkie" Pollard Searls and her husband, David, of Houston, Texas and Mary Edny Pollard Underwood of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Antonia Perkins and her husband, Jason, of Portland, Oregon, Sarah Werner and her husband, John Opella, of New York, New York, Lieutenant Commander Frederick Steves and his wife, Andrea, of Yokosuka, Japan, Roy Steves of Chico, California, David Searls and his wife, Kate, of Houston, Texas and William Underwood and Carson Underwood, both of Houston, Texas. Also surviving Eloise are eight great-grandchildren; her brother, Joseph Charles D'Abadie, Jr. and his wife, Jimmie, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her sister, Helen Cart of Crowley, Louisiana and numerous nieces and nephews. She was dearly loved by everyone who knew her.

A Memorial Mass is to be offered at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 14th of May, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where the Reverend Monsignor Frank H. Rossi, Pastor, is to serve as celebrant.

Prior to the Mass, the family will have gathered for a Rite of Committal at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, where Eloise will be buried beside her husband, William, in the Pollard Family Estate.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial contributions in Eloise's honor be directed to the Hallmark Employee Gift Fund, Attn. Administration, 4718 Hallmark Dr., Houston, TX, 77056.