Reception to honor Mortimore

The Community Federated Church is celebrating Ellen Mortimore's 50-plus years of service. She will be stepping down as the church's music director and Chancel Choir director, handing the baton to Pastor Ross Kershaw.

Mortimore was born Ellen Maurine Creath in 1935 in southeastern Iowa, where she was also raised and educated. Her three siblings say she sang almost before she talked.

She attended Parsons College, graduating in 1955, but it was also in college where she met her future husband, Clark E. Mortimore. "I had never met anything like him," she said, noting he had dual mufflers on his vehicle and in sharing stories she was quite skeptical of some of the things she'd heard about him.

The two remained in the area, and she taught first grade for two years. They were married in December of 1956. Clark graduated in 1957, followed with six months boot camp with the Army National Guard.

For 10 months, in 1958-59, they lived in San Francisco while Clark studied Mortuary Science. Ellen was a secretary at a private school, and during this time their fist son, Michael, was born; their son Mark was born in Thermopolis. She is presently the owner/secretary/treasurer of Mortimore Funeral Home with her two sons assisting.

Ellen noted, "I was gifted with music and the ability to teach, both children and adults. To this day it is still my joy. I started voice lessons at the age of 15 in Iowa and continued well after my children were born, first in San Francisco, then Casper, and many, many workshops."

The Mortimores moved to Thermopolis in 1959. She continued in music, teaching private vocal and group music classes. She also substituted in the school system until the early 1990's. In 1960, she became music and choir director for the Community Federated Church, while also working in Vacation Bible School, the church board, Worship Committee and Christian Education. A gifted pianist, she helped present Children's Chats and teaches Sunday School - which of course included music.

She loves seeing the choir progress throughout each year as they sing God's words. Because of her love for communicating the Word through theater, the church has had several skits and dramas over the years. Regarding productions, she said she has a passion for theater and loves being someone she's not. Working with the Music Study Club, she did musical theater in the 60's, 70's and 80's, and had lead roles in "Oklahoma," "Irene" and "Girl Crazy."

Mortimore also encouraged people of different faiths to share in their love for God, directing several cantatas composed of members from different churches. For 15 years she directed and wrote arrangements for the musical group "The Holy Cats," a singing group for different churches, as they performed for many in town. She noted the group was primarily Catholic women, which she wasn't, so they were originally the "Holy Cats +1." The group later became ecumenical, representing numerous Christian churches, dropping the "+1." Ellen stated ecumenical efforts through music are very important to her.

In Wyoming's centennial year, she compiled a religious musical production centered around the growth of Christian churches in Thermopolis and Wyoming, "Footprints of the Faithful," which she directed. For the Thermopolis centennial, she organized a choir to sing at festivities and participate in the parade.

Anyone who has been to a production in which Ellen's had a hand will likely notice some humor mixed in. She believes humor and laughter to be very important and contributory to our longevity. She recalled doing one Christmas musical with the church in which Chuck Stump came and didn't know, until that point, that humor could be in a church production.

"My faith is the most important part of my life," Ellen said. "And I think God laughs."

A reception for Mortimore will be at the Community Hall, 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25. Everyone is invited to come visit with her, enjoy a short program and have refreshments. Mortimore will continue to be one of the pianists for the church and sing in the Chancel Choir.