Raymond Pollard

POLLARD, RAYMOND- Raymond Pollard was born Raiford Oklahoma on March 7, 1919 and passed from this life February 13, 2018 at Loveless Hospital.

Visitation 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, February 16, 2018 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Funeral Service at 1:00 PM, Saturday, February 17, 2018 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Burial to follow at Memory Lawn Memorial Cemetery. The Pollard family invites you to gather with them at the Berrendo Water Co-Op, 2004 E. 19th Street for a reception following the service.

He was preceded in passing by his wife Marvell, parents Claudi Estes Pollard and Lethal Myrtle Wood Pollard, sisters Lela and Berthal and brother Harlan. He is survived by his Daughter Carolyn Pollard Noling and grandson Raymond Burns. He has six surviving brothers and sisters Clarenace, Thelbert, Faye, Condell, Juanita and Ralph. He has numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond was 3rd child of 10 children. His father was a farmer who share cropped different farms around Eufaula, OK then moved the family to the Mounds area. All the children helped with farming chores.

Raymond learned how to milk a cow when was seven. It was his first taste of the dairy industry and something that would grow into a life-long passion.

He developed a strong work ethic when working on the farms and decided to start his own business.

When Raymond turned 18, he left home and began working in a dairy. "I made big money - $25.00 a month, he joked"

Raymond married Marvell Evans in 1940 and moved to Roswell, NM five years later. They were married for 67 years.

Raymond worked for Prices Dairy as a foreman for six years. By that time milking machines had been introduced and cows no longer had to be milked by hand.

In 1954 Raymond and Marvell opened Pollard Dairy in a building bought on North Main Street. It was a drive-in dairy that sold milk in half gallon bottles.

He started out with eight cows and just kept getting a few more and a few more. When he moved in the new location on East 19th in 1963, he had 30 cows. He purchased pasteurization equipment and began pasteurizing the milk and business just soared.

The dairy began producing milk for a Roswell supermarket and started home delivery.

Raymond sold his dairy in 1990. By this time, there were more than 350 cows.

But he didn't stop there. He built another dairy east of town and sold it about five years later.

Shortly after Pollard sold the last dairy in 1995, his wife became ill with respiratory problems. He took care of her until she passed away in 2007.

Raymond was also one the founders of the Berrendo Cooperative Water Users Association in March of 1973. He served as president during most of his 45 years on the board. It was his goal to see that everyone in the area had safe drinking water at a reasonable cost.

His service to the rural community will be greatly missed.

Raymond stayed in Roswell because of the people and climate. He felt like it was the greatest place there ever was.

Honorary Pallbearers are Don Adams, Dominic Batista, Mel Young, Berrendo Water Co-op Employees, members of the board and all nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to Tabernacle Bus Ministries, 1115 West 11th Street, Roswell, NM 88201 or to the charity of the donor's choice

God Saw You
God saw you were getting tired
And a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around you
And whispered "come to Me"
A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands now rest.
God broke our hearts
To prove to us
He only takes the best.

Visitation

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 South Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Friday, February 16, 2018
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Service

LaGrone Funeral Chapel
900 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Saturday, February 17, 2018
1:00 pm

Cemetery

Memory Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery
2605 E. 19th St.
Roswell, NM  88201

Memorial Contributions

Tabernacle Bus Ministries
1115 West 11th Street
Roswell, NM  88201