St. George, Utah - Born in Madill, Oklahoma on March 24, 1920. When she was six years old, shortly after her mother passed away, her father took the family to Yuma Arizona. There she grew up helping her family, which included her sister and brother, work on a farm. She moved to California in 1942. At this time she attended Thomas Beauty College.

She married Eric Johnson in California and they both had a son, Gene Ogden, whom passed away in 2006. She and Eric divorced earlier. Elma converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1951.

Elma married George B. Ogden on her birthday in 1951 and later were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1955. They lived in San Fernando Valley initially then moved to Chico California in 1955. Before his passing in 1999, they spent many years in California where George was a builder. During this period, they went on a building mission to England. When they returned , they continued to manage hundreds of acres of peaches and almonds, along with her beautiful flower garden. Even with all the maintenance of the large orchards, they managed to travel all over the world, which was something they both enjoyed a great deal.

In 1975, they decided to move to St.George, Utah and built a home in Bloomington. Although they missed their friends in California, they thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this community. They were very active in the church. Elma worked in the Young Woman's Program at the Ward and Stake level, she was a visiting teacher supervisor, compassionate service member, and has spent many years volunteering at the temple. When she first moved to Utah Elma started volunteering for the Dixie Medical Center as a Pink Lady and later was one of the original woman involved with the Guild that started the Jubilee of Trees. Her continued service has been for 37 years! She has been recognized for the extraordinary amount of hours she volunteered and received many awards.

Her hobbies included cooking, canning, gardening, traveling, quilting, needlepoint and she loved playing SKIPBO!

Elma will always be loved and remembered for her generous, kind spirit, and for always having a a big beautiful smile on her face. She inspired many people.

She is survived by sister, Nadine of Murray, Arizona; granddaughter, Debby Reece of Burleson, Texas; grandson, Gene B. Ogden of San Francisco, California; step-grandchildren, Tammie L. Flores and Derek J. Flores; six great-grandchildren; and four nieces.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Morningside LDS 5 ^th Ward Chapel, 912 South 1740 East, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday evening, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Saturday, prior to services , from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be held at the St. George City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.