Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, Elaine Thurman Smith, passed away on Monday, September 22, 2014 in Riverton, Utah. Elaine was born on February 12, 1935 in Afton, Wyoming to her loving parents Dean and Edna Stock Thurman. She married Armond Smith on August 4, 1961 in the Idaho Falls Temple.
Elaine cherished time spent with her family and was so proud of every family member. She loved and admired people, and loved serving them. She was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many, varied callings. But her favorite was that of a Visiting Teacher. In 1958 she served a full-time mission in Hong Kong; serving again, in 2001, as a missionary in the SLC Family History mission. She loved family history and in 2013 indexed more than 100 thousand names. In her spare time, she enjoyed working as a Volunteer at the Jordan River Temple, and at IHC Hospital gift shops. Elaine taught preschool for 10 years, and was loved by hundreds of beautiful children, for whom she provided a warm, loving welcome each morning. Work with the children was a source of great pride for "Miss Grandma".
Elaine is survived by her sons, Randall (Karie), Bruce (Shauna), Craig (Paula), Brian (Carla), daughter, Karen (David) Windisch, 16 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and her brother Kay (Dawn) Thurman.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Armond, a son Michael and her sister Arlene.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Riverton Farms Ward, 3200 West 12875 South, Riverton, UT. Viewings will be held on Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary ‚ Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, and on Saturday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the Ward. Interment will be held at the Brigham City Cemetery at around 3:00 p.m.
