Elaine Allen

1919-2016

Martha Elaine Hennefer Allen was born November 16, 1919, and passed away peacefully on November 17, 2016, just one day after her 97th birthday. As she often said, “I never expected to live this long. Do you think they have lost my number?” Someone must have found her number.

Elaine was our Mom as well as Grandma, Great Grandma and Great-Great Grandma.

Mom was born in Salt Lake City the daughter of Clarence Raymond Hennefer and Martha Dahl Hennefer She married Dad, Floyd Ray Allen, on the 31st of May 1938. Later they solemnized their marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. Dad died on January 1, 2005.

Mom gave birth to her four boys (in order): Clarence Dwayne "Skip" (Marilyn/Arizona); Floyd Kent (Irmgard/Germany); Craig Lamar (Ann/Seattle); and Merrill Scott (Carolyn/Centerville, UT). Our births spread over a decade (1939 to 1949). We're all still living and, along with our extended families, have been blessed to have Mom for so many years. We’d list grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren but it’s not practical—just too many.

This notice is meant to honor Mom, but we can’t mention her without Dad. Mom and Dad formed a team, mutually supporting each other, sometimes working through differences, in their 67-year marriage. They were devoted members of the LDS Church serving in various capacities in their local ward. They served a local mission where Dad presided as a bishop. They worked in the Salt Lake temple over many years. In line with their faith, they allowed us to serve LDS missions, an opportunity we more than appreciate. Sustaining the four of us in the mission field required sacrifice. All-in-all, their objectives, over the course of our young lives, created in each of us sound values and ethics. As a result of their influence, they deserve substantial credit for the success each of us achieved in diverse careers.

In addition to church work, Mom and Dad lived active social lives. They regularly played golf with friends, a game they both loved but were never terribly good at. Although, Mom did get a hole in one, an achievement none of us has duplicated and one she would not let us forget. She proudly displayed her trophy. In addition, Mom and Dad had their card-playing group, and enjoyed traveling with family and friends. We can't leave out the joy they had and vigor they dedicated to entertaining and spoiling numerous little people (generations of grandbabies).

Mom loved to make things. She produced wonderful porcelain figurines, some for the season and others just for decoration. And, as long as she was able, Mom crocheted baby blankets (pink and blue) for new arrivals in our family and for friends. Each blanket has a label sewed in, “Made especially for you by Grandma Allen.” She also became an expert at producing Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls our children treasure. These dolls will passed on to future generations in her honor.

Something we have to express: Mom and Dad were simply sincere people who lived down-to-earth lives. Now that they're both gone, we have a heart-felt void in our lives.

Mom is survived by siblings Russell (Fay) Hennefer, Jean (Paul) Solomon, and Gay (Wayne) Jensen. She is predeceased by her parents and in-laws, brother Clarennce “Bud” Hennefer killed in WWII, and of course our father Floyd Allen.

We're going to bid farewell to our mother on Thursday , December 1, 2016. Services will be in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park chapel, 3401 S Highland Drive in Salt Lake City beginning at 11:00 a.m. Friends may visit with our family from 9:45 to 10:45 prior to the service.

We express a very special thanks to the administration and staff of the Inn At Barton Creek Assisted Living in Bountiful for taking such good care of our mother for nearly five years. We love you all and will miss seeing you .