November 22, 1929 – January 30, 2022
Our Mom, the last living member of our elder generation, left this world after a brief illness, surrounded by her earthly family and into the waiting arms of her God and her family who had passed before her. Our Mom was born the youngest of 6 children to Ed and May Miller in Clinton County, Iowa and moved to Yuma in 1946, with her mother, older sister and brother-in-law. While attending Yuma High School, she met Henry (Hank) Green; both were proud “Criminals”, Class of 1948. They were married in 1950 and welcomed two boys into their family. Elaine began working at the telephone company (the Bell System) while in high school and continued to work for Mountain Bell (one of the “baby bells”) until her retirement in 1985. Once she and Hank retired, they both enjoyed being Nana and Tata to their four grandchildren; supporting them with their 4H and FFA projects, attending every baseball game, soccer match, roller hockey match and football game, always cheering them on; heat or cold, day or night, home or away games. They spent many summer vacations with them at the beach in San Diego, in the mountains near Julian, California, at Mormon Lake ropings south of Flagstaff, and Easter picnics on the desert. They took their son’s, wives and the four grandchildren on trips to Catalina Island, Iowa (to visit her niece and her families, the house she was born in and played a pick-up game at the Fields of Dreams), a ride on the Grand Canyon Railroad and a trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary.
She was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church (LCMS) until her passing. She, her Granddaughter, and the ladies group from the church were proud members of the “Petal Pushers” who for several years, helped to decorate the Lutheran Hour and other floats for the Rose Bowl Parade.
Elaine was a member of the American Businesswomen’s Association, Telephone Pioneers, the Foster Care Review Board, and volunteered at the Yuma Conservation Garden, the Food Bank of Yuma, and the Hospice of Yuma Thrift Store. She was the Thrift Store’s jeweler, jewelry appraiser and received numerous recognitions for her hours of volunteer service and a 15-year service pin and handmade quilt prior to her passing.
Elaine is predeceased by her husband Hank, her parents, her sisters Violet Murphy, Edith Snyder and her husband Cliff, Pearl Erickson and her husband Carl, Alice Colletta and her husband Vince, her brother Ward Miller, her brother-in-law James Green and his wife Gloria, her sister-in-law Alice Loroña and her husband William, and her sister-in-law Henrietta Leon and her husband Anthony. She is survived by her immediate family; her son Hank, his wife Pam, her son Rex and his wife Carmen, four grandchildren; Tyler Green, his daughter Lily May Green and her mother Jessica, Maren Green and Alberto Tansey and their daughter Alice Paloma Tansey, Robert Green and his Fiancé Lindy Murdock, Jonathan Green and his wife Taylor, 15 nieces and nephews, 16 grandnieces and grandnephews and 22 great-grand nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her extended families at Calvary Lutheran Church and the staff at the Hospice of Yuma Thrift store.Pallbearers are Tyler Green, Robert Green, Jonathan Green, Steve Leon, Steve Nickle, and James D. Green. Honorary Pallbearers are Tim Murphy, Janice Lichtenwald, Cynthia Leon, Becky Loroña, Laura Murphy, Vicky Morga and Rachael Nickle.
Our Mom was an example of Christian love, service to others and will be missed by those who loved and knew her.
