Elna Shakespear Campbell

Elna Shakespear Campbell, 96, died in South Jordan, Utah on July 1, 2025 from TMB (Too Many Birthdays). Born in McGill, Nevada October 21, 1928, Elna graduated as valedictorian from Ely's White Pine High School in May 1945. She attended BYU-Provo from 1947 to 1949 where she met Clarence [AKA Clancy, or Tad] Campbell on a blind date. After a whirlwind romance during a frigid, snow-packed winter in Provo, in May 1949 they were married in the Manti, Utah Temple. They began married life in Rupert, Idaho but moved around a bit due to Clancy’s adventurous spirit – including 7 years in a homesteading adventure on the desert between Burley and Oakley in Cassia County and dairy farming in Pella. Several years later they moved to Taylorsville, Utah. In following years they called Bennion, Murray and South Jordan home.

Elna was able to be a stay-at-home mom until all 5 children were raised. Than she and Clancy purchased and operated a small travel agency for a couple of years. After selling that business she accepted part-time employment at the newly opened Salt Lake Community College campus near their home in Taylorsville where she enjoyed working for the directors of four different departments. She worked for Burton Talmage, the Director of Business Affairs; Dean Sargent, Director of the Purchasing Office, Peter S. Maughan, Vice President/Director of FundRaising, and Kent Farrell, Director of Analysis/Budgets.

Elna was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed serving in various callings over the years, especially those that involved Family History in any way. She served many missions with her husband. They served together as President of the California Los Angeles Mission for three years; as missionaries for 2 years in the Singapore Mission, which included time spent in Malaysia and 6 months in Pakistan; as Coordinators of International Humanitarian Missionaries for 18 months in the Welfare Department in the Church Office Building; and as Sunday School teachers to female inmates at the MidValley Adult Detention Center for 2 years. They also loved serving in the Jordan River Temple and spent 2 years participating in a Wednesday and Friday morning sealing group which they continued until Clancy’s unexpected passing in 2009 when they were involved in an automobile crash in Oregon as they traveled home from a family gathering in Everett, Washington. After his death Elna continued doing sealings with the group at the Jordan River Temple for a few years until health challenges caused her to give up that service.

Elna and Clancy were living on Lizzi Cove in South Jordan at the time of that fateful accident just 3 weeks before his 84th birthday. Eight months after his passing, Elna downsized and made a move to the Arbors of South Jordan, a wonderful, gated community where she enjoyed associations with family, ward members, and other friends and neighbors. Elna loved family gatherings and always wanted to be involved whenever possible, and as health permitted. She enjoyed socializing with the New Year’s Eve Bunch, eating out, traveling (especially to places near family), BYU sports, theater, music, reading, playing games with family, and dancing.

Elna is survived by 5 of her 6 children, Jolene (Alan) Lasson, Scott (Ronda Higgins) Campbell, Peggy (Gene) Crandall, Christiane (Robert) Poll, and Douglas (Alla Sarkisova) Campbell. She will be missed by her posterity and their spouses, 33 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, parents G.W. and Ada Munson Shakespear, her brother, 3 sisters, and her toddler son John. She was the ‘last leaf’ on the Campbell and Shakespear Family Trees.

Viewing for friends and family on Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. 1540 West South Jordan Pkwy South Jordan, Utah 84095

Graveside services will be held Friday, July 11, 2025 11:00 A.M. Valley View Memorial Park 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah 84120