Elaine Louise Atkins

Elaine Louise Atkins entered the presence of her Heavenly Father on January 24, 2024. She was born on December 11, 1939 in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Charles and Helen Coffelt. She grew up participating in 4H club, playing the piano and singing. She met her forever love, Ronald Lee Atkins, in grade school and after a courtship in high school, they married in Arkansas City, Kansas on December 21, 1958. They spent 20 years in the Army, living in North Carolina, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Hawaii and Virginia. They moved to Colorado after Ronald retired from the Army. They especially enjoyed living in the country in Yoder, Colorado near their grandchildren with gardens, chickens, sheep and horses.

Elaine had a beautiful soprano voice, singing in church and military functions. She directed church choirs, wrote short stories, and enjoyed sewing, quilting, restoring antique dolls, and all kinds of crafts. Most of all, she loved and cared for her family. She loved to be silly with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will forever be cherished by her family for her love and unending support, her joy and encouragement, her sense of humor and fun, and her resiliency and faith. Her favorite Scripture was the 23rd Psalm “The Lord is my Shepherd” and favorite hymns “Because He Lives” and “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.”

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents and two sisters. She is survived by her faithful, loving husband of 65 years, Ronald; two daughters, Lori Whittemore and Holly Kirles; son-in-law, Hugh Whittemore; three grandchildren, Jessica Simkins (Ethan), Erica Davis (Lee), and Clint Whittemore; six great-grandchildren, Eli, Eliot and Ean Simkins, and Haley, Jace, and Kinsley Davis; and her brother, Terry Coffelt.

Her family will forever cherish her and the legacy she has left them and look forward to seeing her again in heaven. Praise be to the Lord.