Elaine Hale

Elaine was born in the winter of 1932 to her loving parents, Williard Franklin Rainey, and Sara Ellen "Nell" Cranney Rainey and had four sisters, Dorothy, Janice, Jerry, and Ellen. They lived a simple, yet hard life on the family farm in Star Valley Wyoming. As a young farmer's daughter, Elaine loved being with her father and tagged along with him everywhere he allowed. Whether it was down to the pasture to gather cows, or into the truck for a ride town, Elaine was always by his side. After the cows were milked and the house was tidied up, Willard would often whisper in Elaine's ear, "Elaine, go make us some popcorn" which she would happily oblige. It was on the farm where Elaine loved playing with her sisters, riding horses, and helping Nell around the house.

Elaine grew to be a beautiful, tall, athletic tom-boy who excelled in athletics. When it was time to play basketball in school, Elaine was often the first player selected. She loved sports: shooting baskets, hitting ping-pong balls against the parlor wall, teaching swimming lessons in Alpine, lifeguarding at Bear Lake, cheerleading, and playing baseball catch with her father. Elaine loved the small-town life and often spoke fondly of the town dances, rodeos, school horse trips, and baseball games

Elaine loved her dear family and the times they were able to spend with each other. Farming in Western Wyoming was difficult, yet Willard and Nell always made time for them to do meaningful things together. They often took off on horse-back for picnics or gather wild huckleberries, or, when time allowed, taking longer trips to Yellowstone or the Grey's River.

In her late teens, she met and married Roen Hale. Together, they set out to start a new life in the big city of Salt Lake. It was here they purchased a house and raised 6 boys: Curtis, Jed, Brent, Robert, Kelly, and Tim. Life was hectic and chaotic with all those boys (and their constant stream of friends) but Elaine was attentive, loving, and supporting of each of their needs. She was their greatest cheerleader, and spent countless hours watching them play sports or perform on stage.

Elaine's home was everyone's home. Whether it was just a place to stay overnight, or a place to call home while going to school, Elaine's home was a welcome home. She was a gracious host and loved having parties. The Hale home was always "party central", and parking on Mercury Drive was always hard to find. She was famous for hosting a good poker game or having plenty of hamburgers on hand for an impromptu backyard barbeque. Her legendary Christmas Eve parties are still talked about these days.

Elaine loved to travel, and eventually those short horse rides of her youth were replaced by magical, ocean cruises and camel-driven caravans to the Egyptian pyramids. Travelling became a way of life for her and the friends she found, and memories that she made, were forever a part of who she was and the life she lived. One of her favorite trips was a cruise to the Caribbean with her father and mother.

Elaine's greatest trait was her big, beautiful heart. She loved company and always greeted everyone with a warm smile, a huge hug, and often a lipstick-smearing kiss. She spent her lifetime nurturing, laughing, and loving. She celebrated everyone happiest moments, while grieving everyone's saddest. Elaine loved chatting, listening, and making you feel like you were the most important person in the world. She lived hard, loved hard, and mom'ed hard. She loved being a grandmother and was always interested in each of her grandchildren's lives.

Elaine loved playing games and having lunches and dinners with her sons or other family members. She was blessed to live with great health and mental capacities until her peaceful passing on March 23. She is preceded in death by her Father Willard, Mother Nell, sisters Dorothy (Wendell Hemmert), Janice (Junior Haderlie/Al Flemming), Jerry (Ron Smith) and sons Brent and Kelly. She is survived by her sons Curtis (Joy), Jed (John), Robert (Robbin), and Tim (Amy). Sister Ellen Hebdon of Thayne, Wyoming. She is the proud to have had many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm at the Thayne Community Cemetery in Thayne Wyoming on Tuesday, March 31.