Juanita K. Packer Elison

Juanita K Packer Elison, 74, joined her eternal sweetheart Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. This wonderful mother, wife, sister and friend passed away after struggling for several months with NPH. Her gallant heart was worn out.

Juanita was born May 28, 1938, in Moreland, Idaho, to Ora May Kofoed Packer and Delbert Dio Packer. She was the fourth of nine children. She attended school in Moreland and graduated from Snake River High School.

Juanita married Shirl R Elison on June 22, 1956, in the Idaho Falls Temple. They raised six children on a dairy farm in Riverton, then moved to another dairy west of Moreland.

Juanita loved learning. She began taking classes at ISU while she still had a young family. A class here and a class there soon added up. She graduated in elementary education and special needs in 1983. She was hired and started working at Groveland Elementary that fall.

After retiring, Shirl and Juanita served a mission at the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center. They loved being together, whether it was camping, going for a ride or working on genealogy. Since the passing of her husband, there has been a great void in her life that is now filled.

Juanita was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had served in many leadership positions in the Relief Society, the Young Women's and the Primary. She enjoyed singing in the choir and attending DUP until her health limited her mobility.

She is survived by her six children, Denise (Randy) Gneiting of Groveland, Shirl Kent of South Jordan, Utah, Jeri (Cole) Potter of Xian, China, Deann (Shannon) Albright of Shelley, Alan R (LeeAnn) of Moreland and Paul (Ruth) of Banks, Ore.; sister, Elaine Mangum of Riverside; brothers, Duane (Evelyn) of Moreland, Gene (Janice) of Idaho Falls, Jay (Linda) of Idaho Falls, Clair (Lynda) of Moreland and DeeLynn (Donna) of Moreland; sister-in-law, Tamera Packer of Spanish Fork, Utah; 21 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Juanita was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years; her parents; daughter-in-law, Cindy Elison; sister, Sherry; brother, Larry; brother-in-law, Don Mangum; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at the Moreland LDS Church. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Ave. in Blackfoot, and for one hour prior to services Monday at the church. Interment will follow at Moreland Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.