Elma Avondet Skanchy

Elma Avondet Skanchy

Our dear Wife, Mother and beloved Grandmother, Elma Avondet Skanchy passed away on November 8, 2012, after spending the preceding evening saying farewell to her family.

In her passing moments, she was doing what she always did; using every moment of her life to comfort, love and encourage those she loved.

Elma was born on the family farm in Birch Creek, Utah, a small community outside of Ogden. Her parents were Lami and Millie Avondet. She grew up in a large Italian family with 2 brothers and 5 sisters. She loved the farm, the garden, the orchard, the animals and her horses. Her life was full of joy and exploration along the foothills of Ogden. As she and her sisters married, most lived close to the family farm. Holidays, birthdays, and most any other day were a celebration with family at the farm.

She graduated with a degree in Education from Utah State University and taught Physical and Special Education in the Cache County and Weber County Schools. She coached cheer, softball, track, volleyball and basketball teams. Elma loved sports and played on a semi-professional women''s softball team, the Utah Shamrocks, which competed throughout the Western United States. She coached teams at Smithfield Jr. High, South Ogden Jr. High and Bonneville High School. She loved to encourage young people to excel and cherished each of their accomplishments. She chose never to miss an important event in the lives of her family.

Elma married Norman Lavor Skanchy on June 9, 1948 and from this marriage had 4 children: Randy (Sue) Skanchy, Patti (Pete) VanAarle, Toni (Tom) Bray, and Kelly (Heidi) Skanchy; 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She loved The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After her marriage she investigated the church and was baptized by her husband. She served in numerous capacities in the church, mainly, in the Young Women''s program. She served as a missionary with her husband in the Ogden Inner City Mission and as an ordinance worker in the Ogden LDS Temple.

Elma is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren and sisters, Linda D''Hulse and Dory Wright.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, brothers Michael and Joseph Avondet; sisters, Eva Costley, Enna Roberts, and Martha Avondet;

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Nordic Valley Chapel, 2900 North Hwy 162., Eden. Friends may visit with family on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment, Lindquist''s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.