Elna J. Braithwaite

Elna J. Pinkham Braithwaite

OGDEN a€" Today we lost our loving mom, grandma, great-grandma, and our very best friend: Elna Jessie Pinkham Braithwaite, 83, passed away Saturday, May 5, 2007 of causes incident to age.

She was born March 30, 1924 in Hooper, to Ray and Jessie Simpson Pinkham. She was the second of five children. She lived her younger years in Hooper working on the family farm. She graduated from Weber High School in 1942, and was very proud of being voted the "sexiest girl" at her 40 year class reunion.

She married Owen Roy "Buck" Hartley in 1942 and from that marriage had three sons, Ron, Dale and Leon. In October 1951, Buck unfortunately passed away leaving Mom with her sons to raise alone. At one time she was working four jobs to make ends meet to support her family: Dixie Shop, WT Grant, Hi Hat and the Rainbow Lounge. She then met her "sweetheart" Neil Braithwaite and they married in February 1956, and from this marriage came Janeil, the "spoiled brat" as commonly referred to by her brothers. Neil stepped into the fatherly role and made her family complete. After she and Neil married, she began bookkeeping for him at Johnson Auto Parts. In 1971 Mom and Dad opened Northern Warehouse and that is where she continued to work until its closing in 2001.

During their time together, they traveled extensively going all over the world and made many friends on their travels. Her favorite trip destinations were Australia and England, and let''s not forget Jackpot, NV. She enjoyed gambling (and did quite well at times), she also enjoyed bowling. Mom and Dad bowled for 30 years and she was league secretary for several of them. She also enjoyed horse racing and was an AVID Weber State Basketball fan (she could shake a mean cowbell)!!! Together they enjoyed entertaining and good times with their friends. No one could match the Christmas celebration at her home. She loved the holidays and decorated fully for each one. Mom and Dad would put so much work and effort into Christmas decorating (her the inside, he the out) people would stop to admire the work they put into it. Mom would spend HOURS decorating her Christmas tree, hundreds of perfectly placed ornaments before she was finished, and then she would start on the REST of the house. It was never work to her because it brought her so much joy to see the happiness in everyone''s faces. She was active in the North Ogden Civic League, even after she was not involved any longer, she was still an active part of their annual sales of Plum Puddings.

Dad passed away in September of 1997 and left a hole in her heart that no one could fill. She missed him so terribly, now they are together again.

She is survived by her children: Ron (Lois), Dale, Leon, and Janeil (Ted) Heywood; stepchildren, Valerie Dwyer, Doug (deceased), Jane Braithwaite, Debbie (Wayne) Adkison; sister, Lavora (Chris) Bouwhuis; nine grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one sister, two brothers, one daughter-in-law, one stepson, two grandchildren and her loving dog Cuddles.

We would like to give a special thanks to Mom''s very dear friend, Pat Glenn (neighbor Pat) for her unconditional love and support. We would also like to thank Marguerite and the staff at Beehive Homes for their care of her during this difficult time. Also, Applegate Hospice, Deanna, for her caring during her final hours, and Mandy, Carrie and anyone else who so unselfishly gave their time to make her final days comfortable.

I Love You Mom!!!!!

Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 North Washington Blvd.

Friends may call at the mortuary on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment, Hooper Cemetery.

Email condolences to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com