John and Kylee: January 2021

Elna Cobabe was born at home on a hot July day in 1926, the fourth child and third daughter of Frederick James Cobabe and Hazel Hudman Cobabe. Everyone but her mother was wishing for a boy. Her father owned sheep and was a rancher, and even as a toddler, she went with her mother to the ranch in Eden to cook meals for the shearing crew. When she was old enough to help, she fed motherless lambs from a bottle.

Elna attended school in Slaterville, Utah, in a three-classroom schoolhouse. It had a dirt floor but indoor bathrooms—one just had to go outside to get to them. There were seven students in her grade, and she dearly loved her friends and teachers.

In seventh grade, she contracted a strep infection, which developed into rheumatic fever. She spent nine months confined to her bed, watching life go past outside the big window in the living room, where her mother had moved her bed to prevent her from being completely isolated. She was left with a damaged heart valve but considered herself fortunate to have survived.

She attended Weber High School, and by her senior year, many of the boys she had gone to school with had already enlisted in the Armed Services. When recruiters visited her high school business classes in March before her graduation, begging for students to take part-time typist work at what would become Defense Depot Ogden, she and a friend volunteered. She worked part-time until her graduation, then full-time, six days per week, with Christmas as the only holiday, until VE day. She worked at the Depot for four more years after the War’s end.

She met John James “Jack” Lucas after the War while on a date with one of his friends, and they married January 28, 1947, in the Salt Lake Temple. Jack and Elna lived the first two years of their marriage in her parent’s basement. Jack built one home in Ogden, where they lived for six years, and then another in Slaterville, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They raised two daughters, Lynette and Sheila.

When her daughters entered college, Elna again put her secretarial skills to work, first at the Ben Lomond Seminary, then at Weber State College. She deeply desired further education, even at her “advanced age.” With much trepidation, she took the ACT test, and when she did quite well on it, she began taking classes and continued after her retirement. She received her Associate's Degree in 1996 and then continued to take classes that interested her.

She served in the LDS Church all her life, and Primary callings were her favorite. She set up and directed the Family Records Extraction Program in her stake and taught Gospel Doctrine. She and Jack served for many years as part-time service missionaries at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. In her civic life, she volunteered as the Marriott-Slaterville City historian after its incorporation.

Elna began traveling with her family as a young child, visiting the national parks and sites of interest all over the western United States. Jack loved travel, too, and together they visited 172 countries on seven continents. She made her final international trip to Cuba in 2017, after Jack’s death. Year after year, they took friends and family to explore the canyons of Lake Powell, eventually making more than 70 trips. Travel filled her need for new sights, sounds, and knowledge, and she loved coming home to Slaterville best of all. From all she saw in her life, she developed a deep commitment to historical preservation (both broadly and for her own family stories), to conservation, to human rights, and to education.

Elna passed away at home on October 29, 2020, at the age of 94.

She is survived by her daughters Lynette (Joe) Deru of Marriott-Slaterville City and Sheila (Bill) Armstrong of Cottonwood Heights, and by her 10 grandchildren and 20.5 great-grandchildren.

Her family thanks the staff of Seasons Assisted Living and Encompass Hospice, who cared for her over the last year of her life and arranged for her to spend her final hours in her home surrounded by family.

A Private Service for immediate family will be held at Leavitt’s Mortuary on Tuesday, November 3, at 2:00 pm.

Deru side family photo 2013

Jane and Suzette helping decorate Grandma's tree 2015

Grandma's last international vacation - Cuba with the Armstrongs 2017

Teotihuacan 2004

Central America when we picked up Marc of his Mission, 2004 I think.

Central America

Grandma and Grandpa visited 172 countries together.

I think this is at Luke's baptism in 2010.

Ben Lomond Seminary - where Grandma worked as a secretary after her daughters went to college.

Cobabe coat of arms

Cobabe children (plus someone else)

This was the Cobabe home where Grandma grew up. I remember her talking about how the oven needed to be heated by wood. This house is just a couple of houses down from my parents' and grandparents' homes. That whole row of houses and land belonged to Grandma's family ever since it was settled by pioneers. The only other people that owned that land was the native Americans.

This was taken at a dinner for their 60th wedding anniversary. Grandpa loved calling square dancing, so we did that and there was also other fun dancing.

Grandma with William's little girl Sadie.

In May 2015 Grandpa and Grandma were flown to Washington DC as part of the Utah Honor Flight. It was a program to take WWII veterans to see the memorials in DC and honor them for their service. David flew with them to help, and William and his family were living in Maryland at the time so they met up with them.

WWII memorial

This is how I remember Lake Powell as a kid. No fancy house boats--just a campsite in the sand. Back in the day, my grandpa would have wooden tables that he would put together real quick and then disassemble at the end of the trip.

Yeah, this seems safe.

Always needing to see what was around the next bend, which meant boating as far as possible and then maybe hiking or wading.

Lake Powell 2017

Grandma and my mom 1970.

Climbing up the dry waterfall to see what's around the bend.

My grandparents started going to Lake Powell as soon as the dam was built, before there was even a dock. Their first boat was named "Big Blue." This photo was taken in 1966.

Another way to see around the bend, guiding the boat up the slot canyons with push sticks to hopefully not scratch up the sides too much or hit the Bimini top. It is a right of passage, are you old enough or trust worthy enough to get a pushstick and 'man' a corner or side? Another photo from 1966.

This was the last boat that Grandpa got. A pontoon boat that rides nice and easy and holds a lot of people.

Getting cold on the boat became more of an issue as they got older.

We responded in kind. No grandparents were getting cold on our watch.

So many great memories.

Of course, Lake Powell was hardly the only place they travelled. This was in Death Valley. I remember them talking about how the church was building too many temples too quickly that they couldn't attend them all. Prior to that they had a goal to attend every temple in the world.

Goblin Valley 1986 with my mom and McKenzie

Canyonlands 1985

They kept this photo framed, displayed in their house. I think it was from a trip to Thailand which they said was their favorite international destination.

High school graduation photo. Honestly could she be any cuter with the bows?

I wish I had more info for these and other photos from her childhood.

The receipt for Grandma's birth. $31.00!

The carriage! It makes my heart melt.

The fence in front of the Cobabe home.

Fancy Cruise Life 2001

Honeymoon in Las Angeles - One of my favorite photos.

July 2013

Peru 2001 It is still unbelievable to me that the Inca's moved suck large boulders with so little technology.

On a road trip back east we stopped by the home that was the backdrop for the famous American Gothic painting by Grant Wood in Iowa. Grandpa and Grandma had to recreate.

Grandma and Anna July 2015

Shortly before her death at Seasons.

Easter 2017

June 2013

Loving on those Grandkids.

The Armstrongs took Grandma snowmobiling in Yellowstone. Not sure how wise that was. :)

Nathan's mustache birthday party.

June 2017 - Maybe in Cuba?

Oct 2013, maybe Martin's Cove?

Oct 2013

Winter 2002 when we waited outside to see the Olympic Torch be run by. That year they gave us tickets to see olympic event because the winter olympics were in SLC that year. They gave us the most exciting presents--a trip to Hawaii, a cruise, a stack of cash in $1 bills. No wonder I loved Christmas.

Grandpa's last Christmas - She sat by him and told him about things that he couldn't see or hear very well.

Shortly before her death at Seasons.

I was grateful that before her fall and death I had been trying more regularly to call her. I wasn't having too much success with her answering week after week, but the Wednesday before she fell on Friday I called and had a nice chat with her. We chatted about how Holland had her eye hit on the ceiling fan, and Grandma told me I needed to take better care of my kids. I also told her about how the banana tree had so randomly sprung a blossom after 25 years and how tiny bananas were growing on it. I'll never forget her saying, "Oh for heaven's sake." in voice of awe that it had done that. She also wanted me to update her on how they grew. (They are actually dying which seems appropriate in a sad way.) We chatted for a while and generally she followed the conversation pretty well (that was sometimes hit or miss with her dementia). I'll forever be grateful that I called that day and we were able to have a last, nice conversation.

In March 2017, my mom brought Grandma to Phoenix to attend Eliza's baptism. They were here for the week. One day we drove up to the new Phoenix Temple which is in North Phoenix.

One day we drove up to the top of South Mountain to see the view.

Another day we had a tea party.

One day we drove down to Saguaro National Park.

Grandma helping the girls with a baptism craft.

I talked about this scene in my funeral message. Grandma was helping Ellie with her number puzzles. They were so patient with each other. Such a tender memory.

I love my Grandma!

This happy face is near to my heart.

This laughing face is so present in my memory of family activities and holidays.

Grandma's hands on that silly photo from Patti. I remember how she hated breaking a nail. She would file the edge that broke smooth and regularly leave the long section long. So on the regular she would sport a jagged but smooth nail.

This was a funny Christmas gift.

One of my favorite photos of them. I took this photo with a film camera when I was a kid.

Grandma's Christmas tree in the background. When I was a kid we would decorate her tree and afterwards listen to Christmas music while drinking cocoa. She loved having the icicles pristine and would redo them after we put them on.

Getting a pedicure to help with sore toes.

When I was a senior in high school my mom took me to the middle east. My grandparents came too. Unfortunately they lost my Grandparents' luggage and so my grandma shared some of my clothes that trip.

On the ship crossing the Red Sea.

I think this was a Lake Nasser near the Aswan Dam.

This is definitely how I picture my grandparents looking when I was a kid.

2007

Jane's blessing 2009

2013

July birthday bash 2013

June 2013 We all went to the zoo together while John was in Turkey for a conference.

Sept 2006

I really like this picture of Grandma and Grandpa.

This photo was only labeled outing. But I wonder which one Grandma is.

Bryce Canyon 2012

Grandma turned 86 a week after this trip, but still went on a 3 mile hike through the park with us. I hope I can do that when I am 86.

Such a cool hike!

For Christmas 2012 They made treasure boxes for the grandkids. So sweet. They had just gotten off of a 30 something day cruise up the coast of Africa in order to get 3 more countries added to their total. Grandma didn't like cruises that long though. She said she got tired of them.

We took Grandma and Grandpa to the UT vs BYU game in 2013. It was such an awesome day. It almost got rained out, but ended up working out. We got amazing seats because Grandpa's was wheel chair accessible. UT was ranked and we were supposed to get destroyed, but we ended up dominating. It was so great!

Grandma and Grandpa used to get season tickets to the BYU football games and would come down on the bus to go to them. I remember coming with them when I was a little kid and not really understanding what was going on, but still loving the excitement of being at a live game. Grandma would bring a wireless radio headset to listen to Greg Wrubell because she liked how he described things that were going on.

I love how Grandma and Grandpa held hands so frequently.

They always had hats to keep the sun off.

Courtship

I wonder which baby this is.

I love my mom's darling curls.

Courtship

I love this one!

Clearly Yellowstone when it was a bit less developed. It makes me wonder how things will change during my lifetime.

Setting off on their honeymoon.

The hotel they stayed in. I love how classy and put together Grandma looks.

A honeymoon classic photo.

The house she grew up in.

Top row second from the left.

Again, top row, second from the left.

High school graduation.

Grandma and Kayla

1983

1979?

Grandma working at Weber State College

Slaterville church. My grandma liked to talk about this church and even kept a little chair from it. My grandparents were instrumental in building the new chapel, including donating the lumber for the whole building and the grand piano.

Slaterville school

"Once upon a time, not too long ago, there lived in a place called Utah, a couple of kids name Jack and Elna. Something special was happening--there was unusual excitement. It was January 28, 1947, a very important day. This was their wedding day."

60 Years later

What I said at her funeral: We have truly been blessed to have Grandma in our lives as our grandmother. Grandma had the unique ability to make each grandchild feel cherished. Because I was fortunate enough to grow up next door to Grandma and Grandpa I was able to have nearly daily interactions with her. I can only imagine how annoying I was coming over all of the time, asking for cookies, and demanding attention. Maybe it was due to this that Grandma decided to give us an activity to do at her house. You all know how much Grandma loved the Oz books. Grandma read every one of those books to me, all except "The Lost Princess of Oz." She couldn't find a copy of that one. So she read aloud 13 full length novels to me, just to me. I remember the distinct feeling of cuddling up on Grandma's floral couch, resting my head on her small shoulder. Grandma would end up dozing off regularly, which I thought was a little funny. I just woke her up and she would continue to read until she nodded off again. Little did I know that the same thing would happen to me when I read to my girls when I was much younger than she was. Of course, at that age I didn't realize what a time sacrifice it was to read those books aloud to me. I am sure that Grandma, like everyone else, had a never ending to-do list. But she set all of those to-do's aside to read an entire series to a young girl. It was an act of love that inspires me to try to harder to set aside my to-do's in order to make those precious memories with my girls.

Grandma also showed that kind of patience and love to the next generation. I remember when we moved to Phoenix she thoughtfully put together a whole bag full of snacks and activities for Eliza and Miriam to do on the drive to Arizona. A few years later, my mom brought her down to Phoenix to see Eliza get baptized. It happened to align with my children's spring break. One of Eliza's school activities for spring break was to do a tiling book.

This was a math activity where she had little tiles with numbers on them that she had to arrange in a specific orientation and adding to a certain number. It was a brain teaser of sorts. You all remember how much Grandma (and Grandpa!) loved brain teasers and puzzles. Well, my little 8 year old Eliza and Grandma were so enthusiastic about this spring break project. Unfortunately by this point in Grandma's life, her short-term memory wasn't what it used to be. Occasionally Grandma would forget what number they were adding to or which numbers they had already checked. This might have led to frustration or impatience in either Grandma or Eliza, but neither one displayed anything of the sort. They just seemed to enjoy the time together and the challenge of the puzzle. That is a tender memory for me.

There are countless memories like these ones that I want to remember and could share, but I also want to remember the little things. Like how Grandma would wake up at the crack of dawn to work in the garden with her wide brimmed hat and light fabric long-sleeved shirt that she promised me kept her cooler than wearing short sleeves because it kept the sun off. How afterwards she would eat her breakfast of toast with homemade jam and drink her hot chocolate made from the fudge sauce she kept in her refrigerator while doing the crossword puzzle. I want to remember how much she loved her back to be scratched and how once before John and I were married, Grandpa got after John for scratching my back, and Grandma told him it was okay because "You know how much that makes me purr." And Grandpa replied, "Yeah, but we're married!" She also loved to have her hair combed and want to have the back of her head checked to make sure "her crack wasn't showing" She didn't like her hair to be matted down and have a part in the back. I want to remember sitting with them in church and playing with her hands. I would pinch the back of her hand and count how many seconds it took until the skin of her hand flattened back down (I can only imagine how annoying that habit of mine was!). I want to remember playing hand and foot with Grandma and Grandpa, and other games too, even if Grandma declared herself the designated loser. I want to remember her little purple nose cozy with the puff ball that she would wear in the cold to help her nose not run as bad. I want to remember her advice to always pack the essentials in your carry on and a change of clothes. This is a lesson I won't soon forget after watching them not get their luggage when we went to Israel. Grandma and I shared clothes on that trip. I want to remember how much she loved having the whole family around, how she and Grandpa threw that huge 3 day long New Year's party for the new millenium. I want to remember how much she loved volunteering at the Joseph Smith Memorial building, the state parks, and at the voting polls. I want to remember her love of history and her delight in experiencing the historical treasures of the world. I want to remember her adventurous spirit, her hard-working nature, and her love for us all. Grandma was such a wonderful example of what I would like to become in practically every way. I will sincerely miss her until I see her again and feel grateful for all the wonderful memories I have been blessed with.

I wanted to add some photos of my grandparents from our trip to Israel. This is how I remember them: the adventurous duo who never lost their love for seeing new places. Although they had been to the Middle East before they still enjoyed visiting these iconic sites again.

The pros at travel. It is hard to take such long flights, but they loved to do it. I feel wimpy compared to them. They also knew some good rules to travel by like keeping your toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry on. Their luggage got lost for this trip so I know they were so thankful to have at least one change of clothes available.