Elva Atkinson passed away February 28 2008 at the Caribou Memorial Hospital Living Center in Soda Springs, Idaho at the age of 97. Elva was born on July 24, 1910 in Grace, Idaho to William and Ellen Perry. She was the 4th of nine children. She went to school in Turner in a one room school house where there was 1st thru 8th grades. When she was old enough she worked in the fields along with her younger sister Effie. Along with her sister her favorite workhorse and companion in the fields was her horse named Bluch. She loved horses and animals of all kinds.
She married Arthur Peck Preece on January 8, 1930 in Grace, Idaho. Together they had 4 children. Francis, Ina, Calvert and Joyce. They later divorced. Arthur passed away in February 1, 1959. She then married Frank Atkinson in 1959 and was subsequently sealed to him in the Logan Temple some years after his death.
Elva worked for many years as a waitress and then a cook in Grace and Soda Springs area restaurants. She worked hard all her life. She enjoyed working in her yard and her garden and loved growing flowers. Some of her hobbies were crocheting, embroidering, and tatting. One of her special gifts to all her children and grandchildren were her special sleeping gowns that she would embroider and crochet around the sleeves and hems for all the new babies into the family. She also loved crocheting pot holders for family and friends. Elva was always there to help out family and friends and anyone in need. She lived for her children and grandchildren and in many cases she was the center of five generation pictures with her children. She loved babysitting and being around all her family.
On July 24, 2007 Elva turned 97 years old. On that day her family gave her the one special gift that she had asked for before she passed away. She wanted a horse and buggy ride like the ones she had as a child growing up. Special thanks are to be given to Bart and Linda Simmons who rearranged their schedule on that day and brought their horse and buggy to her birthday celebration and allowed her family to make her last birthday a very special one for her and all of her family to see her joy on last time.
She was preceded in death by her parents William and Ellen Perry, a son Francis Preece, a daughter Ina Judkins, one brother and four sisters. For a short time Elva was the oldest person living in the small town of Grace, Idaho.
Elva is survived by one son Calvert (Mary Ann) Preece of Soda Springs,ID., one daughter Joyce (Joe) Barnes of Grace, ID., and a daughter-in-law Pat Preece, of Soda Springs, ID., and three sisters, Blanche Roberts of Pocatello, ID., Inez Douglas of Grants Pass,OR., and Florence Haynes of Concord, NC. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 26 great-great grandchildren.
Services will be held Tuesday March 4, 2008 at Noon at the Grace LDS Stake Center. Family will meet with friends from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Stake Center prior to services. Burial will be in the Grace Cemetery.