Elaine (Hardy) Whipple

Elaine Hardy Whipple, 94, passed away peacefully June 9, 2022 in Logandale, Nevada. Elaine was born November 18, 1927 in St. George, Utah to Dudley Leavitt Hardy and Vera Eva Wittwer. Elaine was raised in Bunkerville, Nevada, and was the eldest of four children. At the age of ten, her father passed away unexpectedly and Elaine felt the huge responsibility of helping with raising her siblings as her mother attended school in Reno, Nevada to become certified as a teacher. After graduation, her mother secured a teaching position at the school in Logandale, Nevada. Elaine would live in Logandale the rest of her life with the exception of a brief time while attending college in Utah. She loved attending Moapa Valley High School. She was a cheerleader, played basketball, and was in many of the lead roles in Drama. It was there she met Elson ‘Jay’ Whipple, and they began courting her Junior year. He was a year older, and after graduating, he was sent to fight in WWII. Upon his return, they were married September 24, 1946 in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple. They left for a semester of school in Cedar City, but returned quickly to help run the family farm. So, they raised their family in Logandale where they farmed the land and operated the Moapa Valley Water Company. She was the office manager, which included doing the billing each month, answering phone calls, and providing her home as an office as well as a place for board meetings. As the valley grew, the water company transitioned and Elaine began working at the high school. She helped coordinate the Head Start program, special ed classes, and acted as liaison between the Moapa Band of Paiutes and CCSD. She had a strong love for the tribal members. The Whipple family was called to serve a mission on the Moapa reservation in 1965. It was then their love began for the Indian people.  It was a love that spanned decades. She and Jay enjoyed many years of raising their children in the Moapa Valley. That joy continued as they watched their grandchildren and shared in countless activities. In  later years they enjoyed going on many travel adventures and vacations including a rented Greyhound bus that took the entire family to Southern California. Grandchildren were a special focus for Elaine; she treasured every moment with them. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in every capacity within the church including: an ordinance worker at the Las Vegas temple, Camp director, Drama director, Primary President, Young Women’s President, Ward Relief Society President, and Stake Relief Society president for almost ten years. However, her most cherished calling was that of a Visiting Teacher. She had a strong testimony and was a pillar and a pioneer in the Moapa Valley. She summarized the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in three words: “Just be good.”
Elaine is survived by her children, Mark (Dianne) Whipple and Janet (Timothy) Kelly; her daughter-in-law, Jean Whipple; her grandchildren, Traci (Brian), Jesse (Brooke), Marci (Doug), Abbie (Lee), Justin (Shaye), Jessica, Jennifer (Leo), Jay (Becky), Ryan (Anjali), Elise (Dustin), Kaitlin (John), and Jason (Jayda), her twenty-nine great-grandchildren; her sister, Bertha (Dee) Smith; and her sisters-in-law, Shirley Hardy, and Ann Hardy. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jay Whipple; her son, Elwin Whipple; her parents; and her brothers, Glen and Maurice “Mike” Hardy.
Viewing services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Logandale, Nevada Chapel, with Funeral services following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Logandale Cemetery. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.