Elaine Payzant Burton Obituary (1923 - 2012)

“Beloved Grandmother”Elaine Payzant Burton, loving mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 3, 2012, at the age of 89. She was born May 17, 1923, in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Reuben Ells and Desta Shepherd Payzant. Elaine spent most of her childhood in Provo, Utah, and the family later moved to Salt Lake City, where she graduated from South High School in 1941. She married Ira Devon Burton on October 6, 1943, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He passed away in 1993. She faced the nineteen years without her beloved companion with grace and courage and was an example of unconditional love, sacrifice and devotion to her family and her Heavenly Father all of her life.Elaine worked for 25 years at the Tribune and Newspaper Agency as a cashier and an accounting clerk.Elaine loved music; especially the Primary songs sung by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and rarely missed the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast on Sunday mornings. She was a fan of the “oldies” music, played by her son’s 60’s band and the big bands. She faithfully tuned into Lawrence Welk every Saturday night.Elaine was an active member of the LDS Church her whole life and she served in many callings, including eight (8) years as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple. But, her greatest service was to her husband, children and grandchildren. She loved them dearly and never missed an opportunity to express her love for them. She is survived by her two (2) children: Claudia (Clyde) Kunz, West Jordan, and Craig Devon (Elaine) Burton, South Salt Lake; eleven (11) grandchildren; and twenty-four (24) great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters: Afton (Howard) Moore, South Salt Lake; Clair (Colleen) Payzant, Washington, Utah; Joyce (Jim) Zufelt, Springville; Clifton (JoAnn) Payzant, Sandy; Evelyn (Jack) Atkinson, Taylorsville; and Ranae (Carlos) Smith, Sandy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Devon; and a great-grandchild, Emma Burton.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a. m. on Friday, September 7, 2012, at the Wandamere Ward Chapel, 304 East 2700 South. A viewing will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, on Thursday from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and at the chapel one hour prior to the services on Friday. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery.