Elaine Margaret Gardner

Elaine Margaret Gardner 2 Feb 1947 - 12 Nov 2025

Elaine was called home suddenly but peacefully on the 12th of November, following just one day of painful heart failure symptoms.

She had a great big, beautiful, loving heart, which everyone that knew her could easily see and feel.

Left behind to navigate her sudden absence is her beloved husband of 31 years, Blaine Skeen Gardner. As well as many, many others.

Elaine loved yellow roses, black licorice, the Tabernacle Choir, Brussels sprouts, a full English breakfast, milk chocolate (never dark), sunny Utah winters, serving in the Bountiful Utah Temple for 25 years, Yorkshire Puddings, frogs, and …. you!

She was also a lead-foot driver (she made a habit of hitting 100mph on the motorway once on each trip back to England - don't tell anyone!). She was delighted by her first full throttle blast on Blaine's motorcycle, "That was GORGEOUS!" was her reaction.

Elaine’s greatest love in life was her family.

She was born February 25, 1947 to Cyril Anthony and Kathleen Burton in St Ives, Huntingdonshire, England.
She was the oldest of 8 children; her siblings are Sandra, Gerald, David, Michael, Patricia, Stephen & Susan.

Elaine has three daughters who she loves dearly and deeply, Dawn, Deborah (Chris) and Elaine Jr.; four grandchildren who are her world Jade, Owen, Samuel, and Grace; and one great grandson Jenson Blaine (his great-grandfather is unreasonably please with Jenson's middle name).

Blaine & Elaine first met on a bitter cold New Year's Eve 1980 in Salisbury, England. 13 years later they (mostly Blaine, he's kinda slow sometimes) figured out it was much more than friendship. Elaine moved to the United States in 1994, leaving behind a big piece of her heart, her first grandchild. Blaine was amused that he became a grandfather on their wedding day. Blaine and Elaine were married August 3rd, 1994 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and all eternity.

They set about blending their worlds together. She quickly became a beloved member of the Gardner family. A young nephew said to his mom, "Auntie Elaine talks funny". His mom told him "It's not funny, just different because she's from a different place". He replied: "I know, but her words are curly". Early on one of the little nieces called them "Auntie BElaine", and it stuck. They were so much a part of each other they only needed one name.

Family and friends enjoyed the epic Christmas Eve parties, her captivating laugh, her genuine interest in each person she spoke with, Christmas crackers, flag cakes on July 4th, her inability to show up to any gathering empty handed, and her way of making each individual feel important, valued, and loved.

Elaine wore her life out (and her shoes) caring for others as a nurse. Her very favorite part of her career was working with special needs children. She moved from Dartford to Salisbury on December 30th, 1980 to create from scratch a respite care home for her special needs children. She loved Hillcote and her colleagues and "her" children.

That love carried over to America, and she blessed the lives of many of her special children and their families on this side of the pond.

Her niece Hailey said “with her accent, her grace, and her love … she always kind of felt like royalty to me”

In honor of Elaine, forgive a hurt, let go of a grudge, comfort an aching heart, or heal a wound.

Or put a little frog in your windowsill, your dash, or next to your toothbrush to remind you to share the love you felt from Elaine.

If you feel so inclined, she would appreciate donations to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian fund in in lieu of flowers (which she also loves).

https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/

Till We Meet Again.