Bernessa Elaine Haws Hancock passed away on August 25, 2021. She was born on 31 Oct 1932 in South Gate, California to her parents Lynn Martin Haws and Bernessa Lamb. The family moved to Mexico when Elaine was six months old. Elaine attended her first few years of school in Mexico
Elaine attended Mesa High School where she joined the marching squad and learned to rope. By the time she was a senior she was the leader of the ropers and never lost this skill. She was later asked to train some girls at Gilbert High School how to rope for a half time performance.
Elaine met Kent Hancock while they were in high school. They became engaged and then married on 5 October 1950 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Kent and Elaine moved from Mesa to the community of Gilbert in 1955 where they raised their family of four daughters and three sons.
Elaine learned to decorate cakes, providing a decorated cake for children and grandchildren's birthdays and later their wedding receptions. Elaine was also a very good seamstress and would at times make dresses for her granddaughters. She was also known for making her own patterns.
Elaine has been a faithful and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She enjoyed serving in the church in many positions. She taught the Eleven-Year-Old Scouts for thirteen years. She served as the ward sports director, then as the regional sports director for the women and young women's programs. She also served as a ward Relief Society President. Elaine enjoyed working in the temple where she worked in the office at the Mesa Temple. Later Kent and Elaine both served as temple ordinance workers.
She served three full time missions with Kent. The first was to McAllen Texas. Their second was with the Arizona Tempe Mission. Their third was in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania Mission.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Kent, her parents, a son-in-law, and a grandson. She is survived by her two sisters, Ruth and Janetta, and seven children, Reed (Sheryl), Nita Carroll (Heber), Rena Reheis (Dan – deceased), Lisa Boehme, Judy Boren (Jim), Lynn, and Mark (Becky).
Elaine leaves behind a posterity of 33 grandchildren, 74 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.
Saturday the 4th of September there is a viewing from 9:30 to 10:15 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2559 E. Combs Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140. The funeral will follow at 10:30 AM at that location. Interment will be in the Mesa Cemetery.