Elaine Thornton Mori

Elaine was born November 17, 1924 at Saltair, Salt Lake County, Utah to Lorenzo Hyrum, and Ruth Trivina Bench Denison.

“Love at Home” best explained Elaine’s childhood years at Saltair. Family life with her parents, siblings, and grandma living very close by, was what you would imagine an ideal family could be. They were very kind and loving, working together to make the household run as smoothly as possible. They were very rich with the things that mattered most! The children loved being together, as well as well as being with the other children at the Saltair Village. They all had fun, even in the desolate environment! They rode bikes, played baseball, marbles, and jacks. The also played on the giant playground there built by the Morton Salt Plant employees. The Denison Family reunions in Manti and were always anticipated events to gather with their many Denison cousins! (They were five of the 49 cousins in the Denison family.) They were especially close to the cousins living in Farmington where they played, and picked fruit in the orchards there.

Elaine was bussed from Saltair to attend Jackson Elementary School in Salt Lake City to the end of her third grade. (During one of those rides, the bus hit a snow bank that tipped the bus over! Students and their belongings were tossed everywhere. Thank goodness no one was hurt!) The school district was then changed, so then she attended Garfield schools until the end of ninth grade (a seven mile bus ride). She enjoyed school and other activities at Garfield like church, movies and going shopping downtown. She attended her High School years at Cyprus in Magna, graduating in May of 1942.

Elaine met Billie Mack Thornton through her Farmington cousins. They kept in touch three years. While dating they especially liked roller skating events and going to movies. They married in Las Vegas, Nevada July 22, 1942. They moved back to Utah in 1948 and planted roots where Mack found work at the Salt Plant at Saltair. They were blessed with four children: Eva Lorraine (who died in infancy), Joya Maxine, Michael, and Julaine. Their young family enjoyed being close to extended family there. They enjoyed fishing trips, and excursions to Heber City, Parowan, and Las Vegas. Elaine became a widow at age 34 when Mack passed away in April of 1959. After his death, she and her children were faced with the obligation to move from the company-owned home at the Salt Plant. It was then they moved to Magna.

Elaine was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was grateful for the welcoming arms of the Magna 1st Ward. She held many positions and received many awards. (She also like being a second leader with “Four-H” cutups.) With the help of her parents being proxy, Elaine, Mack, and their four children were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple in June of 1962.

Elaine was well-known in Magna as the lady who worked at the Cyprus Swimming pool. She sold the tickets there and handed out the metal baskets that contained a towel and a locker key.

Elaine married Henry Hikaru Mori in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. His family owned the local “Mori Market” on Magna Main Street and together they kept the business going. After closing the market, they opened a new restaurant on Magna Main, and again worked there together to keep their business going. Elaine and Henry enjoyed two trips to Hawaii. She loved those trips so much! (The Disney animated feature “Lilo and Stitch” became one of her favorites!) They purchased a mobile home in Taylorsville in 1979. They enjoyed planting flowers and caring for the small yard there. Henry passed away in January of 1980.

After Henry’s death, Elaine went to Arizona for three weeks to be with her daughter Julaine and her family. Subsequently, she enjoyed many memorable summer trips to Arizona to be with them, and even joined them as they went to Disneyland, which she loved! Elaine found work at a place called St. Regis making and sewing heavy-duty paper bags, and worked there until her retirement.

In 1982, Elaine became reacquainted with Clifford Kemp at their 40 year High School class reunion, and both being single, they began dating. They loved spending time together, going on Sunday drives, seeing beautiful scenery and eating at fun restaurants. Elaine’s Dad was living in a care facility then, and many of their Sunday drives included taking him with them, and having him to Elaine’s for dinner. She and Cliff were really anticipating having more time together after her retirement in December of 1989, but sadly, Cliff passed away unexpectedly in May of 1990.

Elaine kept herself busy. She learned to do some crafting, and loved being with family. Julaine was living in Spanish Fork then, and even though that was a bit of a distance, they spent a lot of time together, doing fun things and going to fun events, festivals, etc. (Julaine died in 2002.) She also spent countless hours helping her daughter Maxine as she became even more incapacitated with diabetes. (Maxine died in 2008.) Elaine managed to fill her time with many good things of life. Even in her advanced years, she always kept up with her yard work. (Her yard has even been recognized for its beauty by the mobile home park’s management.)

Elaine loved the gospel, and went back to the temple in 1998 for the first time in many years. When she was able to, she really enjoyed attending the temple with family and friends. She enjoyed church services, making friends in her ward and neighborhood because of her activity there. She accepted the call to send birthday cards to each sister in the ward for several years. It was a challenge, but she was diligent at it, and did a great job!

Elaine kept good notes, and kept excellent records! She was great at sending birthday and special occasion cards. She remembered so many family members and friends each year with a special card! She also loved receiving greeting cards! (That was evident in her home, as her doors and fridge were usually covered with them.) She enjoyed looking at them so much, it was normal to see cards from loved ones span several months of holidays and her birthday prominently displayed! She was especially fond of “pop-up” cards, and so intrigued by those that played music!

Elaine treasured things people gave to her! She labeled each item with a sticker denoting who gave it to her, and what the date was. She kept each item near and dear to her heart, no matter what it was! Her home was full of all the treasures she loved throughout the years!

Elaine was one who loved music, and her likes were so diverse! She loved the music of Johnny Cash. She loved watching Lawrence Welk. “Music and the Spoken Word” was one of her favorite TV programs. She loved to reminisce the “good old days” by listening to the sounds of the big band era, and other songs from her youth. She loved the hymns of the church, and all of the music from the Primary Children’s Songbook.

Elaine experienced many losses, physical ailments, disappointments, and challenges, yet, she always had an attitude of gratitude! She loved expressing her gratitude by sending Thank You cards for the simplest act of kindness to her. She found the good in every person, and in every situation. She was always kind, loving, and was always willing to help wherever she was needed. An example of her kindness was when they were young, her younger sister Carol was cold. Elaine took off her own gloves and gave them to Carol! Carol says that Elaine was always a loving, and protective big sister. When she got hurt, it was always Elaine who walked her home. That was true sisterly love, that continued to everyone she knew throughout her life. She was so willing to sacrifice of herself so others could be blessed!

Elaine had many physical challenges, and met each one with diligence! She followed doctor’s orders, and with such great endurance, would see successes and improvements in her health. She found so much joy in living, and loved life! She never gave up trying to do all she could do to LIVE!

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents Lorenzo and Ruth Denison; siblings, brothers Keith and Richard Denison, and sister Lois Kimball; husband Mack Thornton and their three daughters Eva Larraine, Julaine Brown, and Joya Maxine (and Jim) Ross; husband Henry Mori; and treasured friend Cliff Kemp.

Elaine is survived by her sister Carol Long of Magna, her son Michael (and Danele) Thornton of Kearns, and son-in-law Larry Brown of Spanish Fork. There are also grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren:

Colette (and Dennis) Dahlstrom and their children Linzi Burton, Shandi Holt, and Tausha and Garren Sorenson;

Marsha Thornton, and her children Dustin Thornton, and McKayla Newman;

Mikey Thornton and his daughters Savannah and Emilee;

Michelle Thornton;

Larry Brown (son-in-law);

Dylan Todd (and Trish Sloan) Brown and their son Ben Sloan;

Courtnee DeAnn Brown (and Kepu )Talimoni;

Taylor Mackenzie Brown (and Julia Giblette) and their children Ariah Julaine, and Havyn Taylor Brown

Ashlee Elaine Person

Monica (and Daniel) Spring, and their children - Jamie, Nicolas, Ryan, Bailey, Laila, Aspen, Hunter, and Seth

Elaine also has Nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors who will feel the void she has left in the lives of all who knew and loved her.