Ella Mae Nelson Greaves

Ella May Nelson Greaves, 87, died January 10, 2016, surrounded by her loving family and in the arms of her devoted husband. May was born June 18, 1928 to Hattie Luella Brown and Cleveland Nelson, in a log cabin in the Chestnut Valley near Great Falls, Montana. May graduated from Great Falls High School and soon thereafter moved to Salt Lake City. She attended Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. She married Theodore Harry Greaves, Sr. in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married 66 1/2 years. May and Ted are the grateful parents of seven children, 22 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

May was a devoted ward organist, Primary accompanist, and Relief Society teacher when she was a young mother. Mom was a gifted seamstress and made remarkable clothes for her family. Mom was a spectacular cook. No menu was too exotic, nor banquet too large for her. For several years, May took particular delight in feeding the Deacons and Teachers every Sunday morning, where endless crepes and maple syrup were the feature of an open-kitchen invitation to all the young men. Mom and Dad proudly sent six of their seven children on church missions. May’s life was an example of devotion to her Lord and Savior Jesus of Nazareth, to her husband, her children and grandchildren, and to her precious friends.

May and Ted traveled in their camper all over the United States including Alaska and Canada, and they took several journeys to Asia, Europe and the Pacific.

May is survived by her husband, sons Ted Jr. (Christine), Richard, John (Corina), Cleveland (Brenda) and Jesse (Alison), son-in-law Kim Taylor, daughter-in-law Louisa Greaves, and her sister Vilate Klein. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Frank and Heber, and her beloved daughters Loretta Greaves and Marie Greaves Taylor.

Our heartfelt thanks to May’s many nurses, doctors, caregivers, ministers and friends who served her so well. Memorial services will be 12:00 Noon Saturday, January 16th at Kenwood 2nd Ward, 3080 S. Kenwood Street, where friends may call between 10:00 and 11:45. Friends may also call Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City. Interment: Wasatch Lawn. www.wasatchlawn.com