Elaine Geraldine Tombs

Surrounded by love, Elaine Geraldine Tombs moved on to be with her departed loves on May 1, 2019. Born in San Juan Bautista and raised in the foothills of San Andreas, the loving and always smiling and supportive matriarch brought such joy and inspiration to her family and friends. She always made family her number one priority! Prior to World War II she moved to San Francisco with her girlfriends and extended family in the Bay Area. She served with honor in WW2 in the Navy Waves.

Elaine raised her three children in Southern California. She enjoyed life and adventures with her kids, especially many hikes to secret surf spots with her son Lee. In 1972 she returned to the Gold Country and soon her children and their families followed to continue the adventure.

In 1973 she purchased a home in Pollock Pines from Ray Tombs. In 1974, they were married and enjoyed a good life together of adventures with grandkids, fishing, camping and traveling until Ray passed away in 2011. Elaine retired to the Gold Country Retirement Village in Placerville where she met many new friends. One of those friends, Roy Pearson, she fell in love with. On January 11, 2015, both at the age of 91, the two love birds were blessed in holy matrimony. The smile on their faces and the love in their hearts were there until the last moments of Roy’s life on April 24, 2018.

Elaine is survived by her daughter Charlene Emlay (Jack), son John Wessman (Joanna), daughter-in-law Kelli Wessman (wife of deceased son Lee), brother Charles H. Wall (Pam), grandchildren John Wessman II, Kristina Edwards, Lya Salzano, Miranda Rendon, Rachel Wessman and Lauren Wessman, step-grandchildren Johnny Emlay, Bernadette Emlay Bucnis and Suzanna Emlay-Marino, niece Lisa Woodruff, 15 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

Elaine’s loves that were there to meet her when she transitioned are, her parents Lena and Charles H. Wall, her beloved son Lee, grandson Raymond Salzano, great grandson Anthony Salzano-Payne, husband Ray Tombs, husband Roy Pearson, sister-in-law Jackie Wall and many others that joined in the May Day celebration.

Elaine was an inspiration to many for her strength in life, to finding love again at 91 years old, to the love she gave to all, how she smiled so freely, she lived a wonderful life and her passion for adventures with family. The family will be forever grateful for the compassionate care and love she received from the amazing staff at Gold Country Skilled Nursing and the Snowline Hospice Team.

A celebration of life will take place at a later time when all of her loving family can be together. In her spirit of giving back to all, please consider donations to the Eldorado Blind Society or to PAWS (The Performing Animal Welfare Society), where Mom and Roy had their first date together.