Elna Haught

Elna Brinkerhoff Porter Haught, age 84, of Woodruff passed away Monday February 18, 2008, at Hospice of the Valley in Scottsdale, AZ. She was born on May 16, 1923 in Holbrook, AZ to Levi and Rhoda (Turley) Brinkerhoff. She grew up in Woodruff and attended school in Woodruff, Holbrook, and Snowflake. She also attended Lamson Business School in Phoenix. She worked at the First National Bank in Holbrook for several years. Elna was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she accepted and fulfilled many church callings. She worked for the Seminary System for many years. Elna married Arlin Porter in November, 1942, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They had a daughter, Merlene. During WWII Arlin was a bomber pilot and was killed in action in March 1945. In September, 1950, Elna married Tom Haught. They were married for 53 years when Tom passed away in September, 2003. They had 6 children; Gary, Kathryn, Kelly, Carla, Leslie and Tom. The joy of Elna's life was when her children were born. The family moved around quite a lot when the children were young to find work on ranches and feed lots. They eventually settled in Woodruff to continue to raise their family. Elna was grateful for the little things in life. She loved learning and doing her best; playing ball and making home runs; playing paper dolls; catching frogs at the river and having frog legs to eat; sleeping in the hay; sleeping with warmed bricks in the winter; square dancing; growing flowers; doing dishes with her sisters; having a clean house with clean washing on the line and mounds of ironing done; and humming while she cared for her family. She always had a smile and a positive kind word for others. She was a very special lady to all who knew her. Elna is survived by her seven children; Merlene Evensen (Glenn), Gary Haught (Debby), Kathryn Fawcett (Edward), Kelly Haught, Carla Daniels (Ron), Leslie Pederson (Michael) and Tom Haught (Molli); ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 sisters, LaVerne Pinto, Carma King, and Irene Arnold (Jack). She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands; her sisters, Lila Specht, Thelma Sills and Arlene Johnson and three brothers, Dono, Derrel and Ferrin Brinkerhoff. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 23rd at 3:00 P.M. at the Woodruff Ward Chapel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will follow at the Woodruff Cemetery. Owens Mortuary of Snowflake handled arrangements.