Elaine Hughes Parry
1927–2026
Early Life
Elaine Hughes Parry passed away at her home in rural Caldwell, Idaho, on August 11, 2026, at the age of 98 years and 363 days. She is a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother and will truly be missed.
Elaine was born in Logan, Utah, on August 13, 1927, to Donald Wayne and Almeda Duane Tolman Hughes. She was the first of four children and outlived all of her siblings: Joyce, Donna, and Donald.
When she was six weeks old, the family moved to California, eventually settling in Alameda, where she spent her growing up years. Even though she grew up during the Great Depression, she had fond memories of her childhood, with loving parents and good friends.
Marriage & Family
In 1945, she met Atwell Junior Parry at a dance sponsored by a local unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a sailor with the U.S. Navy, stationed in the Bay Area, who had a fine head of curly brown hair under a sailor’s cap worn at a jaunty angle. She was a beautiful, fun young woman who worked as a secretary at the Naval Air Station Alameda. They quickly fell in love and married on February 6, 1946. Immediately after Atwell’s discharge from the Navy, their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1946.
A few months after their wedding, they moved to Nampa, Idaho, where Atwell’s family lived. Atwell worked as a truck driver, a salesman, and eventually a grocery store owner in Melba, Idaho. Elaine found great joy as a mother and homemaker. She also was actively involved in the work of the Melba Food Market. When Atwell served for many years in the Idaho State Senate, Elaine was his unofficial secretary for voluminous correspondence, as well as his biggest supporter and cheerleader.
Their family quickly grew into what Atwell called “one beautiful daughter and six ugly sons.” Elaine and Atwell diligently taught their children faith, service to others, hard work, and obedience to the principles of truth.
Faith & Service
Elaine was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offered many years of service in her local congregation. She deeply believed in Jesus Christ as her Savior and rejoiced in the blessings of His atonement. She believed in the power of prayer and loved speaking to her Heavenly Father every day, often repeatedly. Concerns for her loved ones frequently found a primary place in her prayers as she sought blessings on their behalf. She believed that through the love of the Father, the power of Christ, and the legitimacy of sacred covenants, she and her husband and children, down through the generations, could enjoy a sweet relationship in the eternities.
Later Years
In their later years, Elaine and Atwell enjoyed travel to Israel, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Japan, and Hawaii, but she particularly liked to be at home, surrounded by friends and family.
In her declining years, one of her greatest wishes was to be reunited with her beloved Atwell, who died in 2010, as well as to see her parents again. On August 11, 2026, she got her birthday wish two days early as she experienced that glorious reunion.
Family
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; her husband and his parents (John Atwell and Nina Virginia McEntire Parry); a granddaughter (Jennifer McIntyre); a great-granddaughter (Harper Yeafoli); a great-grandson (Sky Burgess); a son-in-law (John McIntyre); and a grandson-in-law (Jay Camberlango).
She is survived by her seven children: Bonnie (John—deceased) McIntyre and the six “Parry boys”: Michael (Debi), Jay (Vicki), Donald (Camille), David (Becky), Delbert (Lovalyn), and Kent (DeAnn). She is also survived by 45 grandchildren (with many spouses), more than 100 great-grandchildren (with additional spouses), and about a dozen great-greats and counting (no spouses).
A Special Thanks
The family would like to acknowledge the loving assistance of Delbert and Lovalyn Parry and their family, caregivers Michelle, Kandise, Helena, Judi, Cheri, and Emmaline, as well as Dr. John Freeman, thanking them for their care for Elaine during her final years. The Young Men and Young Women of her ward were faithful in offering service in her home. We also are grateful for the compassionate help of the Zeyer Funeral Chapel.
Memorial Services
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, at the Marsing Ward meetinghouse, at 215 SW 3rd Avenue, Marsing, Idaho. Immediately preceding the funeral, a viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. The interment will take place at the Melba City Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.
