Elaine Ovida Hambly

Elaine went to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday October 20, 2009 at the age of 72.

She came into this world February 10, 1937 in Seattle Washington, born to Roswell and Ovida (Nesland) Johns of Vashon Island, WA. The oldest of four girls she was followed by sisters Lenore, Alice, and Eunice. In 1947, the family moved to Spokane, WA where Elaine attended Roosevelt Grade School on the South Hill. She sang in the choir and graduated valedictorian in 1955 from Northwest Christian High School. During high school she worked with her father at the Spokane and Eastern Branch of Seattle 1st National Bank. Elaine met and fell in love with Raymond Phinney while at Northwest Christian. They were married March 3, 1956. They moved to Pomerory, WA where their first daughter Diane was born. In 1958 they moved to Renton, WA where second daughter Jennifer was born. In 1960 they moved back to Spokane, WA where their son Raymond, Jr. was born. Elaine and Ray Sr. taught the Youth group at Fourth Memorial Church where they had been married years earlier. In 1965 they moved to Othello, where their youngest daughter Heather was born. They attended Othello Assembly of God where she served as Secretary Treasurer and Ray was a deacon. Elaine worked at Chef Reddy and also drove School bus, taking many ski bus and athletic trips. She loved to read to the family in the car on trips. Ray Sr. passed away in 1982.

Elaine then attended Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. She later worked for Akins Supermarket, Thieonness and Shriver CPA, and Seneca. She met and fell in love with Leroy Hambly and they married in 1992. Elaine was the love of Leroy’s life and he loved her very much. She also kept the books for Leroy’s trucking business. After retiring they started going to the mountains where Leroy would dredge for gold and search for Ellensburg Blue. Elaine always loved making gifts for her family. She was an avid reader sending books back and forth with her sister Lenore in Florida.

Elaine is survived by husband Leroy of Othello as well as her three younger sisters: Lenore (Jim) Elvington of Spring Hill, FL, Alice (Alan) Taylor of Boise, ID, and Eunice (Steve) Bewick of Coulee City, WA. She is also survived by her four children and two step-children. Oldest daughter Diane (Buddy) Hampton of Othello and their children Travis (Heather) Hampton, Matthew (Elda) Hampton and kids Madison, Macy and Alec (a.k.a. Little Bud), and daughter Carissa (Blaine) Russel and child Kate (Julie due soon) all live in Othello. Elaine’s daughter Jennifer (Patrick) Simmons and their son Aaron live in Othello as well. Elaine’s son Raymond (Camay) lives with their children, Thorin, Lorien, and Thegn in Winfield, IL. Elaine’s youngest daughter Heather (Greg) Mullins lives in Fayetteville, NC with sons Collin and Matthew. Elaine’s step-son, Michael Hambly, (Joann) in Iron Minnesota and children Tim, Mike Jr., Steven, Jesse, Joe, and Theresa. Step-daughter Sherrie Landon and her children Desirea and Nathan, live in Kalispell, MT. Elaine will be greatly missed.

Donations can be given her name to the Othello Church of the Nazarene building fund. The services will be October 31st at the Othello Church of the Nazarene at 11:00 am. Messages for the family may be left at the Kayser ‘s website www.kayserschapel.com.