Jan. 20, 1948-Feb. 4, 2023
On Jan. 20, 1948, an angel escaped from heaven and traveled to Ireland. Elaine Dorothy Jackson Brinkerhoff grew up in the lush green foliage of Northern Ireland on the outskirts of Belfast with a loving mother and two younger brothers she adored. Life with her father was often difficult and she frequently sent her sweet voice heavenward hoping to feel the love and comfort of divinity. While she loved and learned much, she unconsciously was aware that this was not her home.
As Elaine grew from a lovely wee lass to a beautiful young woman, she treasured her time with her kind, gracious mother Dorothy, uncles, and aunts, and of course her beloved brothers Brian and Peter. In her tenacious search for virtue, she found and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It seemed a perfect fit: a covenant to mourn with those that mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and to stand as a witness of God at all times was entered into. It really was the embodiment of who she was and what she emulated.
So, it was with much difficulty and trepidation that she exercised great faith and trust and left the only family and home that she had ever known to travel to America via Canada. She did so only after doing all in her power to make sure that her beloved mother and brothers were safe in her absence.
When she arrived in America, she became the nanny for the Tebbs family, who loved her as she loved them, and attended Dixie College. Soon thereafter she met the love of her life, Carey, who would become her eternal companion. They welcomed five children into their home with Sean, Jo’Dee, Mitch, Keli and Chad. This helped her fulfill the most important goal of her life: to be a loving mother like her own.
As a wife and mother, she set a wonderful example of work, love, and selfless service for her family to observe and try to emulate. She always magnified each and every calling from her church regardless of what it was, from nursery to primary to Relief Society and everything in between. But without question, her favorite calling was that of a minister. She truly attended to the needs of others like the Savior of mankind and continued to do so long after the assignment was over until poor health prevented it. She was also overjoyed to become a grandmother of eighteen grandchildren and now two great-grandchildren.
She lived her life always putting the needs of others before her own. Her gentleness and kindness have touched all who met her. To know her was to love her. 
On Feb. 4, 2023, this sweet angel returned to the heavenly home she left 75 years earlier to once again be with her Heavenly Father, her Savior Jesus the Christ and her beloved mother, aunts, uncles and in-laws who were waiting to greet her.
She is survived by her brothers Brian (Sandra) and Peter, husband Carey, children Sean (Amy), Jo’Dee (Glen), Mitch (Nettie), Keli (Jason) and Chad (Lindsey), Irish nephew Neil, Irish niece Sarah, too many American nieces and nephews to name (but she loved them all), 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6-8 p.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George. A second viewing will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9-10:45 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Veyo chapel with funeral services to follow at 11 a.m., 176 E Center St., Veyo.
Click here to view the funeral service via zoom.
Interment will be in the Ivins City Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Elaine’s online guest book.