Elaine Van De Mheen was born Mary Elaine Smith to Beecher and Virginia Smith on September 11, 1936, in Allen, Oklahoma. She left this world on January 29, 2024, at the age of 87. When she was 5 years old, her family moved to Fillmore, California. Elaine attended Fillmore schools and graduated from Fillmore High in June 1954. For most of her adult life, she was a homemaker, although she sold real estate in the mid-1960s.
She enjoyed being a mom but not nearly as much as she enjoyed being Nana to 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Mom loved attending all their sporting events including T-Ball, Little League, football, basketball, and soccer games, Tae Kwon Do, and Cheerleading competitions. Mom never missed any of their school activities whether they were plays, singing performances, promotions, or graduations.
Besides being a homemaker, Elaine enjoyed many different hobbies over the years. She was an avid reader and loved to write poetry. She painted on canvases as well as Tole painting. She worked with stained glass and ceramics. She also loved to sew and created many costumes for her grandchildren. During mom’s later years when she wasn’t able to leave the house much, she fell in love with the Dodgers. Whenever they were playing on a channel she didn’t have she would get very upset. Her favorite player was Will Smith.
Elaine had an adventurous nature and visited many places with family and friends. She was able to visit Malta, Italy, Colombia, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the Great Wall of China. She also loved camping with the Rig Runners group, going to the beach, and going on cruises.
Elaine is survived by her daughter-Vicki Murphy (Tom), grandsons-Derek, Tomlyn, and lan Murphy, son-Michael Van De Mheen (Deirdre ), grand- sons-Scott and Matthew Van De Mheen, son-Todd Van De Mheen (Victo- ria), granddaughter Niki Galindo (Manuel) and great-grandchildren-Enzo and Indy, brother David Everson, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband G.R. “Van” Van De Mheen, son Rick Purves, brother Donald Smith, and her parents Beecher Smith and Virginia Everson.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, February 9, at 11:00 a.m. at Bardsdale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Elaine would be honored if you would donate to the Fillmore Alumni Association.