Elaine Maw Deru

Elaine Maw Deru, 90, of Layton, Utah, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025. Born on May 26, 1935, in Ogden, Utah, Elaine was the daughter of Gilbert Enoch Maw and Grace Brown Maw.

Elaine was a hard-working Plain City farm girl who passed onto her family the legacy of honesty, tenacity, hard work, and gratitude. Known for her fierce determination, she amazed all her doctors by surviving chronic ITP, a blood condition for 39 years, as well as multiple heart operations.

Elaine graduated from Weber High School in 1953 and attended Weber College. On October 10, 1953, Elaine married Donald Joseph Deru. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on June 23, 1971. Elaine held many executive assistant and accounting jobs including assisting her husband, Don, in his insurance practice. The check book always balanced to the penny!

Elaine was the consummate homemaker. Raising 5 rough-and-tumble boys meant she could perfectly iron a shirt in under a minute. Always on the go, those were the days when she canned food and kept an immaculate, organized house. Elaine loved to garden, especially tomatoes, and often said if there were no tomatoes in heaven she was headed south. She made quilts for her grandkids and later in life she would knit hot pads and wash cloths to give away. She was the queen of Post-it notes and certainly raised 3M stock prices.

Elaine served in many callings in the LDS Church and was active in the community. She belonged to the Jayceettes, the women’s arm of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and served as a chapter president in Layton. They had a vibrant community outreach that greatly benefited many. Elaine loved music. She played the piano and ensured several of her sons took piano lessons on her beloved Sohmer upright piano purchased at some sacrifice. The lessons were met with varying degrees of success. She sang in the Ogden/Weber Symphonic Choir and often sang in a trio with her sisters, DeLora and LaRee.

It was her faith that “the atonement [of Jesus Christ] bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God.” Alma 42:23.

She will be deeply missed.

Elaine is survived by her five sons; Terry (Seletha), Curt (Denise), Bret (Jodi), Scott (Teresa) and Jeff (Pat), 21 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Joseph Deru, her parents, step-father and all 5 of her siblings.

The family wishes to extend a sincere thanks to Sesću Matuliki who provided loving end-of-life care. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to a charity Elaine and Don supported for decades, The Lantern House Homeless Shelter in Ogden, Utah.

Graveside services will be held Monday July 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit family prior to services from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah.

Interment-Lindquists Memorial Park at Layton