Edith Eva Lee Hoffman
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Edith Eva Lee Johnson Hoffman, 88, passed away Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Washakie Medical Center with her husband by her side. Eva Lee was born December 3, 1928 in Burns, Kansas, the daughter of John Dietric Harm and Helen Augusta Sophia (Quathamer) Johnson. She was the youngest of eight children.
She moved to Wyoming with her mother and older siblings in the fall of 1934. Most of her youth was spent in Lovell, Wyoming where she attended school, except for about a year when she and her mother returned to Kansas to care for her grandmother before she died. Eva Lee married Gordon B. Hoffman on September 23, 1944 in Red Lodge, Montana. Gordon was working in the oil fields, so they lived in Wyoming and Montana for the first few years of their marriage. A daughter, Wanda Jean, was born in Lovell, Wyoming.
In 1945 Gordon went to work in Kuwait Neutral Zone and Eva Lee and Jeannie joined him six months later. After returning to Wyoming for a short time, Gordon went to work in Kirkuk, Iraq and for much of the next 20 years, they lived in the Middle East, coming back to Wyoming only for vacations.
Eva Lee loved children and after Jeannie was married, she and Gordon adopted three children, Lavan DeMar Hoffman, Michael Wayne Hoffman and Vanessa Gayle Hoffman. Their daughter Vanessa passed away in 1981.
In 1974 they purchased some land in Ten Sleep, Wyoming where they have made their home. She and the children stayed on the ranch while Gordon continued to work until retiring.
She loved living on the farm, where she could garden, and have horses, cows, and chickens. She was happiest when she could be working outside. As grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, she was always happy to have them stay with her.
Eva Lee was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed her activity in the Church. She treasured the time that she and Gordon were sealed in the Billings Temple on November 22, 2002.
As her health began to decline, her loving husband cared for her for several years, but when it became more than he could do, her devoted daughter, Jeannie took her into her home in Worland where she spent the past few years. Her granddaughter, Justina Nelson has helped with her care the last few months.
Eva Lee was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Laretta Mundy, Alberta Mundy, Ellene Anderson, Caroline Denny, and Lenora Brown; brothers, Gerald Johnson, Laurence Johnson and her daughter, Vanessa Gayle Hoffman.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 73 years, Gordon B. Hoffman, children, Jeannie Chopping of Worland, Michael (Alecia) Hoffman of Spearfish, SD, Lavan Hoffman, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm, Saturday, August 19, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ten Sleep. Burial will follow at the Ten Sleep Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Ten Sleep Senior Center, PO Box 319, Ten Sleep, Wyoming 82442. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.
