Bunker, daughter of pioneer grocer, dies
Tuesday, May 18, 1999 | 3:33 a.m.
When Elayne Bunker wasn't doing volunteer counseling and teaching work for the Mormon Church, she often could be found making family craft treasures via the counted cross-stitch method of needlepoint.
"She made everything she did look antique," said Bunker's daughter, Trina Harris of Novato, Calif. "She would make scenes of small Victorian houses with colorful quilts hanging on clotheslines.
"And when we were growing up she made all of the girls' clothing. She was quite a seamstress."
Elayne Bunker, the daughter of one of Las Vegas' first grocers who brought his family here when the town was little more than several dusty square blocks, died Monday of cancer at her home. She was 79.
Viewing for the Las Vegas resident of 70 years will be 6-8 p.m. today at Bunker Brothers Mortuary. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 8th Street and Franklin Avenue.
Bunker was for 61 years the wife of Robert Ferris Bunker, who is the brother of Wayne Bunker, who served as Las Vegas City Councilman from 1984-89.
Elayne was noted locally for her work in the LDS church, especially as a temple worker since its dedication in 1989. She also served as a counselor and teacher in the women's service auxiliary called the Relief Society and in the same capacity for the church's Young Women's Organization.
Born Elayne Johnson on Oct. 15, 1919, in Delta, Utah, she was the oldest of three children of Blaine Johnson and the former Arvilla Lewis.
Blaine came to Las Vegas in 1927 and opened an open-air market at Garces Avenue and 5th Street which today is Las Vegas Boulevard. The town's population at the time was about 4,000.
In 1931, on the same site, he opened the Standard Market grocery store, which was the first of a string of small markets in which Elayne and other family members worked.
In 1936, at age 16, Elayne graduated from Las Vegas High School. Soon after, she met Robert, who was five years her senior. They married in November 1938 at the St. George Temple.
In addition to working in her father's stores, Elayne also worked for the Vegas Village market and in the gift shop at the Last Frontier on the Strip.
For 46 years, she and Robert lived in the same house in the 1900 block of Peyton Drive in the Huntridge area.
In 1986, Elayne attended her 50th anniversary reunion at Las Vegas High. She was escorted by her grandson, Bret Bananto, who also had graduated from the school.
In addition to her needlepoint, Elayne enjoyed shopping for antique furniture and hand-painted china.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Bunker is survived by a son, Robert Bunker of Tucson, Ariz.; another daughter, Tona Taylor of Las Vegas; a brother, Elwin Johnson of Las Vegas; a sister, Beverly Johnson of Las Vegas; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Hearing set for ex-NBA star with $822,500 gambling debt
- Trial delayed for man accused of shooting 3 officers
- Kruger hoping his team will play with grit
- Ten minutes with Chelsea Handler is better than no minutes with Chelsea Handler
- Pricing out wagers on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight
- RTC bus driver fired, arrested after allegedly attacking woman
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- CityCenter Realtors hit with cut in commissions
- Privé owner files for bankruptcy protection in Florida
- Shanghai’s maglev: Flying with both feet on the ground
Blogs
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (5 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Miech Again
Rebels rookie Lopez says redshirting is his best move (12 Comments)
Calendar »
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
-
Pacquiao vs. Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Friends of India Diwali Celebration at Cashman Field with Dan Nainan
Cashman Field | 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Norm MacDonald at the House of Blues
House of Blues
-
Boulder City Art Guild Winter Fest Fine Art Show
Boulder City Parks & Recreation
-
John Fogerty at the Star of the Desert Arena
Star of the Desert Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 5th annual Carnivale du Vin
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








