Elaina Beth (Back) Whitaker, “Nina” to many, of Creekside Drive, Somerset departed from this life on January 19, 2011 at the age of 46.  She was a longtime owner of Children’s Ark Day Care, director of many other Child Care facilities, employee of Oakwood Training Center and KY Baptist Homes for Children.  Elaina was a Child of the King and member of Liberty Baptist Church Crab Orchard, KY.

Elaina was born on February 23, 1964 to the late Larry “Dale” Back and Mary E. Hardwick Back in Amherst, Ohio.  She was the wife of Dale Whitaker whom she married 23 years ago on April 10, 1987.  Elaina had three very special children, Valerie (Trampus) Anderson, Jordan Whitaker (fiancée, Amanda Wesley), and Brandi-Jill Nicole Whitaker.  Elaina was also blessed with three wonderful grandchildren Kaytra Lynn Nicole Anderson, Macie Richelle Whitaker, and Kaden Daniel Ray Anderson. She had seven nieces/nephews that adored her: Ambria (Matt) Woodall, Brooke Compton, Tiara Compton, Sheranda Kelci-Dawn Hubbard, Ali Ziegler, Hagan Jack-Randell Hubbard, and Ella Ziegler. She was also survived by two sisters Marla (Daniel) Ziegler, Columbus, OH/Naples, FL, Rhonda Back-Compton, Somerset, a brother-in-law, Randell Hubbard, Bronston, and two step-brothers, Donald (Paula) Tucker, Philadelphia, PA, Steven (Amanda) Tucker, Somerset, and a stepfather, Tommy Tucker, Bronston, KY.  Elaina had many friends but two special friends that were very dear to her heart: Becky Bush and Deloris Smith and a host of many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins that she adored.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Larry Dale Back and Mary E Hardwick Tucker, her maternal grandparents, Robert “Cecil” and Darvel Mitchell Hardwick and Thurman and Mattie Griffin Flynn,  as well as her loving sister, Sheila Lynn Hubbard and a special friend, Valerie Hardwick Mink.

Elaina was student of Somerset Community College majoring in Nursing.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, researching her family heritage, scrap booking, working with the youth at church and always helping others. Her favorite things to do was watch her son Jordan race, going camping, going on vacations and mission trips, horseback riding and just being with her kids and loving husband.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 22^nd from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Memory Chapel of Lake Cumberland Funeral Home with a “Celebration of Life” service to follow at 4:00 pm. Bro. Zandal Hasty and Grant Hardwick will officiate. Burial will be in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the Liberty Baptist Church Youth Mission Fund, c/o Dwayne & Vicki Lay, 1721 Fall Lick Road, Lancaster, KY 40444.