Elaine (Toler) Mahaffey

Elaine Mahaffey was born on May 17, 1954 to Lawrence and JoAnn Toler in Cleveland Ohio. After moving closer to family in West Virginia, two sisters Jennifer (Brian) Nabel and Teresa (Dan) Viox, were born. The young family moved to the Cincinnati area when Elaine was in second grade and built a home in Springdale. Mr. Toler had been in the flooring business but began as an agent with Nationwide Insurance and worked for forty-eight years. Elaine graduated from Princeton High School where she was the editor of the yearbook and an honor student. Active in the Springdale Church of the Nazarene, she participated in quizzing, a district impact team, and attended youth camps. In her senior year, Elaine was selected to the Ohio State Youth Choir which included performing at the Ohio State Fair and a tour through Europe. Elaine went to Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she was active in Student Government, Collegians Chorale, Living Proof (a music travel group), the tennis team, and was a cheerleader.

It was at MVNU that Elaine met Bob Mahaffey and they were married November 23, 1974. Elaine transferred to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where she graduated in 1977 following a year’s residency for Medical Technology. The couple moved to Kansas City, Missouri for two years and then returned to the Cincinnati area. Robert Scott was born in 1979 followed by Alex Ryan in 1981. Daughter Bethany Dawn was born in 1986. The Mahaffey’s helped start a church in the Lakota area and were called to ministry in 1984, joining the staff of Springdale Church of the Nazarene. Elaine worked at Christ Hospital until the family accepted the invitation to become the pastor of Arlington First Church of the Nazarene in Arlington Texas. After seven years, the Lord led the Mahaffey’s to the Nashville Grace Church of the Nazarene in Tennessee. While in Nashville, Elaine served as the District Missionary President of the Tennessee District. Coming to West Chester Church of the Nazarene in the Cincinnati area, Elaine was vital to ministry teaching ladies Bible studies, singing in the choir, and became the district Missions President for Southwestern Ohio.

Elaine loved and encouraged her eleven grandchildren. She scheduled family vacations and compiled eleven coffee table books chronicling the family history, vacations, and one book that included blogs of her cancer journey, special reflections of each grandchild and a collection of her favorite photographs.

Elaine was chosen by the Mary Jo Cropper Foundation to receive their ‘Angel Award’ in 2017. She worked forty years as a medical technologist specializing in virology and microbiology completing her final seventeen years with TriHealth in Cincinnati. Elaine passed at home on February tenth ending her seven-year cancer challenge. Elaine and Bob celebrated over forty-four years of marriage. She is survived by both parents, husband Bob, Robert (Amy) Mahaffey, Alex (Megan) Mahaffey, Bethany (Kevin) Jack, and grandchildren: Anna, Eli, Natalie, Madelyn, Sam, Emily, Charlie, Molly, Tucker, Jack and Parker.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hodapp Funeral Homes. Visitation will take place at West Chester Church of the Nazarene on Wednesday, February 13 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM and Thursday morning, February 14 from 10:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mason.

In place of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to one of the following:

A new Microbiology Lab being constructed at Mount Vernon Nazarene University to train future medical professionals. Contributions may be made online through www.mvnu.edu/give. There should be a drop down marked “Microbiology Lab-in Memory of Elaine Mahaffey. Or Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 Attention: Microbiology Lab Construction. This is fitting since Elaine began her studies at MVNU in this field of study.

Elaine had a huge heart for missions. Lifelong friends; Dr. Jim and Kathy Radcliffe served 32 years as a surgeon in the Kudjip Hospital. Their son and daughter-in-law, Drs. Ben and Katherine Radcliffe are continuing the work at the Kudjip Hospital. Elaine visited them twice in Papua New Guinea. To donate: “Greatest Need Fund” Church of the Nazarene…nazpng.org Donations/Kudjip/Nazarene Hospital (online) or through - Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center 17001 Prairie Star Parkway Lenexa, KS 66220 Attention: Greatest Need Fund-Kudjip Hospital PNG

Higher Ground Conference and Retreat Center 3820 Logan Creek Lane West Harrison, IN 47060 “In memory of Elaine Mahaffey”