Born Elizabeth Mary Averett, October 15, 1905. Daughter of Charles W. and Mary Christensen Averett, Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Educated Ogden High School and Henager’s Business College, Ogden. Married John M. Vance (d. June 13, 1974), December 31, 1927, Ogden. Children John A., b. 1929; Bard A., b. 1931; Mary Lou, b. 1947. Elizabeth A. Vance was introduced to politics through the 1930 candidacy of Elva Wilkinson, Democratic contender for the post of Weber County Recorder. To reward her campaign worker, the victorious Wilkinson appointed Mrs. Vance to the office of Deputy Weber County Recorder. Thereafter, Democratic Party politics became a significant influence on the course of her life. Since the 1930’s, Mrs. Vance has offered energetic leadership in numerous Democratic Party offices and as a Utah Legislator. She has served as National Committeewoman, Utah President, Utah Chairwoman, and Weber County Chairwoman for the Utah Young Democrats. From 1933 to 1950, she worked as a member of the Executive Council of the Utah Democratic Central Committee. In 1951, she became the first woman in forty-two years to win election to the Utah House of Representatives from Weber County. Through seven consecutive terms as a legislator, as head of every major House committee and as minority party whip, Mrs. Vance worked for improvement of Utah’s programs for education, labor, youth services, and welfare for the handicapped and elderly. She has twice been elected (1976 and 1980) as Utah’s Democratic National Committeewoman, and in 1980 she served as a member of both the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention and the Resolutions Committee of the National Federation of Democratic Women’s Convention. With over half a century of service to her credit, Mrs. Vance has become known as “Mrs. Democrat”, and has been the recipient of honors from U.S. senators, Utah governors, the American Business Women’s Association, and numerous Democratic Party Organizations.