Obit of Pell, Elsie Vee - McCurtain County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 05 Oct 2008 Return to McCurtain County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/mccurtain/mccurtai.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Lafayette Cemetery--Contra Costa CA Pell, Elsie Vee Elsie Vee Pell Dec. 10, 1915 - March 16, 2006 Elsie Pell was born in Idabel, Oklahoma. As the youngest of 6 children, Elsie often said her mother had decided to leave her to her own devises as that seemed to work as well as anything. Even then Elsie loved to read. That love of reading led her to the Oklahoma Baptist University in Norman, OK, where she received her BA and her teaching credential. As a young woman she learned to fly and soloed in small aircraft which was most unusual at the time. She met her soul-mate in Jim Pell, who was home on leave from the Naval Air Corps during WWII, and as they say, the rest was history. Jim and Elsie made their way to Santa Rosa, California in early 1947, with their first son, Jim. A year later George was born to complete the family. They moved to Pacheco in the early 50's, where Elsie taught 6th grade in the Mt. Diablo School District for many years, where she was an exemplary teacher and helped write math curriculum at one point. For a woman of many abilities, she was always proudest of her boys and their accomplishments. She had raised them to believe that they could accomplish anything they set their sights on, and they have. She found great joy in her family. In retirement, Elsie and Jim built a home in Grass Valley where they loved living for 25 years, much to the delight of their 6 grandchildren. Elsie worked on her ceramics and made beautiful pieces for the enjoyment of her friends and family, and finally found unlimited time to read. In 1998, Elsie moved with Jim to Rossmoor to enjoy the luxury of having family closer. They lived there until 2004 when their needs changed, and their last address was Rosewood Care Center in Pleasant Hill, near their beloved niece, Sue Houweling, and grand niece, Tonya Miller. Jim predeceased Elsie in January of this year. Elsie is survived by her sons, Jim and George, daughters-in-law, Pat and Alice, nieces, Sue, Marion Massey and Tommy Touchstone, nephew Lonnie Whitehead, 6 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 8 grand nieces and nephews as well as many great grand nieces and nephews. Elsie was beloved and felt herself rich in family. Donations may be made to the Make A Wish Foundation in Elsie's memory, to honor her love of children. Private interment at Lafayette Cemetery. Oak Park Hills Chapel 925-934-6500 Published in the Contra Costa Times on 3/19/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to McCurtain Archives http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/mccurtain/mccurtai.htm