ELSIE IRENE DeWEES McDONALD
Born, September 13, 1925 to Dudley Cleveland DeWees and Nancy Florence Stephens. They had 11 children, 3 dying very early in life, Royce, Homer and Violet Rose. Eight children went on to raise their own families, Jenny, Paul, Sylvia, Edith, John, ELSIE, Thelma and Ruth. Dudley passed away when Elsie was quite young, Nancy raised her children through the depression moving to Louisville when Elsie was in her early teens. She attended Shawnee High School. She fell in love and married James William McDonald in January 1944. She went with him to Raleigh Durham, North Carolina when he deployed to Europe to serve in WW II, leaving Elsie at home. She came home to wait his return. Elsie was very close to Mac’s parents Brunes and Trula, Mac’s aunt Pauline and her brother John and niece Virginia. When Mac returned home they lived on Campground Road and started their family. James Gordon came along in 1947 and Rusty William in 1952. Elsie’s brother John built their home for them on East Lane and that’s where they all stayed experiencing all life has to offer, including extended family births, backyard barbeques, card games, graduations, Christmases, marriages and passing of loved ones. Very involved in her children and active in PTA, she was the stay at home Mom keeping the home fires burning while Mac worked. They spent many happy years at Rough River where all the family followed – many happy memories of swimming, fishing, and playing cards with many close friends becoming extended family. Elsie went to work as a decorator and retired from Sears. Mac passed away in 1994 after 50 years of marriage.
Elsie witnessed all her brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law passing along with Mac’s brothers and one sister-in-law. She has had several nephews and nieces, close cousins and granddaughter, Kelsie, also pass.
Elsie leaves behind, James Gordon Sr. (Rita), Rusty William (Missy); grandchildren, James Gordon, Jr., Jason Allen, Kristopher Carlos (Tina), and Amanda (Greg); great grandchildren, Ashley (Mason), Zoey, Beau, Tera, Natalya and Hannah; great great grandchildren, Gabriel and Ariel; sister-in-law Joyce McDonald and a very close niece and dear friend, Virginia.
Elsie passed away 5/19/17, at the age of 91, at Summerfield Health and Rehab Center where she had spent the last 3 years of her life. The family would like to express their gratitude for the loving care the staff on the Blue hallway gave to Elsie, including Dr. Barbar and his nurse practitioner Ashley. Gratitude is also given to the Hosparus staff, including Ashley, and her team of angels for their care, concern and kindnesses.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Highway with burial in Evergreen Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hosparus.