Elsie (Watson) Bailey

KNOX-Elsie Bailey, 91, of rural Knox, died Thursday, August 22, 2013. Elsie was born to Raleigh and Stella (Jackson) Watson in Carver, Magoffin County, KY on May 10, 1922. She was one of ten children. Elsie married Edgar Bailey on September 13, 1941 in Starke County, IN. They were married for nearly 70 years when he predeceased her on August 13, 2010. They made their home and raised their family in Starke County, in Ober, and in rural Knox and also lived for a short time in Kentucky. Elsie was a homemaker, raising five children. During most of her life Elsie maintained a substantial garden from which her family enjoyed abundant vegetable harvests and home canned goods. Her family always enjoyed her chicken and dumplings and her butter cake at family gatherings. Elsie learned to sew at a young age and she enjoyed making hand-pieced quilts. In her later years, Elsie was very attached to her honorary "daughter", her beloved dog, Heidi. Elsie is survived by four daughters and a son: Delores J. Rodgers (Dean) of Knox; Donna K. Runyan (Jack) of Fort Wayne, IN; Shirley A. VanZanten (Ken) of Hudsonville, MI; Sandra L. Ellis (Dan) of St. John, IN and Ronald E. Bailey (Patti) of Dallas, GA; eleven grandchildren; David Rodgers, Deborah Rodgers Joseph, Daniel Rodgers, Douglas Runyan, Jeffrey Runyan, Jennifer Runyan Cassel, Eric Brown, Dawna Brown, Sherry Kimmey Deslauriers, Steven Kimmey and Erin Bailey Turner; and 25 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brother and a sister: Roy Watson of North Judson, Harley Watson of Modesto, CA and Mattie Watson of Gainesville, FL. In additional to her husband, Edgar, she was preceded in death by her parents; a newborn daughter, Carolyn Sue; brothers, Ruie Watson, Harry Watson, Lee Watson, and sisters, Dorothy Watson, Minnie Krinski and Lucy Watson. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. CST in Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel with James R. Adcock of the Bible Baptist Church in Knox officiating. Burial will follow at Fletcher Cemetery, Hamlet. Friends may call Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Bible Baptist Church, Building Fund.

Elsie (Watson) Bailey

May 10, 1922 - August 22, 2013