Elsie Mae Dowden
100 Years
A Life Well Lived

Elsie Mae Dowden passed from this life and entered Heaven's gates on March 9, 2017 at the age of 100 years.  She died peacefully at her daughter's home in Sahuarita, Arizona surrounded by loving family.

Elsie was born in Davilla, Texas on September 29, 1916 to Josie Hitch Ercanbrack and William Howard Ercanbrack.  Blessed with great health, Elsie was ill for only a short time after suffering a heart attack at age 100.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Reverend Wayland Dowden, daughter LaJuana Watt, sister Inez Allsup, brother Buddy Ercanbrack, and her beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Lexi.

She is survived by a son Ronald, and wife Nina Dowden of Clifton, Texas, a daughter Jan, and husband Steve Michel of Sahuarita, Arizona, a brother Gene Ercanbrack of Ballinger, Texas, 10 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.  She was also an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.

Elsie was raised in Davilla and in 1929 at the age of 13 moved to Whitharral.  She was Valedictorian of her high school graduating class and an outstanding athlete. While attending school, she met the love of her life, Wayland Dowden.  At the ages of 13 and 15 they became teenage sweethearts.  They married on March 6, 1937.  They spent their early years farming and raising a family in Whitharral.  Wayland was called into the ministry and was ordained by the Methodist Church.  Together, they served numerous churches located throughout the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. A consummate mother and homemaker, family meant everything to her.  She loved her children and grandchildren dearly.  Elsie loved to sew.  You could find her in front of her Singer sewing machine almost every day.  She loved to quilt, read, work crossword puzzles and Sudoku, watch basketball games, play dominoes, and watch Wheel of Fortune.  But, most of all she loved her family, and of course, her little Yorkie.

This vivacious and independent woman was still driving when she turned 100 this past September.  Her mind was still sharp as a tack.  Her hearing and the ability to get up quickly were the only things that needed a tune up.

A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, Elsie has been a member of the United Methodist Church of Clifton for the last 24 years.  She was recently honored with a 75-year service pin recognizing her continued service and dedication to the Methodist Women's Organization.  She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the Daughters of the Confederacy.

A Memorial Service will be held for Elsie on Saturday, March 18th at 2:00 pm at the United Methodist Church in Clifton, Texas with Reverend Mary Gean Cope presiding.  Interment and a graveside service will take place in the Whitharral Cemetery on Thursday, March 16th at 2:00 pm.  The family wishes to thank all hospice members who cared for Elsie from both Gentiva Hospice and Hospice Family Care.  The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made in her honor to the United Methodist Church of Clifton, Texas.

Green Valley Mortuary Inc., Sahuarita, Arizona
George Price Funeral Home, Levelland, Texas
In charge of arrangements