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Elsie Beardsley

May 6, 1931 - December 25, 2013
Traverse City, MI

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Visitation

Sunday, December 29, 2013
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST
Traverse City Life Story Funeral Home
Traverse City Location
400 Hammond Road West
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 941-9034
Driving Directions

Service

Monday, December 30, 2013
11:00 AM to 11:45 AM EST
Traverse City Life Story Funeral Home
Traverse City Location
400 Hammond Road West
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 941-9034
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Hospice of Michigan
900 E. Front St.
Traverse City, MI 49686
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Elsie Beardsley was a devoted wife and mother who was the matriarch of her family. It is true that she lived life though her family and in her own way, yet she let her soft heart shine through. Together with her true love, Elsie experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer while making treasured memories along the way. As her family and friends can attest, she loved helping others and was there for them in any possible way. With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around her, Elsie made the most of the days she was given. She will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

The decade of the 1930's brought us some of the darkest days we have ever faced as a nation. As the Great Depression blanketed the United States and much of the world throughout the entire decade. With a soaring unemployment rate jobs were scarce, which left families to do whatever they could to make ends meet. This family felt the full wrath of the Great Depression; like many other families in that Era. They struggled with just keeping food on the table, which was a daily challenge and through all of this they rose to the change and managed to keep moving forward. During this time there was much to celebrate in the lives of a bustling family from Clearwater Township in Kalkaska County, Michigan. They were overjoyed to add a baby girl into the fold on May 6, 1931, in their family home. Elsie Leone was the ninth of thirteen children born to her parents, Robert and Kate Peters, and was raised alongside her older siblings, Jim, Harriett, Andy, John, Rosetta, Ethel, Mary, and Kate, and her younger siblings, Blanche, Dorothy, Florence, and Ellen.

In many ways Elsie experienced an upbringing that was reflective of her generation. She attended local schools and went on to attend Central High School. While in high school Elsie obtained rheumatic fever. Which led to heart disease later on in life.

New and exciting changes were in store for Elsie when she met the man of her dreams. His name was Leonard Beardsley, and after dating for a time the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together they were married. Together they were blessed with six children, Elsie, Robin, Carl, Josa, Thomas, and Geana, and Elsie focused her attention at home while Leonard worked. When her children were younger, they grew big gardens and did a lot of canning and harvesting for the winter months. For entertainment they participated in camping, water skiing, fishing with family and friends. Relatives and family friends were always invited to big cookouts. She loved doting on Leonard. She supported him in every decision he made, came alongside him in implementing the decisions he made. In fact, that was where she shinned the brightest was role modeling a good relationship with her husband Leonard. That was the greatest gift to her children was the love she had for her husband.

Elsie experienced major medical challenges in her life stemming from the rheumatic fever. At the young age of 39 she was one of the first to receive open heart surgery. She went on to have two more open heart surgeries replacing three valves. Unfortunately, the heart medication created an Aneurysm which required brain surgery. These major events shaped the entire family.

Throughout her life Elsie enjoyed a variety of things. She loved things like roller skating, camping, sailing, riding bikes, going to the casino, and traveling, especially with her husband. In fact, once the weather became colder Elsie couldn’t get to Florida fast enough! She enjoyed fantastic and memorable vacations during Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also had great times at Elk Lake when she and Leonard celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Elsie enjoyed playing the organ and of course, cards including Euchre, Cribbage, and Phase 10 over the past few months. She attended services at Fellowship Church for a time as well.

All who knew Elsie would agree that she was truly one of a kind. She had a dominant personality and could be stubborn at times, but her family and friends simply knew this about her ahead of time and accepted her for who she was. Elsie would listen to the thoughts and opinions of others, but in the end she assessed the situation and based her decisions accordingly. One never needed to wonder what she thought as she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Even though she could be tough, Elsie was also softhearted. She was a firm believer in helping those who helped themselves. Elsie was ever mindful of being practical. Both she and Leonard were giving when needed, and although they didn’t have much they gave what they could.

A loving wife and mother, Elsie Beardsley witnessed her family tree blossom to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren through the years. She spoke her mind when giving compliments it came from the heart. Although she will be missed, Elsie’s family finds comfort in knowing that she was a believer who followed Christ into her eternal home.

Elsie L. Beardsley, of Traverse City, died Wednesday, December 25, 2013, at her home. Elsie’s family includes her children, Elsie (Delbert) Farrar, Robin Beardsley, Carl (Sylvia) Beardsley, Josa (Ralph) Schaub, Thomas Beardsley, and Geana (Larry) Hilbert; 19 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, John Copin of Florida, Blanche Campbell of Traverse City, Florence (Don) Saxton and Ellen (Amil) Strang of Buckley. Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard Beardsley; 2 grandchildren, Jermey and Nichole; siblings, Dorothy Peters, Jim Copin, Harriett Copin, Andy Copin, Rosetta Nemec, Ethel Dickerson, Mary Bargy, and Kate Campbell. The family will greet friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 29, 2013, at Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City. Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 30, 2013, at the Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City with Hospice of Michigan Chaplain, Ron White officiating. A private burial will be in the spring at Grand Traverse Memorial Garden. Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Elsie to the Hospice of Michigan, 900 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49686. Please visit Elsie’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com to sign the guest book and share a message with her family and before coming to the funeral home.

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