Elsie Trammell

Elsie Elaine (VanLue) Trammell, age 81, was born on November 27, 1940 in Hartland, Illinois to Benjamin Harvey and Alma Ruth (Schultz) VanLue.  She passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at home with her family by her side.

Growing up, mom lived in a lot of places, and I mean A LOT of places.   Grandpa was always wanting to move or try a different place.  Mom said it wasn’t unusual to change schools 3 or 4 times in a year.  When she and dad got married, it was an entirely new experience for her, living in one town for the next 51 years.  I think that is one reason she loved her community.

Mom graduated from Ocala High School in Ocala, Florida in 1958.  That same year Uncle Tim was born.  Grandma wanted to go back to work and Mom wanted to take care of Uncle Tim.  It was a win-win for them all.  Mom and Uncle Tim have always been very close.

Mom and Dad met in 1967 when Dad brought a load of grain into the elevator where Mom was working.  Mom was so interested in Dad, she took an archery class he was teaching just to be around him.  Four years later, they were married in Nevada on February 27, 1971.  The following year, Kelly was born and three years later, Scott came along.

When Mom settled in Missouri, she lived in Nevada and worked at Nelly Dawns, a clothing factory.  She played in a softball and bowling league.  After that, mom worked at Frank Bartley’s elevator.  Mom stayed home when we came along and kept books for Dad and Uncle Lowell.  Once we started school, she worked at the sale barn in town and filled in at Sohigro in the office.  She was always involved with our school activities being a room mother, in the PTA, assisting with grade school basketball and even cheerleading.   After we got out of school, Mom worked at Thorco.  Once retired, she and Dad babysat and enjoyed every minute of it.

When Scott and I married, she didn’t lose a son or daughter; she gained a son and daughter and loved them like she did us.  Matt and Kathy were sucked into our family whether they liked it or not, for better or worse, and they’ve stuck by us all, through sickness and health.

Mom enjoyed family.  She made sure to have games at family reunions.  A favorite among all was the egg and water balloon toss.  She always kept a checkerboard under the couch ready to play when family came.  When Mom and Dad moved to the home place, a nephew visited.  He was caught trying to look under the couch, trying not to be noticed, just to see if the checkerboard made the move.  He was 40 years old.

Mom was really good at baking pies, especially apple pies.  She once made 200 pies and froze them for her parents.  Her mom was sick and she wanted her dad to be able to have a snack or treat for when they had company.  She was also great at baking turkeys but always gave credit to grandma’s roaster.

Mom was one of the hardest working people you would ever meet. She was always willing to help someone in need.  She was also one of the strongest people we have ever met.  She loved being outdoors and farming with Dad.  It didn’t matter if she was in the field, raking hay, or working with the hogs or cattle.  She enjoyed it all.

Elsie is survived by daughter, Kelly and Matt Gayman; son, Scott and Kathryn Trammell, all of Rich Hill;  grandchildren: Abigail Gayman, Jasmine, Whitney, and Thomas Trammell.  Brothers: Tim (and Susan) VanLue;  Ben (and Jane) VanLue of Granby, MO; Harvey Lee VanLue of Joplin, MO; and Doug (and Connie) of Butler, MO’ and sisters: Bev Loe of Lee Summit, MO; Evelyn (and Charles) Reider of Ocala, FL; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Trammell; parents, Harvey and Alma VanLue; sister, Ethel Wilson; and granddaughters: Adrianne Gayman and Mary Bridgewater.

We’d like to thank Loretta Wilson, Jolene Barkman, Coleen Keller, and Natalie Buesing.  These ladies made it possible for us to keep both Mom and Dad home and out of a nursing facility.  We couldn’t have done that without them.  We will be forever grateful to them.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 6, 2022 at the Heuser Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Friday, August 5, 2022 at Heuser Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Carbon Center Cemetery.