Elsie Larson

Elsie Larson, 98, of Cane Hill, Ark., passed away July 2, 2016, in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born April 5, 1918, at Minneapolis, Kan., the daughter of Herman W. “Dick” and Mattie Laird Van Dame.

She graduated from Minneapolis High School in 1936.

She was married on Dec. 12, 1942, to Locel A. “Bill” Bailey and they made their home in Meadville, Mo., where they farmed. After his death in 1980 she returned to her hometown of Minneapolis, Kan., where she married Wesley Larson of Delphos in December 1983.

She loved to walk outdoors. For years she made a habit of walking four miles on Minneapolis streets most mornings. Here, she earned the laughing title “Bag Lady” from her friends because she always had a sack along so she could pick up trash as she walked.

In her early eighties she was awarded three “Firsts” as she walked the Rock-to-Rock Run held on Memorial Day, the route being from Rock City to Rock Street. It mattered not that she was last to cross the finish line. What mattered was that she was the only person in her age group who had entered the race those three years.

She is survived by one daughter, Anna Bailey of Cane Hill; three grandchildren, Daniel Jones of Lincoln, Ark., Patrick Jones of Grand Saline, Texas, and Gwen Barron of Cane Hill; five great-granddaughters, Mari Kaitlyn Jones, Susan Rae Parker, Penelope Lyla, Wilkey Tatum Jones and Liliana Grace Barron; two stepdaughters, Sharon Levendoksy and husband Bill of Delphos, Kan., and Suzanne Foerschler and husband Dennis of Minneapolis; seven step-grandchildren; and seven step- great- grandchildren; one sister- in- law, Shirley Van Dame; niece, Janice Baccus; great-nephew, Kay Baccus; and great-niece Kala Bruce.

Also on the Bailey side of the family she has three nieces, Phyllis Stone of Lakewood, Wash., Camille Heeb of Topeka, Kan., and Christine Masters of Burbank, Calif.

A Memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at the Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Ark.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Minneapolis, Kan. or Minneapolis Public Library.

Larson