Elsie Gladden Ivy

Elsie May, at age 16, married George Lonnie Bilberry Jr. of Lingo, New Mexico. After only two months of marriage, Junior Bilberry contracted pneumonia and died from complications thereof. Elsie in 1946, married Roy Willard McInturff of Levelland, Texas. They were divorced in 1950. Elsie had no children in either of these marriages. In 1950, Elsie May married Robinson B. Ivy (or Bob) of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Elsie and Bob had two sons: Ronnie, married and living in Amarillo, has one daughter. Douglas, married and living in Pampa, has one daughter and one son. Bob suffered a heart attack and preceded Elsie in death by about four months. Elsie died with cancer on September 1, 1977.

I am sure there are heavy or sad moments, but also lighter moments, in any family history. Just such a mixture of moments occurred in Elsie May's life a few days before she died. Confined in I.C.U. at Highland Hospital in Pampa, Texas, Elsie was being kept very heavily drugged to alleviate pain. A nurse entered Elsie's room to do a routine check. Elsie, very sedated, asked what she was doing. The nurse stated "I am only taking your vital signs." Elsie responded, "Well, I can tell you what they are. They are 33-27-34." May the lighter moments prevail and be remembered.

Submitted by Alvin Gladden