Elsie Anna Ritchie Josey

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Elsie Anna Ritchie Josey, 91, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday June 14th at the home of her daughter Sue in Colorado Springs, Colo. Elsie was born to Arthur and Faye Ritchie in Hobart, OK on August 29, 1925. She grew up in Flagler, CO and graduated high school in 1943.

Elsie leaves behind three children, Roger Armstrong, Manitou Springs CO, Jackie (David) Heaston, Mexico, MO and Sue (Mike) Bruner, Colorado Springs, CO. One sister, Vera Duncan, Superior, NE and is survived by 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Elsie was an LPN for many years and moved from Colorado Springs to Missouri in 1978 and worked as an LPN nurse for several hospitals and retired from The State Hospital in Fulton, MO. She then returned to Colorado Springs in 1995 and resided there until her death.

Elsie was a member of Galley Road Baptist Church in Colorado Springs for many years. Over the years she found joy in serving the Lord as a Sunday School teacher. She was the most creative person we know when it came to creating crafts using everyday items. The children would take something with a Bible verse on it every single week.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Merle, Freddie, Carroll and Raymond Ritchie, 2 sisters, Edna Hall and Mable Miller and 1 grandson, Mike Heaston.

Elsie loved to read books; crochet and she loved all her horses she collected. She loved all her family and loved to talk about the Ritchie Family Reunions and always looked forward to going to them. She was an expert in putting together photo albums and scrapbooks. She is leaving her family a tangible legacy to be cherished for generations.

A Celebration of Mom's life will be held on Sunday July 23rd at Sunridge Retirement in Colorado Springs, Colo. where she lived, @ 2:30 pm.

Published in The Gazette on July 19, 2017