Elsie Mae Conner

Elsie Mae Conner, known affectionately to all as Elsie, took her final curtain call on February 6, 2024, after an incredible 71-year run filled with laughter, creativity, and a touch of spunk. Born on November 9, 1952, in the bustling town of Warrensburg, MO, Elsie embarked on life's journey with a twinkle in her eye and a needle or fishing rod always at the ready.

Elsie's early days set the stage for a life that would be anything but ordinary. From the green pastures of Missouri to the sunflower-strewn fields of Topeka, KS, where she took her last breath, Elsie's story was one of joy, resourcefulness, and the kind of adventures that could make even the most seasoned soap opera characters blush with envy.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Conner, who surely was waiting with a "Honey, what took you so long?" Elsie was the kind of woman who knew her way around both a toolbox and a tackle box. Her parents, Verleen Whittall and Gerald Gregg, along with siblings Rodney Irey Sr. and Tammy Birch, undoubtedly instilled in her the kind of wit that could only be sharpened by family banter. Though they passed on before her, the stories of their escapades together will continue to echo through the generations.

Left to carry on Elsie's legacy of laughter and love are her siblings Susie Thomas, Gerald "Skip" Gregg, Linda Vickers, Richard Irey Jr., and Terri Irey. Her children—Elizabeth (Terry) Welborn, Lori Owsley, and Chestina (Richard) Randles—along with her 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, will no doubt inherit her knack for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Elsie's expansive family, complete with a caravan of nieces, nephews, and cousins, will continue to share tales of her legendary fishing expeditions and crafting marathons.

Elsie was the embodiment of a Renaissance woman, if that Renaissance involved sewing, woodworking, and an encyclopedic knowledge of every plot twist in her daily soap operas. She could craft a birdhouse with the precision of a master carpenter and then sew a costume for the grandkids that would make the theater department green with envy. Her love for Bonanza and The Golden Girls was only rivaled by her love for a good fish story—preferably one where the fish was "this big" and the laughs were even bigger.

Describing Elsie as handy would be an understatement; she was the MacGyver of crafts, the Houdini of home repairs. Creative? She could have given Da Vinci a run for his money with her inventive use of glitter and glue. Adventurous? Let's just say she never met a "Do Not Enter" sign she took too seriously, especially if there was the promise of a good fishing spot on the other side.

To say Elsie will be missed is like saying the ocean's a little damp. Her spirit, a blend of Lucille Ball's comedic timing and the daring of Amelia Earhart, will forever be etched in the hearts of those who had the joy of knowing her. Her laughter, a melody that could light up the darkest room, will resonate in the memories of her loved ones.

As Elsie takes her place among the stars, we imagine her chuckling down at us, urging us to add a little more spice to life, to turn the mundane into a masterpiece, and to always, always have that extra fishing line ready. So here's to Elsie Mae Conner—mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and the best darn soap opera critic we ever did know. May the fish be biting, and the crafts be plenty wherever your adventures have taken you. Curtain down, applause up, and oh, what a show it was.