Elsie Mae Thornburg, our “best friend” simply died. She died simply just like she lived. If you’ve met Elsie, you’re smiling and something in you knows you’ve been loved. Elsie evolved into knowing the one important and simple truth in life, “ya gotta love!” She gave love and acceptance to others without hesitation. Judgment and criticism were neither in her vocabulary nor in her mind. She saw through the façade when we were trying to cover our pain and she allowed us to be truthful with ourselves. Elsie’s life began in simple environs surrounded by loving parents, home cooking, chores and the Depression. She married and had five children. Simplicity ended when the family was hit hard with years of struggle, which led to endless complications. Elsie finally discovered a safe haven in her faith in Jesus, her faith in love. This faith gave her the stepping stones to reconstruct her life of simplicity. She rose out of the ashes of fear into recognizing that each of us struggle as we venture through life. She then knew that everyone needs forgiveness and everyone needs love, so that’s what she did. We don’t have to miss Elsie, she left her finger prints (and for some who were more hard-headed perhaps her foot print) on our very souls. She is with each of us who were so fortunate to have spent a part of our lives with her. Thank you Elsie.
She is survived by her son, Lee Bransford of Central, UT; daughters, Carol Bransford of Moreno Valley, CA, Annette Bransford of Central, UT, and Jerry Bransford of Honolulu, HI; 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Thornburg and a son, Billy Bransford.
Funeral Services
- Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Spilsbury Mortuary Chapel, 110 S. Bluff, St. George, UT.
- There will be a viewing Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. and also Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services, both viewings held at the mortuary.
- Interment will take place in the Enterprise Cemetery.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-673-2454. Friends and family are invited to sign Elsie’s guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.