Elsie M Hargis

Elsie Hargis lived in only two houses in her lifetime. She was born in the first house to Ward Ferguson Brown and Mamie Emaline Raymond Brown of Pritchett, CO on February 13, 1928. She was the youngest of twins and the youngest of five siblings. Her oldest brother was George Raymond. Then came Eugene Putnam and Edith Hope. Edna Mae and Elsie Marie were the youngest. She grew up in that house during the “dirty ’30’s” and would relate stories of her mother covering the windows and doors with wet sheets to keep the dust out during “rollers”.

She enjoyed attending Pritchett schools and had many friends. At the age of 16, she went to visit a school friend who had moved to Springfield. While she was visiting, they attended a shivaree. It was there she met her husband, James Robison Hargis, for the first time. They continued to see each other and though she kept it hidden, he gave her a ring. Seven months later, on October 22, 1944, a Sunday afternoon that was as hot as summer, they drove to Boise City, Oklahoma. After calling the justice of the peace away from his Sunday dinner, they exchanged vows and became husband and wife. When they returned, she went right back home as if nothing had changed and returned to school on Monday. They were sure it would work, but her high school principal was from Boise City and still took the city newspaper. In the list of marriage licenses, it listed their names. Of course, the principal went straight to Elsie’s father and congratulated him on the new son-in-law. Ward showed up at the school looking very stern. He wanted her to have the marriage annulled but she refused. Ward did not insist and Elsie moved into the second house she ever lived in.

The second house was the proverbial “two rooms and a path” but it was on par with what everyone had at that time. Elsie and James welcomed their first child, Marsha June on August 21, 1945. Due to the fact that James was working out of town on that day, he had taken Elsie to stay with his mother, who rented a room from Alice Davis. Marsha was born in that house. James Raymond (Jim) was born on January 14, 1947, and Sandra Kay (Sandi) was born on April 5, 1949. They were both born in the second house Elsie ever lived in.

In 1956, Elsie received a telephone call asking if she would be interested in going to work as a telephone operator. The job paid $50 a week, high wages for a woman at that time. Although it was 2 miles to work and she did not drive, Elsie took the job. Many times she walked to work and many times James would drive her in. Elsie spent 6 years as a phone operator. During this time, she learned to drive a car.
Slowly, they added rooms to the house for their growing family.
In 1962, the phone office closed as telephone automation came to Baca County. Elsie was out of a job but was able to be on hand to welcome her first grandchild. She spent the next several years as a housewife and grandmother. She kept chickens, sold eggs, still hung the clothes on the line and welcomed her next five grandchildren. In 1969, she took a nurse's aid training course and was on hand opening day at Southeast Colorado Hospital. She spent the next 30 years working as a nurses’ aid at the hospital. During this time, she welcomed her youngest grandchild, built on to the house one more time and, added home health aid as another job. In 1997, Elsie became a movie star. She was featured as an extra in the movie, “Hi-Lo Country”, starring Sam Elliot, Woody Harrelson, and Patricia Arquette. This movie was filmed in her home town of Pritchett, CO. James began referring to her as “Liz”.

She enjoyed traveling and attended the Colorado State Fair with her daughters many times. They attended many concerts thru’ the years. She spent several family vacations at Table Rock Lake in Missouri and frequently visited her twin sister in Albuquerque, NM. After retiring from the hospital at the age of 72, she continued to work as a home health aid for several years.

She finally retired from the workforce in February of 2000. She spent her time attending her great-grandchildren’s sporting events, family functions, playing Pitch and caring for James until his death in 2003. After his death, she continued living in the second house until 2019. She always welcomed family and friends and insisted on serving them a meal or at least a cup of coffee.

In January 2019, due to health concerns, she was forced to enter Southeast Colorado Long Term Care. She made this transition much against her will because she was sure she was capable of taking care of herself. However, she quickly adjusted to the move and enjoyed having someone taking care of her. She was quick to tell everyone that they always took good care of her there. She resided there until her death on March 16, 2020.

She leaves to mourn her passing her three children, Marsha (Don) Wright, Jim (Luz) Hargis, and Sandi Greathouse, her grandchildren, Sylvia (Richard) Harrison, Gina Caddick, Sharri Cooper, Gala (Jodi) Hendricks, Shawn Wright, Jim (Angela) Hargis, Jr., and Troy (Julie) Hargis. She also leaves 14 great-grandchildren, Jayeden Gourley, Nathan, and Cassidy Hargis, Cade Harrison, Jason and Dustin Caddick, Harley, Hayden, and Hannah Hendricks, Zac (Bri) Cooper, Josh (Shelby Rogge) Cooper, Taci (Jon) Cooper Martinez and Madison and Jaxon Hargis, and 8 great-great-grandchildren, Hunter Issacs, Jordan Martinez, Kole, and Winry Cooper, Marley and Oaklyn Cooper and Gage and Sawyer Caddick and a plethora of nieces, nephews, and cousins on both sides of the family.

Elsie was the last surviving member of that generation of her family and also the last surviving member of that generation of her husband’s family. Thus ends an era.

Memorial contributions are suggested to go to the SECHD Long Term Care Center, 373 E. 10th Ave, Springfield, CO 81073.