Obituary of Elise Rebecca Woolsey
Elise Rebecca (Harrington) Woolsey was born August 10, 1925, in Houston, Mississippi to Charles Curtis Harrington and Elise Rebecca Griffin Harrington. Her family moved to Oklahoma when she was 3. She attended Will Rogers High School. She studied at the University of Oklahoma and received her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Tulsa. She and Don met at the Young Adult Fellowship Class at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church and were married December 23, 1965. Elise loved the lord and lived a true example of service. She joined Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in the 50’s. She was involved in many youth camps and Vacation Bible School when her daughter and then grandkids were active. She served on countless committees, bible studies and was active in the United Methodist Women’s Group until she was unable to participate any longer. We joked that if the doors were open on the 13th and in Boston, you would probably find her there. Don and Elise were members of the Homebuilders, now Genesis class. She was a teacher for 39 years, retiring from TPS Cooper Elementary, but her love for teaching kept her substituting for a few years following. She was very active in the Delta Kappa Gamma society, holding many leadership roles and participating in countless state and national conventions. Her love for teaching and guiding young children can only be described as devoted and passionate. Family was always a number one priority for Elise. As the youngest of 6 children, she had many nieces and nephews and later great nieces and nephews that were dear to her heart. She enjoyed hearing of all their accomplishments and was always ready to prepare a delicious meal for anyone that was traveling through town. She was a great cook, unapologetically southern style. Her grandchildren’s friends still ask if we can make her infamous friend chicken, fried potatoes and chocolate cake (that everyone wanted for their birthdays). If she told you her meal was a failure, you knew it was going to be perfection!
After retiring, she poured her energy into many wonderful organizations and charity groups. The Salvation Army, the Tulsa Boys Home, The Garden Club and the Tulsa Misses Club to name a few. She loved to travel. Her excitement for all the amazing sites she witnessed in person and the people she met along the journey was contagious. She and Don traveled to every continent but Antarctica. When her grandchildren were old enough, they all traveled together on many unforgettable cruises, beach destinations and of course the mountains. It thrilled her to share the love of learning about different cultures and enjoying the beauty of the earth with her family. She and Don had a cabin at Beaver Lake in Arkansas since 1977. Countless number of family and friends have enjoyed their hideaway there and many poured hours of labor into fixing it up to be the perfect lake spot getaway. She could slalom ski like a Cypress Gardens pro. After her battle with breast cancer, she could no longer ski and was unhappy that at 70 something she had to throw in the ski rope. Elise loved to learn and participate in new activities. She joined the Tulsa Ski Club as a charter member in 1962. She talked Don into joining on a trip and learning to ski, even before they were married. Their honeymoon was to Aspen, Colorado. The Ski Club took her and the family to Colorado, Utah, Innsbruck Austria and their favorite spot Taos, New Mexico. Katie was placed on plastic skis at Taos at the age of 3 and both Kyle and Megan, her grandkids, learned to ski at Taos as well. The Tulsa Ski Club has blessed the entire family with some of the best memories and lifelong friends.
Elise was preceded in death by her parents and 5 siblings. She is survived by her adoring husband Don Woolsey; their daughter Katie Elsberry and husband Evan; Grandchildren Kyle Roberts and Megan Roberts and 1 great grandchild.
Services will be held Saturday January 6, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.
The family asks that donations be made to any of the following: Boston Avenue United Methodist Church - 1301 S. Boston Avenue Tulsa, OK 74119, The Tulsa Boys Home, P O BOX 1101, Tulsa, OK 74101 or, The Salvation Army, P O BOX 3367 Tulsa, OK 74101
Ninde Funeral & Cremation | (918) 742-5556 | www.ninde.com
