Elsie Marie Thompson, 74, of Wellsville, passed away at 5:35 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2017 at Gamma Road Lodge in Wellsville.

Mrs. Thompson was born October 6, 1942, in Clark, Missouri, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Ida Mae (Ess) Lessly.

On October 2, 1965, in Boonville, Missouri, she married Harold Richard Thompson. They celebrated over 51 years of marriage together.

Elsie was an Honor Graduate of Shawnee State College in Portsmouth, Ohio. She also attended Truman State University in Kirksville.

She had worked as a legal secretary for several law firms. Elsie also worked for the Missouri Division of Family Services in Fayette from 1960-1969. She had also been a substitute teacher for Wellsville-Middletown R-1 School.

Elsie was a member of the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Wellsville. She was a former president of Town and Country Garden Club and also a past president of the Wellsville Public Library.

She enjoyed gardening and loved raising day lilies. Elsie liked working crossword puzzles with the New York Times being her favorite.

Elsie is survived by her husband, Harold Richard "Dick" Thompson, of the home in Wellsville; daughter, Ann Elizabeth Thompson, of St. Louis; mother-in-law, Dorothy M. Thompson, of Centralia; brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Jean Lessly, of Fayette; in addition to several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Bessie Mae Lessly and two brothers, Jerry Lessly and Mark Lessly.

Graveside services were at 11:30 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Wellsville Cemetery. Rev. Dawn Gerard officiated. Serving as pallbearers were Mike Arens, George Jacobi, Dennis Lehnen, Ed Murphy, Bud Smith and Charlie Wohlbold.

Visitation was held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.

Memorial contributions were suggested to the Wellsville Public Library c/o Myers Funeral Home, 203 East Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.

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