Elsie Maurine O’Kelley Haltom, 90, a long time resident of Nederland, died October 10, 2011, after a short illness. Elsie was born August 21, 1921, in Carthage, Texas, to Samuel Francis and Willie Lou Ryle O’Kelley. She graduated in 1939 from Carthage High School, where she was a Drum Major. Elsie attended Kilgore Junior College where she was an original member of the Kilgore Rangerettes. She graduated from the University of Houston in 1942. Elsie enjoyed playing bridge, was an avid hunter, golfer, and worked at her daily job up until a month before her death.
She is survived by her sons, Guy Haltom and his wife, Gigi of Dallas, and Dayne Haltom and his wife, Jean of Laurel, Mississipppi; daughter, Kathryn Haltom and Shelley Vandegrift of Dallas; five wonderful grandchildren, Michelle Shetler and her husband, Todd of San Antonio; Heather Talbert and husband, Chris of Houston; Jayne Casey and husband, Ben of New Orleans; Dayne Haltom, Jr. and his wife, Elisha of Laurel, Mississippi; and Ann Rainey Haltom of Dallas; five precious great-grandchildren, Greer and Blake Shetler, Billy and Gigi Talbert and Devon Haltom; and sister-in-law, Jo Ann Haltom. She is also survived by her extended family, Lola and Raymond Rice, and their children of Nederland; and Janis and Jerry Elmore of Houston.
Elsie is lovingly known to her great-grandchildren as “Honey”. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-two years, Dr. Guy T. Haltom; her parents, Sam and Willie O’Kelley; four brothers; and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or to the charity of one’s choice.
A Celebration of Life and Memorial Mass will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 130 Hardy Avenue, Nederland, with innichement to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.
