Elsie Rosalee McGregor passed from this life on to her eternal home on February 16, 2019 in Frisco, TX with her family by her side. Elsie was born on April 23, 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to her parents, Militos Littleton (Jim) Johnson ( Born Aug, 25, 1895 - died Sept 19, 1972) and Emily Seretha Parks Johnson (Born Sept 15, 1903 – Aug 9, 1969) on July 13th, 1918. Elsie was the 2nd oldest child of eleven (11) other siblings. She grew up quickly in the Johnson family, where her father was a butcher and business man. The Johnson family moved several times back and forth from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas in the 1920’s and ‘30’s as the Great Depression impacted America’s life.
Elsie acted as a mid-wife to at least one of her siblings for her mother. She left home never completing high school and joined an apprentice system of nursing in early 1940’s with her parents blessing. It was then that she met, the love of her life, Clem McGregor on the Dance floor in Vernon Texas in the Fall of 1941. The story goes that she was almost 17 years of age; well that is about six months shy. Clem would propose to Elsie after a date to see the motion picture “Sargent York” and the announcing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A month later, on January 28th, 1942 they were married, and Clem was sworn into the US Army that same year to prepare for WWII. Elsie would continue to work as a nurse and moved to Abilene, Clem’s first duty station while in training for the tough Ombries 90th division. Eventually, she gave birth to their first-born Son Ron, while Dad was still in training for WWII in Arlington Texas. She moved to live with Clem’s Mother, as Clem was expected to be shipped off to Europe in 1944. She did make one last trip to New Jersey in the spring of 1944, making multiple train connections often riding on “troop trains” in a last-ditch effort to see Clem one more time before leaving to cross the Atlantic in WWII. Clem did survive the Normandy invasion of Europe and the battle of the bulge walking all the way to Berlin to return home to a hero’s welcome in the fall of 1945. Clem and Elsie were reunited, and Clem went into Business with his Uncle Claud Knight opening washeterias in Waco Texas. It was there Elsie would give birth to Marsha in November of 1947, Deborah in February 1952 and Tereasa in January of 1956. For the next two decades, Elsie was a devoted mother and homemaker raising six children with Clem as Greg in April 1958 was born and Rick their youngest came along in July 1962. However, it was the Baptist slogan “a million more in ’54” which changed the direction of their lives forever. It was then they dedicated everything to a life of Christian service. Elsie was a willing and enthusiastic partner as a church planter and minister with her husband for the next 56 years of ministry starting two churches in Northern California in the late 50’s and one in Nevada in the 60’s. After the loss of their first-born Ron, in an Automobile accident the family moved to Nevada for their last church plant. Eventually, they would move back to Texas for a sabbatical after 15 years on the west coast, however, they never returned to church planting. Instead, Dad help start one of the largest Jail ministries at the Bexar County Detention Center in San Antonio, TX. Elsie would eventually and reluctantly join Dad in the ministry to inmates. However, it did not take long that she too would catch the fever of Jail ministry and was a vibrant teacher of the Christian faith to thousands of inmates. Mimi, the name she identified for herself as a grandmother was the term of endearment the whole family cherished on her behalf as well as the thousands of lives touched in Jail and at their church of more than 40 years, Castle Hills First Baptist church. Mimi was greatly loved by all and admired by many for her fashionable taste in clothing and captivating smile which seemed to beam with the love of Jesus over the last four decades of her life. She loved to cook and the whole family remembers Sunday meals were the highlight of every week. In her senior days when the family returned home, no matter what time of year there was always the famous Thanksgiving meal where both Ham and Turkey were served with all the trimmings and Mimi’s famous Watergate salad and everyone was always made their favorite pie. Most of all we remember Mimi and Pawpa’s love toward one another and to the Lord. It was truly evident to everyone they met.
Elsie is preceded in Death by her Husband Clem her parents Jim and Emily Johnson and her son Ron and daughter Marsha and grandsons Ron Miller and Richard James. She is survived by her Daughters Debbie Ciabattoni, (Buddy Jaeger) Tereasa McGregor (Larry), and her sons Greg McGregor and Rick McGregor (Heather), 15 Grand Children, 28 Great Grand Children, 12 Great-Great Grand Children.
After the loss of her love Clem in December of 2018, the light stopped shinning for Mimi. However, there can be no doubt she is with the one she loves for all of eternity.
Viewing service will be held 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23rd with Services held at Stonebriar Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at the Dallas National Cemetery the following week in a private ceremony.
A Reception will follow at the home of Rick and Heather McGregor, 14772 Caribbean Dr. Frisco TX 75035.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18