|
| |
Elise Theodora Elsasser Crosthwait, or Lee as she preferred and was known, returned to her Creator in the very early morning of March 11, 2010. Her journey on Earth began September 21, 1924, in North Bergen, New Jersey, as the daughter of a first generation German father Theodore Herman Elsasser, M.D. and Elise Zebetti, who was first generation French.
We can discuss the socio-political implications of this at another time. In birth order she was followed by her beloved sisters Elaine, now Muller, and her husband Walt, Mary Ellen, now Boyd, Betty Jane, now St. Cyr, and her husband Fred, and Theodore Elsasser Jr., Ph.D. (a/k/a Teddy '” Thank God--- there's a boy ! I can quit now!). They all survive her. Also surviving and grieving her departure, but so thankful for her life, is the man she confidently and often said was the best man she had ever known --- Bill Rupert. Mom and Bill have been together for many years and they were a true blessing each to the other. The author of this obituary is conflicted and can only say that Bill is one of the two best men he has ever known.
Lee graduated from highschool at Steven's Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey, and Centenary College in Hackesttown, New Jersey. She then continued to pursue her childhood passion and one of her many, many God-given and ardently pursued and perfected talents of ice skating. In 1943, she joined Sonya Henie in the Ice Follies and Holiday Ice Review, during which time she and the troupe entertained America's armed forces around the United States, mostly on the East Coast. In 1944, she turned professional and joined the Ice Capades. A band that accompanied the Ice Capades in Madison Square Garden was Les Brown and His Band of Renown and it was then that she met, and on July 7, 1947 married, the young lead saxophone player for the band, Joe Crosthwait from Oklahoma.
Lee and Joe and daughter Mary Jane moved back to Oklahoma and on the day Joe, Jr. was born in 1948, Joe Sr. started college at Central State College. For the next 7 years, they worked hand in hand and heart to heart as Joe completed his medical education. During that time, Mom worked for Dr. John Devore, first as a medical transcriptionist and then as a research assistant. Joe Sr. was also a staff musician at WKY Radio and then WKY-TV in its earliest infancy. On weekends, Joe Cross and His Golden Saxophone would be, among many other venues, at the Beacon Club in the Skirvin Tower and at the Arcade at Springlake. Mom and Dad worked hard together, made ends meet, pursued the Great American Dream, and probably loved this time in their lives more than any other. In June, 1955, the four Crosthwaits stood proudly as one as Joe, Sr., M.D.. graduated from the O.U. College of Medicine '” a goal and a dream come true made possible by the determination and vision of Lee and Joe, Sr..
Mom's dad was a doctor in North Bergen, New Jersey, who had a 'camp' (a/k/a - a Summer Home) in Upstate New York near Chateaugay, close to the Canadian Border. She absolutely loved that part of the world. After moving to Oklahoma, Mom saw to it that Mary Jane and Joe Jr. got to Upstate New York and got to know that side of the family and that part of the country. Beginning when Joe, Jr. was nine months old, and for many years, the Crosthwaits went to Chateaugay almost every summer. Many times it was by car which early-on required three or more, eighteen hour days on pre-Interstate Highways. A few times, Mom took Jane and Joe, Jr. on the train. And then, Joe Sr. and Mom learned to fly single engine planes. That was scary. We made it up there anyway but only because Mom was the navigator.
Though their marriage ended in 1983, Lee and Joe, Sr. always shared a love of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a mutual respect for one another. In more recent years, Mom and Bill have traveled fairly extensively and taken the opportunities to enjoy concerts, plays and other cultural events and most of all, the companionship of one another.
In addition to her great friend Bill Rupert, children Jane and Joe, Jr. and her sisters and brother, Lee leaves behind her daughter in law Sherry Crosthwait who most especially through these last many difficult months has provided Lee with great love, comfort and support; her grandson Jeff Hendren and wife Laurie and their beautiful children Jordan, Lauren and Logan; and granddaughter Jana Reeves and her husband Lee and their energetic and handsome son Drew. She also leaves Joe Sr.'s loving sister Delores Mitchell and her husband Kenneth She is also survived by her lifelong friend Georgia Hubbard. In July, 2009, she lost another of her life's best friends, Ilene Scaramucci.
Mom was a beautiful, intelligent, talented and gracious lady. She was graced with a long and meaningful life. She will live in our hearts forever. We offer our most sincere gratitude to Pat Morgan, M.D., Peggy and Gary Dubois, M.D.'s, Zaheer Baber, M.D., and Muhammed Amin, M.D. together with the incredible staff of specifically 4C at Midwest Regional Hospital for the compassionate care they have provided to Mom and to countless other patients through the years. You guys are the best!
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation in the name of Elise Crosthwait be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
Funeral
Barnes Friederich Funeral Home Chapel
1820 S. Douglas Blvd.
MIDWEST CITY
OK
73130
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.