Mostly Clear, 47° F
(April 30, 1924 - July 8, 2015)
Elsie Hawley died at the Powell Valley Care Center in Powell on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. She was 91.
Elsie was born in Powell on April 30, 1924, to Niels and Emma Nielsen. She graduated from Powell High School in 1942. After graduation, she worked at Kopriva’s Grocery and then Van’s Grocery in Powell.
Elsie and some friends went to Washington to try to find work at Boeing, where she worked in the Boeing cafeteria. When she came home, she went to Hall’s School of Beauty in Casper and graduated in May 1946. She then worked at Teton Beauty Salon in Powell for a short time.
Elsie married Maynard Hawley on Oct. 24, 1946, in Billings.
They farmed for 24 years until 1969 when Maynard bought Jones Plumbing. He was a plumber for 20 years. They retired then and traveled to Arizona every winter and spent a lot of time at their trailer at Buffalo Bill Lake in the summer. Elsie enjoyed fishing, working in her flower garden and knitting.
Elsie was a member and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary and a past member of the Does and Big Horn Basin Boat Club.
She is survived by son Melvin (Peggy) Hawley of Powell; daughter Kathryn (Pat) Graham of Powell; three grandchildren Paul Graham of Powell, Danelle (Mark) Schmitz of Greeley, Iowa, Andrea (Casey) Bryner, and one great-grandchild Cain Bryner, all of Powell. Elsie also is survived by sisters Emma Morris of Washington, Edna (Jim) Caslick of Powell, brother Norman Nielsen, sister-in-law Anna Nielsen and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Ralph and Robert and sister Clair Smith.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. July 24 at Thompson Funeral Home in Powell with Kurt McNabb officiating. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Powell Medical Foundation, 777 Ave. H, Powell, WY 82435. Please use the memo line to direct donations to hospice.
Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or to P.O. Box 807 Powell, WY, 82435.
