Elsie Leone Lackey Noblitt, 99, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the Franklin United Methodist Community in Franklin, Indiana. She born February 24, 1914, the daughter of Oscar Jewitt Lackey and Sarah Manetta Moore, both of Brown County, Indiana. She married Karl Wayne Noblitt on April 15, 1931. Karl was born May 31, 1910 and passed away November 1, 1993. Elsie was also preceded in death by a son, Ted Noblitt of Greenwood, Indiana; brothers Loren Lackey, Dwight Lackey and Floyd Lackey; sister Mildred Henderson; nephew David Lackey; and niece Marjorie Henderson Pelham.
She is survived by 6 children: Max (Marcia Lewis) Noblitt of Waynetown, Indiana, Bill (Roberta Weekly) Noblitt of St. Louis, Missouri, and Mary K. (Leslie Buz, deceased) Brown, Carole (Mark) Graham, Pat (Tom, deceased) Trusty and Jim (Vicki Sloan) Noblitt (all of Franklin, Indiana); 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way; 6 great-great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren and step- great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one grandniece, Sherry Lynn Pelham (Mark) Petro of Columbus, Indiana, nephew Kenneth Lackey of Granbury, Texas; and numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Elsie and Karl were lifelong farmers in Brown, Bartholomew, Morgan and Johnson counties throughout their 62 years of married life. Elsie (aka Granny) was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and friend to many, old and young, throughout her lifetime. She was not merely a farm wife / partner, but a homemaker extraordinaire, which meant she was a nurse, teacher, seamstress, carpenter, electrician, gardener, cook, nutritionist, veterinarian, conversationalist, and anything else that was necessary at any given time. She was a make-do artist through lean (depression era) and good years. They never vacationed or left their children, home or farm work behind! Looking back, she would say there were a lot of hard years, but they were all happy years. She was never heard to complain or utter discouraging, insulting, derogatory or disrespectful words. Not to say that she didn’t have her own opinions and did express them from time to time. She was just very forgiving by nature and open-minded in all things.
In her declining years she maintained her independence as long as possible and gracefully gave over (or shared) those tasks that became too arduous to perform adequately by herself. She was always thankful for all things great and small that anyone did for her and was most generous in her praises. She was unfailingly kind and gentle. She was a lady - beautiful inside and out – in heart and soul. She was admired, respected and loved by all who knew her. Her unfailing kindness and guidance will be sorely missed.
Reverend Allen Whitehurst will conduct a service Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 11:30 A.M. at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, Indiana. Friends may call from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. Friday, December 13, 2013 and Saturday from 10:30 A.M. until service time at the mortuary. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Salvation Army, 325 Market Plaza, Greenwood, Indiana 46142. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.swartzmortuary.com. Information: 738-0202.