Eleanor Jean "Jean" Elsey (Wood)

March 15, 1927-March 19, 2012 Jean Elsey, 85, of Grayling, passed away at her home Monday, March 19. Jean was born at home in Detroit in 1927 to Alice Lucinda and William Donald Wood. She graduated from Mackenzie High School in January, 1945, and then attended Michigan State University to study medical technology. On January 17, 1948, Jean married Raymond William Elsey at the Outer Drive Presbyterian Church in Detroit. They enjoyed a very happy marriage for fifty-seven years. Those who knew them well knew that they could often be seen walking hand in hand. Ray and Jean moved to Grayling around 1960, where they went into business with Jean's parents at the Grayling Pharmacy, and served the community for many years. Jean and Ray were founding members of St. Francis Episcopal Church and the St. Francis Thrift Shop. Jean was, in the words of her granddaughter Angie, "an unrecognized Renaissance woman who could do your accounting, teach you all about Colonial American history and whip up a mean grasshopper pie at the same time." Jean is survived by her daughter, Lynn (Randy) Thompson of Grayling, son Donald (Carolyn) of Laytonsville, Maryland; granddaughters Angela (Marco) Thompson Cucco of Lathrup Village, Michigan, Brenda (Enrique) Elsey Piraces of New York City; grandsons Max (Sarita) Thompson of Los Angeles; Forrest Thompson of Los Angeles, and Scott Elsey, of Binghamton, New York; great-grandchildren Niccolo and Sophie Cucco and Maya and Luna Piraces. A family service was held at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Elizabeth Chace officiating. Jean was an avid student of early American history; memorial contributions may be made to the March 15, 1927-March 19, 2012 Jean Elsey, 85, of Grayling, passed away at her home Monday, March 19. Jean was born at home in Detroit in 1927 to Alice Lucinda and William Donald Wood. She graduated from Mackenzie High School in January, 1945, and then attended Michigan State University to study medical technology. On January 17, 1948, Jean married Raymond William Elsey at the Outer Drive Presbyterian Church in Detroit. They enjoyed a very happy marriage for fifty-seven years. Those who knew them well knew that they could often be seen walking hand in hand. Ray and Jean moved to Grayling around 1960, where they went into business with Jean's parents at the Grayling Pharmacy, and served the community for many years. Jean and Ray were founding members of St. Francis Episcopal Church and the St. Francis Thrift Shop. Jean was, in the words of her granddaughter Angie, "an unrecognized Renaissance woman who could do your accounting, teach you all about Colonial American history and whip up a mean grasshopper pie at the same time." Jean is survived by her daughter, Lynn (Randy) Thompson of Grayling, son Donald (Carolyn) of Laytonsville, Maryland; granddaughters Angela (Marco) Thompson Cucco of Lathrup Village, Michigan, Brenda (Enrique) Elsey Piraces of New York City; grandsons Max (Sarita) Thompson of Los Angeles; Forrest Thompson of Los Angeles, and Scott Elsey, of Binghamton, New York; great-grandchildren Niccolo and Sophie Cucco and Maya and Luna Piraces. A family service was held at St. Francis Episcopal Church on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Elizabeth Chace officiating. Jean was an avid student of early American history; memorial contributions may be made to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, P.O. Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187, attn. Kirsten Kellogg. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eleanor Jean "Jean" Elsey (Wood), please visit our flower store.