Elsie Marjorie Melick Lambert

Elsie Marjorie Melick Lambert (nee Bowen), age 94, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 4:05 a.m. Her favorite times were spent with family and her current cat. She was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, a daughter-in-law, and all 10+ cats. She leaves behind 3 sons: Steven (Kathleen) of Howard City, Michigan, Daniel of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Scott (Elizabeth) of Gary, Indiana; 4 grandchildren: Robert (Sarah), Christina (Herschel), Jonathan (Emily), and Shannon (Ian); 5 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was the youngest of 8 children born to Henry Cleveland and Nettie Mae (Dillon) Bowen. Johnny, the first, died from diphtheria when very young. He was followed by Dorothy, Dennis, Lois, Edna, Richard (Dick), Robert (Bob) and Elsie. She was born on the 4th of July 1929, and was and still is, celebrated by all Americans on that day. The Great Depression would arrive 3 months later, and Elsie said she was always blamed for it. She was baptized in Symmes Creek (Ohio) while still in school. Elsie woke up the next day with joy filling her that lasted a long time. She said this was the best thing that ever happened to her. Throughout her life she attended a Baptist church, a Presbyterian church, and would eventually join the Catholic church. Elsie worked at Woolworth’s selling cosmetics, followed by the drive-in, and then a telephone operator. She taught ice skating in Michigan and passed her Advanced Free and Dance 1st and 2nd Class at the age of 44. We all cheered when she shot the duck! Elsie married Robert Lee Melick on September 2, 1950. They had 3 sons (listed above). They lived in Hawaii, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, and Arkansas. Bob passed away in June 2000. Elsie married John Lambert in May 2003. They moved to Tennessee where John passed away in May 2016. She moved in with Steve and Kathy in Michigan in 2017 and then moved to Indiana to be with Scott and Elizabeth in 2022 until the end of her journey. Elsie enjoyed listening to music, playing dominoes, and making jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed sewing. Elsie made a 4’ tall playhouse, her own clothes, and garments for the grandchildren. She loved visiting New Mexico for the balloon festival and the night sky in Chaco Canyon. Elsie loved her grandkids and had them down for the summers in Arkansas. She went to Alaska, Italy, and Paris. Elsie enjoyed RV-ing around the country with family. She worshipped in church and read her devotional until it fell apart. Elsie loved God and with her enthusiasm for life will be missed by many. A mass/memorial service will be held in Howard City, Michigan later this spring. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, entrusted with arrangements. www.burnsfuneral.com

Elsie Marjorie Melick Lambert

July 4, 1929 - February 5, 2024