Elsie Lavern Smotherman Brake was born July 1, 1939 at her family home in the community of Bartlett, Missouri to Alfred Smotherman and Estella “Jewell” Willbanks.
Elsie went to be with Jesus on Wednesday February 22, 2023 after a short stay at Mercy Hospital in Springfield surrounded by her family.
She was united in marriage to George Brake on April 4, 1959 in Miami, OK. To this union four children were born, Michael George, Jimmy Wayne, Jeffery Matthew and Kristen Michelle.
Elsie was a Sunday School teacher and played piano at church. She loved sewing, fishing and spending time with her family. She touched many lives and loved to tell people about Jesus. She prayed for her family every day. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church where she often helped with vacation Bible School, Operation Christmas Child, Back to School Bash and many other programs. She was always willing to help where she could.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Jewell Smotherman; mother and father in law, Henry and Marie Brake; brothers, Glen, Jack, Coy, Tom, Doyle, Chet and Robert; sisters, Lucille Medley and Essie Earls; sisters in law, Shirley Smotherman, Lorene Wolford, Earlene Pierce; and brothers in law, Bob Medley, Bud Earls, Bill Pierce, Eddie Davis and Bill Wolford; and one son, Jimmy.
Elsie was survived by her husband, George, of the home; sons, Mike (Barb) of Birch Tree, Jeff (Kim) of Birch Tree; and daughter, Kristie (Kevin) Wallace of Winona; sister, Eva (Ron) Fry of Kimberling City; sisters in law, Linda, Betty, Janice, Nadine, Mary Jane, Clara Brake, Shirley Mills, Judy Davis and Elaine Brake; brothers in law, Bill Brake, Bill Mills, and Donnie Brake; grandchildren, Cassandra Brake, Angela Distler, Donna Brake, Susan Morris, Levi Brake, Jordan Brake, Nina West, Lina Shelton, Jeremy Strazdas, Ashley Roberts, Matt Brake, Lari Burton, Sydney Foster and Taylor Burton; twenty-one great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Elsie was a wonderful, Godly woman who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Birch Tree, Missouri, with Rev. Nolan Earls officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Yarber Mortuary, Birch Tree. Interment will be in Corinth Cemetery, Birch Tree. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
