Elizabeth (Ussery) Sowersby

Elizabeth Ussery-Sowersby, was born on March 29, 1916 in Tiffin, Missouri and departed this life on March 13, 2010 at her home in Norwood, Missouri, at the age of 93 years, 11 months and 12 days.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Charlie and Effie (Hillsman) Richardson. She married Othel Ussery on June 3, 1940 and they were married for 45 years until his passing in 1985. Together they were blessed with three sons, Eugene, Glen and Carl. In 1999, Elizabeth married Charles Sowersby and they were married for three years until his death in 2002.
Elizabeth loved her family very much. She often exhibited this love with food of some kind. She was a wonderful cook, especially any sort of dessert. When the weather was nice and she was feeling well, you could expect that she was out picking gooseberries and blackberries. She also greatly enjoyed tending to her garden and working outside and until recent years, even tilled her own garden. Elizabeth was quite active as long as her health permitted. She was an especially fun Grandma who would play baseball with her grandkids. She was quite good at the game.
Elizabeth loved people. She enjoyed having company and visiting with her friends and family. She had a good sense of humor and liked to share stories with her kids and grandkids about her life growing up.
She was a long time member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and attended faithfully as long as her health permitted.
Elizabeth delighted in doing nice things for others, whether it was baking a cobbler or calling someone at 6:00 am to wish them a happy birthday. She lived a long life. She was a strong woman who saw a lot in her 93 years. She was a great example to her children and grandchildren. Although it is difficult to believe she is gone, it is comforting to know that she is with the Lord and that her memory will live on in the lives of her family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by the loss of her son: Carl, in Vietnam in 1968; her first husband: Othel Ussery on November 16, 1985; her second husband: Charles Sowersby on June 3, 2002; five brothers: Walter, Warren, Raymond, James, and Clinton Richardson; two sisters: Clara Weimer and Nellie Watkins; grandson: Glen “Lindal” Ussery on August 18, 1985; and by a granddaughter: Yvonne Sherree Ussery on March 3, 1970.
She is survived by two sons: Eugene Ussery and his wife, Joyce, of Norwood, Missouri and Glen Ussery and his wife, Linda, of Mtn. Grove; two brothers: Robert Richardson of Norwood, Missouri and John D. Richardson of Shellsburg, Wisconsin; one sister: Mae Hall of Bakersfield, California; six grandchildren: Clinton and Sherri Ussery, Andy and Denise Ussery, Connie and Jason Schumacher, Angela and Cleveland Williamson, Michael and Gena Ussery, and Brett Ussery; twelve great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Elizabeth was a wonderful wife, loving mother and grandmother, and faithful friend who will be dearly missed by all who had the great blessing of knowing her.


Funeral Service:
Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 2:00 PM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.
No Formal Visitation
Burial:
Oak Grove Cemetery