Elsie Louise Swartwood Sharpsteen

Elsie Louise Swartwood Sharpsteen, age 101, of 224 Tupper Road, Locke, NY passed away Friday, March 2, 2012 in the home she has lived in for over 70 years. Having lived an entire century, she has experienced more than most in her lifetime.

She was born December 23, 1910 in North Lansing, NY, the youngest of eight children born to Herbert and Eva Huddle Swartwood. Her brother, Fredrick, was killed and buried in France during World War I. On August 9, 1930, she married Edgar L. Sharpsteen and began her career as a farm wife. She joined in all aspects and activities of a dairy farm and home; planting, harvesting, milking, cleaning, mending, preserving, baking, cooking, washing and raising a family. She was very proud of the fact that she has never lived more than two miles from the place she was born.

Retiring from dairy farming in 1979, she and Edgar spent winters in Holiday, FL. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, the former North Lansing Chapter, now the Hudson-Fulton-Dryden Chapter #250, Order of Eastern Star and a charter member of the North Lansing Fireman’s Auxiliary.

Elsie is survived by her two daughters, L. Jean Sharpsteen and Irene E. Tyrrell; her granddaughter, Connie M. (Ed) Wilcox of Lansing; grandsons, Robert E. “Chris” (Eileen) Tyrrell of Locke, and Gary J. (Ed Wagner) Tyrrell of Lansing; great grandsons, Charlie C. “Cricket” (Marcie) Purcell and Scott R.(Kim Sweeney) Purcell of Lansing, Patrick J. (Liz) Tyrrell of Genoa and Mark A. (Krista) Tyrrell of Locke; great great-grandsons, Daniel and Alex Purcell, Peyton and Patrick Tyrrell. She is also survived by many great nieces and nephews because she has outlived all of her siblings and their children. Additionally she was predeceased by brothers, Glenn and Herbert Swartwood; sisters, Norma and Helen Swartwood, Nellie Lisdell and Dorothy Perkins; her husband, Edgar L. Sharpsteen in 1996 and her son-in-law, Robert T. Tyrrell in 2009.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at the family home on Tupper Road, Locke with Rev. David Hays officiating. Burial will follow in North Lansing Cemetery. Friends may call from 3-7 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at the family home with Eastern Star services conducted at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers,

memorials may be made to North Lansing Fireman’s Auxiliary, c/o Irene E. Tyrrell, 180 Sharpsteen Rd., Locke, NY 13092. Perkins Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com