Elsie Lee Carter, 86, Hays, died Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at HaysMed.
She was born October 31, 1939 in Oshkosh, Nebraska, the daughter of Norville Lee and Ina (Billingsley) Passmore.
Elsie enjoyed nature and growing up on a ranch, where she took on many of the responsibilities including driving tractor. She was a graduate of Chadron High School and attended Western Nebraska Community College in Chadron. As a dedicated and hardworking mom, Elsie worked various jobs throughout her life with the goal of ensuring that her sons would graduate from college. While living in Texas she worked at a Christian academy and after moving to Hays, Kansas, she enjoyed 15 years as a bank teller at Hays State Bank. Music encompassed Elsie’s life as she sang, played the accordion, piano, and organ, as well as taught others to play piano and organ. She enjoyed assembling puzzles, was an avid reader, and delighted in conversions with friends and family.
Elsie possessed a devout faith in the Lord, which began at the age of seven when she was saved after being invited to a tent revival meeting. She was a member of High Plains Baptist Church in Hays and was a Gold Star Mother after her son CW5 David R. Carter was killed in action in Afghanistan. Elsie loved her family, cherished being a Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma, and extended her motherly love to others. She was a special woman and the cornerstone of her family.
Survivors include her sons Bill Carter of Hays and Mark Carter and wife Wilja Eriksen of Stavanger, Norway, her daughter-in-law Laura Carter of Centennial, Colorado, three grandchildren Kyle Carter and wife Erin, Kaitlen Carter, and Markus Carter, and two great grandchildren Kayden Lee Carter and Wyatt David Carter.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her son CW5 David R. Carter, 8-6-2011, and her sister Shirley.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, September 14, 2026 at High Plains Baptist Church in Hays, with Pastor Russell Kirkpatrick officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time on Monday, September 14, 2026 at the church. Burial will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials payable to VFW Post #3631, CW5 David R. Carter in Aurora, Colorado or to High Plains Baptist Church in Hays. Services are entrusted to Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Elsie may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com