Elsie (Crandall) Bragg

Elsie Bragg (Crandall) passed away peacefully at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Center on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at the age of 99 years while surrounded by family. She was born on May 22, 1923 to Marcus and Ida Crandall.

Elsie will be lovingly remembered by her children Tom,  Ella (Art), Linda (Glen), and Kathy (Ken); her brother Hugh and sister Dixie; her grandchildren Maureen (Mike), Lewis (Sarah), Shawn (Tammy), Lori (Allan), Michelle (Mike), Chris (Emma), Deborah Dean), Brad (Andrea), Richard (Amanda), Kevin (Tia), and Kyle (Kathleen); along with numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Elsie was predeceased by her husband Amos in 1982; her son Jimmy in 1958; her daughter-in-law Dolores in 2012; her great-grandson Bryson in 2018; her four sisters Edith, Myrtle, Mildred, and Marie; and her three brothers Ernie, Alva, and Bob.

Elsie spent many of her early years in Lynden, Washington, USA. Marcus farmed in Lynden and Ponoka, traveling between the two farms. While they were in Washington, she went to school in Lynden. When they were in Canada she went to school at Ferrybank, west of Ponoka, near the area where her parents farmed. Elsie worked hard on the farm, milking cows and following the Crandall thrashing crew where she spent countless hours cooking and feeding the hungry crews.

She met Amos Bragg and they were married November 15, 1942. They farmed in the Ferrybank area. After Amos passed away in 1982, Elsie continued to run the dairy farm with Tom managing the fields. Elsie moved into Rimoka when she turned 85. She lived there until 2013. Then she moved to Royal Oak in Lacombe where she lived until her passing. She made many friends wherever she went.

Elsie worked tirelessly on the farm, milking cows, raising chickens and beef cattle, growing a garden and raising a family. Her hands were never idle!

Some of her favorite pastimes were traveling, reading, crocheting, needlepoint, gardening, watching birds, playing bingo, and visiting with family and friends. Many of her creations adorn beds or hang on walls of her family. Beautiful keepsakes!

Friends and family will always remember the greatest conversations whether about farming, family, or greatest moments growing up.

Elsie will be missed.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 23 at 2:00 pm at the Forest Home Cemetery, Ponoka.

Memorial Donations may be made to:

Ellis Bird Farm or to the Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsie (Crandall) Bragg, please visit our floral store.