Elsa Marion

Elsa C. Marion died Wednesday, September 13, 2017. Sherry was at her side praying for her. Viewing will be Friday, September 22, 2017, from 8: 00 AM to 8:00 PM, at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home, 2609 South Main St, Roswell, New Mexico. Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2017, 2:00 PM, at South Park Cemetery, 3101 South Main St, Roswell, New Mexico. A tribute of Elsa’s life may be found at www.andersonbethany.com where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family. On December 29, 1926, Elsa was born to Oscar J. Bunton and Lela Whitcamp Bunton in Corsicana, Texas. She grew up during the Great Depression and experienced the many hardships of the time. Elsa was the oldest of five children and helped with raising two younger sisters and two younger brothers. The family moved to Roswell, New Mexico, in 1936. In March of 1945, Elsa lost a younger sister, Victoria, in an automobile accident. During the horrors of WWII, Elsa married Milford Marion, who was serving his country at Roswell’s Army Air Base. In August of 1945, Milford was aboard a troop train headed for the invasion of the Japanese Mainland when “The Bomb” ended the war. After the war, Elsa and Milford resided in Roswell, New Mexico. Milford had a reputation for being a “great” auto mechanic. He worked for Tom Whitcamp’s Garage for eleven years. During their time in Roswell a son, Eugene was born in 1945, and a daughter, Sherry in 1950. In 1959, she and Milford moved to Tularosa, New Mexico. Milford was hired at Holloman AFB in Civil Service. Elsa loved living in Tularosa, NM. She always told people those were her happiest years. In retirement, Elsa and Milford bought a place on Lake Mathis, Texas, and built their own home. Their kids and grandkids loved it there; it was like a resort. The lake life was short lived though as both Elsa and Milford were having health problems. They decided to move back to Roswell, New Mexico. Their daughter, Sherry and family moved from Granbury, Texas, to Roswell, New Mexico, to take care of Elsa and Milford during their declining health. Milford died of cancer in 1991. Elsa eventually relocated to Granbury, Texas, with Sherry’s family to live out her final years. Those surviving to cherish Elsa’s memory are son, Eugene and wife, Winnie of Tularosa, New Mexico; daughter, Sherry Ott and husband, Don of Granbury, Texas; grandsons: Erik Marion of Tularosa, New Mexico; CMDR Erle Marion USN (Ret.) and wife, Mari of Temecula, California; granddaughters: Shailaja Marion of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Shannan Goff and husband, Wes of Granbury, Texas, Misty Ott of Claremore, Oklahoma, Meri Ott, of Brooklyn, New York; as well as six grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; brother, Willis Bunton and his wife, Filipa of Roswell, New Mexico; sister, Barbara Bunton Moore of Temple, Texas; and sister-in-law, Bobbie Woodward of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Predeceasing Elsa in death are her father and mother: Oscar J. and Lela Bunton; brother, Calvin Bunton; sister, Victoria Bunton; and granddaughter, Barbara Marion Robertson. This tribute was written in honor of Elsa by her family.

Elsa Marion

December 29, 1926 - September 13, 2017