Elsie Mae Gowen Wagoner Parker, age 95, walked through heavens gates on January 18, 2024, from her home in Gilmer, Texas, surrounded by her children.

She was born on November 8, 1928, in Dallas, Texas, to Mr. and Mrs. John L. and Jessie Morgan Gowen.

Elsie was raised in East Dallas near the Santa Fe railroad tracks as a child, and later moved to "New Hope" now known as Sunnyvale, Texas, after her father passed away. She was 9 years old at the time, and 1 of 8 children. Her mother was encouraged to take the children to Buckner's Orphanage. Jessie refused, and raised them on her own. Times were hard, but they remained together.

She attended and graduated from Mesquite High School and was active in basketball and baseball; both of which she played quite well.

Elsie married Roy D. Wagoner on September 4, 1946, and they had six children. She was first and foremost a mother and homemaker. In addition to raising her own children, she also opened her arms to 9 additional children, including beloved nieces and nephews and family friends, as well as housing several foreign exchange students through the Lion's Club and providing family memories for children from Buckner's Orphanage.

She worked as an office and medical assistant in her husband's medical practice for many years. There was no job on the family farm that she could not handle, from rounding up cattle and horses, tending the chickens, hauling hay and mending fences. Her hands spoke of hard work and much love and dedication.

Elsie's spiritual foundation began at 12 years old when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at a revival service at Tripp Road Baptist Church. She continued to worship as a girl at Hilltop Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, where her mother played the piano.

Throughout her life she served in various roles in the churches where the family attended: church secretary, church treasurer, teacher for Sunday School and Training Union and teaching young girls about missions. She was musically gifted with the ability to play by ear and served as both pianist and organist, serving the Lord.

Elsie and Roy reared their children in various Baptist churches including White Rock Baptist, Eastern Hills Baptist and Bobtown Road Baptist, which they helped establish.

Elsie taught a Sunday school class from the time she was 18 years old until she was 90 years old and leading the Naomi class (the oldest ladies Sunday School class) at First Baptist Mesquite. The class frequently quipped that the next class was Heaven.

Her last position of service was as pianist for Sand Hill Baptist in Gilmer, where she played until the last months of 2023 at the age of 95.

After the death of her first husband, Elsie married again in May 1992 to Wilburn Parker. They had 25 happy years together. He was her knight in shining armor. She loved Will's children Debbie Loyd, Diane Pugh, Craig (wife Joanne) Parker and Donna (husband Donnie) Englert and their children and grandchildren dearly. Will and Elsie served at First Baptist Mesquite until his death in 2018. In her later years, she loved to spend her time crocheting and was a master wordsmith and loved crossword puzzles.

She was always a helper, loving her neighbor as herself and encouraging whomever she met. Whether during a shopping trip to Walmart or a visit to the doctor, she was always eager to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by both parents, all her siblings, her first husband Roy Wagoner, M.D., her second husband, Wilburn Parker, and her 2-year-old son Roy Wagoner, Jr., known as "Buddy Boy."

Elsie is survived by her five children: Barbara June (husband Jim) Liberacki; Lillian (husband Robert) Hughes; Jim (wife Becky) Wagoner; Nancy (husband Brad) Lawler; and Lisa (husband Melvin) Climer. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild, as well as a host of family and friends.

Elsie desired to share her faith, not only in life but through her death so that you too may hear the words as she heard on January 18, 2024, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

In lieu of flowers, memorial  contributions may be made to the International Mission Board ( https://www.imb.org/generosity/give-now/) or to a Hospice Facility of your choice.