116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Elsie Elaine Henderson
Elsie Elaine Henderson
The Woodlands, Texas
Elsie Elaine Henderson, 88, of The Woodlands, Texas, formerly of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Ridgewood at The Woodlands Nursing Home. In agreement with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will greet friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A private family committal service will take place at a later date.
Elsie was born on March 1, 1936, in Newton Township, Iowa, the daughter of Horace and Ruth (Elliott) Annis. She was a 1954 graduate of Coggon High School, in Coggon, Iowa. Shortly after graduating, Elsie was united in marriage to Donald Ray Henderson on June 19, 1954, at the Spring Grove Church, in rural Coggon. To this union, two children were born, Mark Ray and Diane Kay. During her earlier years, Elsie was a member of the National TTT Sorority and was a Representative for Mary Kay Cosmetics for several years. She loved her rose garden and watching hummingbirds. Most of all, Elsie loved spending time with her family and cooking for them. She has lovingly passed down her legacy Christmas Eve dinner which consists of champagne, shrimp cocktail, prime rib, twice baked potatoes and pies. Elsie proudly taught her grandchildren at toddler ages, “Cheers!” She was an incredible, loving mother and grandmother, and dear friend, who leaves behind a hole in many hearts. Elsie will be forever missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived and lovingly remembered by her children, Mark (Carol) Henderson of Plantation, Florida, and Diane Seng of Conroe, Texas; three grandchildren, Gavin (Jayson Ditmore) Henderson, Lauren Henderson, and Luke (Heather Lillemoe) Seng; great-granddaughter, Palmer Seng; and one sister, Juanita Borchardt.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Henderson; brother, Ronald Annis and one sister, Arleta Moulton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Elsie’s memory may be directed to a favorite charity of donor’s choice.
Please share a memory of Elsie at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters