Elaine B. Ooley

Elaine B. Ooley (Nee: Bousha)

Elaine Mercedese Bousha Brown Ooley began her life on January 27, 1914, at 2:30 p.m., in Budd         Hospital in Two Harbors, MN.  Elaine’s mother was taken to the hospital in a sleigh driven by two horses and as Elaine’s biography states, the temperature was minus 42 and there was 37 inches of snow on the ground.  In today’s medical history, it would be somewhat of a miracle to be born at one pound and live, but in 1914, and with a trip to the hospital as described above, Elaine survived and thrived after being born at one pound and two ounces.  Elaine left this earth to be with our Lord on June 27, 2020, shortly after midnight at Breeze Park Senior Living in Weldon Springs, MO.

Preceding her in death were parents Raymond Dennis Bousha and Flossa Mae Woodworth Bousha; grandparents Alexander Bousha and Katherine MacQuire Bousha and William Henry Woodworth and Melissa D. Taylor Woodworth.  Elaine outlived two loving spouses, Capt. Fred E. Brown and Clovis N. Ooley.

Elaine had two siblings, brother, Delmar Alexander Bousha who passed at age 10 and sister, Marguerite Eloise Bousha who served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp with Elaine and died in service.

Elaine graduated from Arcola High School in 1932 and began an industrious lifetime of work and service.  From 1932-33, she worked at a ten-cent store on Saturdays, Edman Grill on Sundays, Bill P’s Candy Shop Monday through Friday and the Greek Fish Restaurant also on Friday.  Evenings, she typed for Eastern U Professors for a penny a page.  She folded laundry on Sundays after church.  Years after, she worked in various positions—a shoe factory sewing tongues on vamps; she typed for the Supt. of Schools and various businesses for pennies per page.

In November 1942,  Elaine joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp, serving with the Fifth Illinois     Division, joining as a stenographer and progressing to aircraft dispatcher at Kirtland AFB. She said she loved planes and wanted to be near them.  She served until 1945 then marrying Capt. Fred E. Brown, a career Air Force member.  Elaine was a military wife from 1945—1963.

Elaine re-married to Clovis (Jack) Ooley.   Elaine enjoyed world travel with family and friends, operating Fleur-de-Lis, her Missouri antique store and serving with American Legion Post 388 and the St. Louis Veterans Home.  Elaine’s life’s work was her favorite Uncle Kenneth Roahen’s photography collection, featuring his work for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  She and husband Jack, envisioned a Roahen Photography gallery.  For 30 years, she worked on the collection, donating the more than 10,000 photos and many boxes of historical items to the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin, Montanta, where they are currently on exhibit.

Elaine’s priorities were God, country and family.  Although she had no children of her own, she loved everyone as if they were her family.  Elaine kept up with our country’s current events, with a keen interest in politics and preserving American history for  future generations.  Elaine was a very proud American and enjoyed every moment of her years of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Legion Post 388 in O'Fallon or the St. Louis Veterans Home.