Elsie Jo Settle

Elsie Jo Settle passed into the arms of her Lord Jesus on July 31, 2024, after 92 years of joyous living. She was born on February 26, 1932, in Leesburg, Florida to Claud and Ruthanna Gilmore. She spent most of her childhood growing up in Orange City, Florida with her sister Claud Anna, and graduating from Deland High School in 1950 as the Vice President of her High School class. She continued to enjoy attending the annual Deland High School Bulldog Homecoming events as recently as 2022.
Jo spent many summers at her Grandfather Walker's home in Leesburg in her early years learning about farm life, the Walker Brick Mill and helping to care for her infirmed grandmother. She reflected on those experiences in journals she wrote later in life, leaving a legacy for her descendants to read and enjoy.
As a high school graduate, she attended Massey Business College, receiving an associate's degree in office management. Following school, Jo was working for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Jacksonville, Florida, when some guy named Harry waltzed in to her life, soon to become the love of her life. They were married October 17, 1953, beginning their 54 loving years of having children, living all over the country and overseas during Harry's military career and later traveling the US and the world in retirement. They "retired" from the military in 1970 and moved the family to Denver, Colorado where they lived until 1990 when Harry retired from his second career. They built their retirement home in Estes Park and spent 14 years living adjacent to the grandeur of Rocky Mountain National Park. In 2004 they returned to their native state of Florida, living near their favorite patch of sand, Madeira Beach. Jo continued to live in the Clearwater area for several years after Harry's passing in 2007 before returning to her Orange City roots to be near her sister in 2021.
Volunteer work was a staple of Jo's life after retirement. She enjoyed giving back to the community whether it was working at the church thrift shop, Red Cross or doing philanthropic work through PEO.
Jo was blessed with two children, Tom (Annette) and Karen (Joel), five grandchildren (Brandi, Trey, Terri, Joshua and Kayla) and eight great-grandchildren (Taylor, Brycen, Dustin, Paige, Peyton, TJ, Lily and Jayce). She got to enjoy many good times and vacations with her grands and great grands over the years in places like Lake Powell, the beaches of Florida, Disney World and up to the college graduation of her first great grandchild, Taylor. She even rode an inflatable behind a ski boat at Lake Powell with her great grandkids at the ripe old age of 75! And at 90, she rode an ATV at her grandson's ranch and drove a John Deere tractor in the mountains at Tom's place. She just kept on going!
Jo will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Englewood Colorado alongside Harry. A memorial service will be held there on August 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Attendees should meet at Staging Area A at 12:45 pm. A reception will follow at the Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood, 7390 West Hampden Lakewood, Colorado 80227.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to one of Jo's favorite organizations, the USO, would honor her in the best way, recognizing Harry's military service and that of her two great grandsons, Brycen and Dustin, who are just starting their military careers. https://secure.uso.org/OM_BRD/?sc=WF18SRCH42&msclkid=f362bbb6a4ae14946325dd06e2920cd3&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search_Brand&utm_term=United%20Service%20Organizations&utm_content=United%20Service%20Organization
All-States Cremation - Westminster