Elsie Pence Manion, 89, of Owensboro, passed away at Carmel Home on December 17, 2025. She had been a resident there since May 2025 and passed away three days before her ninetieth birthday. She was born in Daviess County, KY, on December 20, 1935, to the late Clayborne Joseph and Edna Mae (Cummings) Pence.
Elsie pursued her education with dedication, studying at Spalding University in Louisville, where she earned her bachelor’s degree, and later receiving her master’s degree from Western Kentucky University. Prior to college, she dedicated her life as a religious sister with the Ursuline Sisters at Mount St. Joseph and was a member of the Teachers Association of Indiana. Elsie was a devoted educator, teaching, for 42 years, in Lexington, Indiana, and later made her home in Jonesville, Louisiana, where she generously volunteered her time in local hospitals. Outside of her professional life, she found joy in tending to her beautiful rose garden and enjoyed trips to the casino.
Along with her parents, Elsie is preceded in death by her husband of over 25 years, Harvey Manion; her sisters, Mary Frances Pence Fulkerson and Rachel Pence Brown, and her brothers, Robert “Bob,” Joseph “C.J.,” and William “Bill” Pence.
Those left to cherish her memory include her stepchildren, Kim Falvey and Jim Manion, her primary caregiver and niece, Joyce Logsdon, and many devoted nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Carmel Home with Fr. Ray Clark officiating. Visitation will take place on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 9:00 am until the time of service at Carmel Home. Burial to follow the service at St. Williams Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made payable to Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph at 8001 Cummings Rd, Maple Mount, KY 42356 and Carmel Home at 2501 Old Hartford Rd, Owensboro, KY 42303. Envelopes will be available during visitation.
Haley McGinnis Funeral Home & Crematory is honored and privileged to be entrusted with the care of Elsie Pence Manion. Please leave condolence messages for the family of Mrs. Manion and sign their virtual guestbook at www.haleymcginnis.com.