Elizabeth "Sissy" Abshire

Elizabeth “Sissy” Abshire, 83, of Huntington, WV passed away from causes related to dementia surrounded by her family in Columbus, Ohio on December 30th. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 11, at 11:00 a.m. at Beard Mortuary. Burial will follow in Ridgelawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.  Elizabeth was born June 23, 1935 with significant medical issues. She spent much of her childhood at the Alfred I. duPont Institute for Children, where she had over 100 surgeries by the time she was 18. She spoke fondly of her time spent at this hospital. In spite of everything that Elizabeth went through early in her life, she never felt sorry for herself and embraced all that life had to offer.  Elizabeth was known and loved by many in Huntington.  Her smile and laugh lit up anyone’s day who met or knew her.  She didn’t know a stranger.  She treated everyone with dignity and respect. Elizabeth worked hard as a single Mom to provide for her only child, Lori.  She cleaned houses for one dollar an hour. She took care of elderly relatives in their time of need. You could find Ginny, Elizabeth and Lori on Saturday mornings going to garage sales.  Elizabeth always made sure that Lori was taken care of and that school was a focus.  Even though Elizabeth was not able to graduate from high school due to her medical challenges, she knew that Lori’s education was her number one priority. Elizabeth found true joy in her grandchildren.  She was so proud of the young ladies they had become. She lived a life full of love and laughter.  She loved to play cards, and she loved to dance more than anything.  You could find her and Clay at the Milton Volunteer Fire Department on Friday nights at the senior dance.  Elizabeth loved dancing with Clay. Left to honor and remember her love are her daughter, Lori Abshire, and daughter in-law, Aimee Bonner, along with her grandchildren, Victoria and Kayla Bonner of Columbus, Ohio, the love of her life Clay Watts, her best friend Ginny Arthur, and her little dog Penny, her brother in-law Don Hysell, niece Lynrae Boylan and husband David Boylan and great nieces and nephew of Gonzales, LA,  her sister in-law, Jean Slack, and nephews Tripp and Eric Slack of Stuarts Draft, VA. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents Ernie and Irene Slack, her brother Ernie Slack Jr. and sister Linda Hysell. …in lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made in Elizabeth Abshire’s memory to the Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.  Contributions should be mailed to:

The Nemours Fund for Children's Health

Shands House

1600 Rockland Road

Wilmington, DE  19803