Obituary of Elizabeth Lee Kirksey

Elizabeth Lee Wilson Kirksey Born May 8, 1935 in Glasgow, Scotland to James and Mary Wilson. Died July 8, 2010 in Highland Village, Texas, after a lengthy illness, surrounded by the love of her family. Elizabeth is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, Charles Kirksey; son, James Kirksey; daughter, Sue Kirksey Prue; sisters, Mamie Wilson Allen and Jean Wilson Riney; grandchildren, Ivy Prue Steputis, Livea Prue, Savanah Prue King, Tovah Prue, Sandra Kirksey, Brent Kirksey, Sean Kirksey and Leah Kirksey Berry; and great-grandchildren Aidan Steputis, Lily Steputis and Cason Prue. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Wilson, and siblings Jim (Jimmock) Wilson, Edward Wilson, Teddy Wilson, John Wilson, and Jean Wilson. Elizabeth grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, surviving the air raids of WWII. In 1954, Liz and her family immigrated to the United States on the Queen Mary, casting anchor in New York City before settling in Santa Cruz, California. Liz's first job was working as an usherette at the historic Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz. In 1955, she began work at the Wm. Wrigley Company where she was affectionately known as "Scottie." There she met the love of her life, Chuck, in 1956; the couple married that same year. She retired from Wrigley's after 32 years of dedicated service. Elizabeth was known affectionately as Liz, Beau, Betty, and Scottie. Her humor was legendary and her laugh completely infectious. A love of travel came easily to Liz, with frequent trips to Hawaii and her native Scotland to visit family, as well as weekend excursions to Laughlin or Reno to play casino games. She loved watching QVC and reading magazines. Liz was a member in good standing of the Italian Catholic Federation. Liz's warmth and frank sincerity endeared her to family and friends. She was loved dearly by all who knew her and is so very missed. May the words of Dougie MacLean's ballad of her homeland bring peace to us in our time of grief. "Let me tell you that I love you That I think about you all the time Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home. But if I should become a stranger Know that it would make me more than sad Caledonia's been everything I've ever had." Services will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA. on Wednesday July 14, 2010 at 2:00 pm. Friends are invited to call at Pacific Gardens Chapel, Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Entombment will follow at Santa Cruz Memorial Park. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to express your condolences and sign the online guest registry.