Elsie Marie Darrah, 73, Nortonville, KS, passed away, Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, KS.

A parish rosary will be recited at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 21, 2015 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Nortonville.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Church Cemetery.   The  O’Trimble Funeral Home, 329 Main St., PO Box 267, Nortonville, KS 66060 is in charge of the arrangements.  Memorial contributions in memory of Elsie are suggested to Parkinson’s Disease Research and may be sent to the funeral home.   Condolences may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com

Elsie Marie Starcher was born on March 9, 1941 in Archie, Arkansas, the daughter of Victor and Gola (Ingram)Starcher. Elsie graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1959 and from St. Mary’s College in Leavenworth in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree in business.  Elsie had also honorably served her country in the United States Air Force from 1959-1960.  Elsie worked for the State of Kansas as Inspector General for Juvenile Justice, retiring in 2002.  Elsie’s love of horses was very evident as she had been a breeder of Tennessee Walking Horses for over 40 years.   Elsie was Director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association, member of the American Quarter Horse, Paint Horse, Morgan Horse, Saddle Bred Horse and Fox Trot Horse Associations.  Her hobbies included Equine and Color Genetics Research and writing magazine articles.  

Elsie and Carl G. Darrah were married in 1963 in Excelsior Springs, MO.  Carl preceded Elsie in death on July 20, 1992.  Survivors include a brother, Henry Starcher, Warsaw, Mo; sisters, Edith Fajdetich, Overland Park, KS and Shirley White, Longview, TX.