Elsie Swartout

Asheville - Elsie Mae Rusfeldt Swartout, 80, went home peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday April, 22, 2011. A native of Highland Park, MI, Ms. Swartout had resided in Buncombe County since 1990. She attended the Business College of Fargo, ND. She was a member of the First Christian Church, as well as the Red Hat Society. Her love of music and reading carried into her later years. She had a wonderful sense of humor, was well loved by family and friends, and will be greatly missed. She believed that at death, the physical body returns to dust, and the soul of the believer is welcomed into heaven. She believed what the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Her prayer would be that all would receive Gods gift of eternal life with Him, as stated in John 3:16. Ms. Swartout was the daughter of the late Laurence Eugene and Jewel Morgan Rusfeldt. She was also preceded in death by an infant child, Baby Rusfeldt; and a brother, Albert Rusfeldt. Surviving are her children: Linda Carillet and husband Paul of Candler, Debra Welch and husband Harry of Matthews, and Jerry Swartout of Asheville; grandchildren: Christopher Welch, Angela Welch, and Tiffany Ashworth; brother, Ernest Rusfeldt of Tacoma, WA; sister, Jessie Himmerich and husband Mel of Tacoma, WA; and two nieces and their families. Memorial services will be held at 12 PM Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the First Christian Church on Enka Lake Road, with Pastor Tom Everton officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center is assisting the Swartout family.