Eloise Presley Woodson

Eloise Presley Woodson, 80, was born on December 13, 1925 in Crownpoint, NM to Kelsey and Sadie (Pitt) Presley. She passed away in Great Falls on July 22, 2006 from complications of a recent stroke.

She was raised in Crownpoint and Gallup, NM and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1947 with a degree in fine arts. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She worked as a landscape designer in Denver after graduation and worked as a geologic draftsman in Scottsbluff, NB. In Scottsbluff, she met her future husband, Fred Woodson, and they married in Denver on May 19, 1956. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past May. They have one daughter, Carol (Bill) Bronson, and two grandsons, Ben and Matt.

She was active in many volunteer activities including serving as the Christian Education Director for First Presbyterian and St. Andrew Presbyterian Churches in Billings. She was also an Elder in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. She taught synchronized swimming in Billings for 43 years, retiring in December 2004. She loved gardening, photography, crossword puzzles and traveling with her husband. Deeply committed to her grandsons, she enjoyed spending time with them, especially in Bigfork, MT teaching them how to fish.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Margarite Lambert, Ruth Kirk, Lorene Lewis and Virginia Wilson and brothers Thomas and Donald Presley. Survivors include her sister, Edna Anderson and her brother, Gary Presley.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 28 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 100 North 24th Street West, Billings, MT.