May 24, 1924 – April 10, 2026

Elsie Gertrude (Buck) Hendrickson, joyfully stepped into heaven on April 10, 2026, at the age of 101. Although Elsie is no longer with us on this earth, she is alive and well with Jesus, and in our hearts and the hearts of many she touched.  Elsie was born in Houston, Texas on May 24, 1924, to Pitman A. Buck, Sr. and Katherine W. Kaule, who preceded her in death. 

Elsie graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Texas. After graduation she moved to Galveston where her father, stepmother, Theta, and sisters, Mildred and Blanche, lived.  While in Galveston, she worked at the Old Red Building that later became part of the UT Medical Center.   

Elsie loved the water and riding horses on Galveston beach.  She loved music, singing and dancing and was the life of the party, according to her sisters.  Legend has it that Elsie and her sisters literally wore out the rug at the family’s home dancing.  Elsie also was very interested in drawing when she was younger and had quite a talent. Many of her family members proudly display framed copies of her beautiful sketches in their homes.

She later met and married John E. Hendrickson while in Galveston. They married on June 21, 1946, and shortly thereafter moved to Texas City, where they lived for many years. John worked for American National Insurance and as a photographer for the Galveston Daily News. Previously, John was a combat photographer for the US Army during WWII, stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Elsie and John moved to Village on the Park Independent Living Community in Friendswood, Texas in 1999. Although John passed away in 2003, Elsie has continued to live at the Village for a total of 27 years. She enjoyed worship and wonderful Christian community at the Friendswood Church of Christ.

While Elsie did not have children of her own, she had many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.  Elsie knew every niece and nephew’s birthday and would always send a birthday card. Elsie had an amazing memory, despite some medical issues, and she could tell you about many family members from WAY back! 

Elsie was famous for her coconut cake she would bake for the annual Buck family reunions and family Thanksgiving gatherings.  She believed in only making desserts “from scratch” and would ask if the dessert you made was from scratch!

In addition to her parents and husband, Elsie is preceded in death by her sisters Mildred Spicer, Blanche Hershey, Thelma Williams, and Maudell Stephens, as well as her brother Pitman Buck, Jr.  She leaves behind many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

Elsie’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Lisa Sullivan and Susan Khonsari, Elsie’s dear friends from Friendswood Church of Christ, who took incredible, tender care of Elsie over many years. These two friends (more like family) have been the “hands and feet of Jesus” to Elsie. We are forever grateful.

Our family would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Aveya and Alexis Ely, the dedicated caregivers who cared for Elsie with kindness, dignity, and compassion in her final days here on earth. We appreciate you more than words can say. We also want to thank the staff of Essential Hospice for your compassionate care and support.

Elsie will surely be missed by her loving family and friends. We rejoice in the assurance, however, that she is with her Lord and Savior in heaven!

Friends and family are cordially invited to the funeral service at 9:15 AM on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Friendswood Church of Christ, 2051 W Parkwood Ave Friendswood, TX 77546. Burial will follow at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery, 7301 Memorial St, Hitchcock, TX 77563.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Elsie’s life through a memorial gift to:

Friendswood Church of Christ

https://www.fwdcofc.org

Or: Salvation Army

https://give.salvationarmytexas.org/