Mrs. Elise Bunch Heard Mrs. Elise Bunch Heard, 91, of Marshall passed away September 14, 2010 in Marshall. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday September 17,2010in the chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Rev. Ed Robb III and Rev. Rodger Garbs officiating. Interment will follow in Algoma Cemetery under the direction of Downs Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thursday September 16, 2010 at the funeral home. Mrs. Heard was born August 07, 1919 in Marshall to J.R. Bunch and Laura Gowanlock Bunch. She married Cleveland Heard on June 25, 1939 in Marshall at Summit United Methodist Church. She and her son and her husband where co-owners of Heard Furniture Co. Elsie was a graduate of Marshall High School and president of her senior class. She was active in the P.T.A., president of Robert E. Lee Elementary School P.T.A., officer of the City Council P.T.A., and was a volunteer for the Red Cross. Mrs. Heard was also active in her church, was youth Sunday School teacher at Summit United Methodist Church, and a adult teacher of the Ashbury Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church for several years. She was active in the Women Society of the Methodist Church, past president of the Altrusa Club, active in the Lady Lions Club, where she served several years as treasurer and worked with the Cub Scouts as a den mother. She was one of the charter members of the Symphony League, past supporter of the Marshall Symphony, the Regional Arts Council, past member of the Marshall Depot Inc. board, past president of the Literary Club, and Ladies Aux of the Gideons. She is survived by her husband, Cleveland Heard, of Marshall; one son, David Heard and wife Patricia, of Marshall; three granddaughters, Angela Abel and husband Patrick, of Groves, TX, Andrea Spivey and husband Chris, of Burleson, TX, and Trisha Heard, of Marshall; five great grandchildren, Ryan, Riley, and Rachel Abel, of Groves TX and Christian and Kenedy Marie Spivey, of Burleson, TX; three nieces, Joyce Steuer and husband Fred, Alice Clegg and husband Lee and Martha Robb; two nephews, John Bunch and wife Gaynell and Larry Bunch and many cousins, great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Inez Robb and husband Edmund, brother Clifford Bunch and wife Frances; niece, Deanna Bunch and nephews, Jimmy and Philip Bunch, Dr. Edmund Robb, Jr., and Ronnie Robb. Active pallbearers will be John Bunch, Lee Clegg, Fred Steuer, Delmer Heard, Brian Abraham, and Mike Griffis. Honorary pallbearers will be the Ashbury Sunday School Class. The family request memorials be made to the Gideon's, P.O. Box 1855, Marshall, Texas 75671-1855 or Society of St. Stephen at First United Methodist Church. E-mail condolences may be made to the family at downsfuneralhome.com.