Elise Prine Finch

Elise Prine Finch, a resident of Monroe, passed away on January 17, 2024, at the age of 90.  She was a Christian, a secretary and an active volunteer who enjoyed cooking, sewing and crafts as well as fishing, travelling and working at the family farm near Kilbourne with Bob, her husband of 64 years.

The funeral service for Elise will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, January 22, 2024, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Road, Monroe, with the Reverend Dr. Alan Miller officiating. A graveside service will be held at the Kilbourne Cemetery in West Carroll Parish at 2:00 PM that afternoon. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Sunday, January 21, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe.

Elise was born in Oak Grove, Louisiana, in 1933.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert H. “Bob” Finch; her parents, L.E. Prine and Mary Ethel Burchfield Prine; and brothers H.M., David, and Kenneth Prine.

She is survived by her brother Lavelle Prine and wife Ethelyn, sister Laverne Smith, and sister Marie Janes and husband Norman.  She is also survived by her sons Marshall Stephen Finch and wife Brenda, and Dr. Robert Hardin Finch and wife, Kathryn.  She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Christopher Finch, Jennifer Finch, Melanie Mauldin, Kristina Mauldin, and Tara Simpson; and three great-grandchildren: Cameron Porter, Sophie Simpson, and Elise Simpson.

Elise graduated from Kilbourne High School in 1951.  She received her diploma in office training from Draughon’s Business College, San Antonio, TX, in 1952.  As the family moved due to Bob’s Air Force career, Elise served as secretary at Southern Baptist churches in Alaska and Texas, and for the Sears company in Virginia.  When Bob retired from the Air Force in 1969, the family moved to Monroe.  Within two months, Elise was working as secretary at North Monroe Baptist Church.  In 1975, she became the pastor’s secretary at First Baptist Church, Monroe, and served in that position until she retired.  Elise was active in the Northeast Louisiana Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries and served as president of that group in the 1980s.

Elise was a devout Christian who had been baptized twice.  At the age of 10, she was baptized in the Boeuf River after making her profession of faith at the Goodwill Church of God.   When her family moved to Kilbourne a few years later, she joined the Baptist church there and was baptized again.   Elise enjoyed singing in the church choir, directing children’s choirs, and volunteering in the nursery.  She was active in WMU/Women on Mission and served in leadership of that group at her church as well as on the WMU Council of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  Elise served on the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board from 1998 to 2004.   Elise volunteered with the Red Cross, the Lions Club and the Baptist children’s home.  She organized blood drives and provided English language tutoring.   She lived her faith.

The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Morgan, Elara Caring, and the staff at Avalon Nursing Home for the care they provided for Elise.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home or donate blood to your local blood center.