Elizabeth "Gertie" Travelstead

Elizabeth Gertrude Travelstead, but known to many as Gertie, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026, in Carmi, Illinois. Born on December 23, 1942, in White County, Illinois, Gertie led a life marked by a strong will, unyielding work ethic, and a fiery spirit that you'd never forget.

To know Gertie was truly to love her. She earned a reputation as the “New Haven legend”—the oldest resident in the area, whose presence was both felt and cherished throughout the community. Gertie was outspoken. She never hesitated to tell you how she felt—if she loved you, you knew it, and if she didn’t, you knew that as well. Her honesty and vigor gave her a magnetic quality; once you met Gertie, you never forgot her.

 Gertie’s hands were never idle. She worked many years as a dietician at the nursing home. She often helped out in the kitchen at her local American Legion. Known as a Jack of all trades, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do. She found great joy in being outdoors, always keeping herself busy, whether tending to her lawn or enjoying the simple pleasure of mowing and weed eating. Her love for the land and picking and shelling her own pecans was a hobby she loved.

Gertie leaves behind a loving family that she loved dearly. She is survived by her son, Robert (Janice) Travelstead; her granddaughter, Callie (Drake) Miller; and her great-granddaughter, Krislynn Miller. Her memory is also carried on by her nephew, Terry (Norma) Travelstead; her nieces, Margaret Ann Reickert, Tracy (Mike) Steele, Wilma Burnett, and Jennifer Steele and kids; as well as by Josh (Ashley) Davis and kids, Uncle Johnny, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, Joseph T. Travelstead, and her mother, Sarah Margaret Travelstead. She is also reunited with her brothers, James Gilbert, Jack Travelstead, Thomas Travelstead, Harvey Pete Travelstead, and Joe Travelstead, along with her sisters, Anna Mae Travelstead, Wilma Jean Tragesar, Fannie Pearl Burnett, and Florence Ethel Travelstead.

Gertie’s legacy is one of resilience, hard work, and the joy from life’s everyday moments. She will be sorely missed but fondly remembered—not just as a loved one, coworker, or neighbor, but as an unforgettable individual whose impact will never fade from the hearts of those she leaves behind.