Elbert William Hudson, son of Henry O. and Effie May (Muffley) Hudson, was born on October 15, 1929, at Watson, Missouri.
He attended Watson school and graduated in 1948. On November 19, 1953, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Daugherty at the Methodist Church in Glenwood, Iowa. They made their home near Watson and became parents of four children, Daniel Elbert, Deborah May, David Edgar, and Dena Mary Anne, and foster child Bruce Rhoades.
In 1954 Elbert entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for two years. Returning to Watson following the service, he farmed with his father and brother for a short time. Elbert and Mary lived in Indiana for awhile, where he worked for Delta Airlines. In 1959 he began farming on his own, and worked for Missouri Beef Packers until it closed. He went back to farming and later worked at Golden Valley and Con Agra Foods in Hamburg, Iowa. Most recently he worked for LeRoy Bowman Farms in Hamburg.
Elbert was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite member with the Valley of St. Joseph Moila Temple Shrine, Masonic member of the Blue Lodge of Rock Port, and a past patron of the Order of Eastern Star Rock Port and Fairfax, Chapter 373 O.E.S. He was a member of the Ralph Greer American Legion, Post #49.
The last few years his greatest joy was spending time with LeRoy Bowman driving his big John Deere rig farming and taking road trips with his brother Deb. He also enjoyed visiting his nephews in Indiana and his cousin Luther Hudson, Jr. in south Missouri.
Elbert passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Elbert was preceded in death by his parents; son, Daniel Elbert; brothers, James, Donald and Delbert; sisters, Mary Collins and Beulah Welch; two step grandsons, Larry Jensen and Tylor Comstock; and foster son, Bruce Rhoades.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary, of their home; children, Deborah Hudson and husband Steve Brindle, Rock Port, David and partner Sheila Houston, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dena Hudson-Wennihan and husband Michael, Tarkio; nine grandsons, Gregory Hudson, Bryan and Eric Krutz, Troy Wennihan, Keenan Cohn, Robert Stark, Edward Jensen, Brett Wennihan, and Blake Jensen; seven granddaughters, Kindl Cohn, Taylor Hudson, Sheri Comstock, Erica Snyder,  Ashley Liechti, Ambera Pearson, Lashawn Jensen; and two great-grandchildren, Anden Cohn and Chase Krutz.
Services will be on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the High Creek Church in Watson. Interment will follow in High Creek Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Masonic Lodge or High Creek Cemetery. Care entrusted to Chamberlain Funeral Home, Rock Port. Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainfuneral.com.