Born Elsie Winona Donahue, the daughter of Peter and Grace (Boicourt) Donahue. She married her first husband, Elias Washington Strickland, on 21 May 1925 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas.

According to a letter from Elsie's niece Carol Laizure Minor to Marlin Marshall (30 July 1992), Elsie's original middle name was "Mae" or "May," but changed it to "Winona" because of teasing she received from some boys.

Elsie was an avid poetry writer, and was widely published. She self-published at least one collection of poems. She also wrote under the pseudonym "Sunny Sue."

1910 Federal Census, 21 April 1910, Precinct No. 5, Enumeration District No. 174, Montague Co., Texas:
Peter J. Donahue, head, age 41, born in Missouri [sic!], both parents born in Ireland
Grace Donahue, wife, age 34, married 14 years, born in Kansas (father in Illinois, mother in England
Ralph, son, age 13, born in Kansas
Ruth, daughter, age 12, born in Kansas
Harold, son, age 11, born in Kansas
Edna, daughter, age 9, born in Texas
Clyde, son, age 8, born in Texas
Elsie, daughter, age 6, born in Kansas
Pearl, daughter, age 5, born in Texas
Edwin, son, age 4, born in Texas
Roy, son, age 2, born in Texas

1915 Bonner Springs, Wyandotte Co., Kansas Census:
P.J. Donahue, 49, born in Ireland
Grace, 39, born in Tonganoxie, Kansas
Ralph, 18, born in Bonner Springs, Kansas
Ruth, 17, born in Bonner Springs, Kansas
Harold, 16, born in Bonner Springs, Kansas
Edna, 14, born in Galveston, Texas
Clyde, 13, born in Beaumont, Texas
Elsie, 11, born in Tyler, Texas
Pearl, 10, born in Tyler
Edwin, 8, born in Ringgold, Texas
Roy, 6, born in Ringgold, Texas

1920 Federal Census, 343 Allcut, Bonner Springs, Wyandotte Co., Kansas, 2 January 1920:
Peter J., head, 52, house painter, born in Ireland, both parents in Ireland, immigration year 1917 [sic!]
Lillie G. Donahue, wife, 44, born in Kansas
Ralph, son, 22, born in Kansas
Ruth, daughter, 21, born in Kansas
Harold, son, 20, born in Kansas
Edna, daughter, 19, born in Texas
Clyde, son, 17, born in Texas
Elsie, daughter, 16, born in Texas
Pearl, daughter, 15, born in Texas
Edwin, son, 13, born in Texas
Roy, son, 11, born in Texas

1925 Kansas State Census, 343 Alcutt St., "Yates Center, Woodson Co.", Kansas [ERROR IN CENSUS INDEX: SHOULD BE BONNER SPRINGS, WYANDOTTE CO.]
Mrs. Grace Donahue, 49, head, widowed
Ruth Donahue, 26, daughter, single, born in Kansas
Harold Donahue, 25, son, single, born in Kansas
Clyde Donahue, 24, single, born in Texas
Elsie Donahue, 21, single, born in Texas
Pearl Donahue, 20, single, born in Texas
Edwin Donahue, 18, single, born in Texas
Roy Donahue, 16, single, born in Texas

1930 Federal Census, Ecorse Village, Ecorse Township, Wayne Co., Michigan, 3 April 1930:
Elias Strickland, head, 28
Elsie Strickland, wife, 26
Kenneth, son, age 2-2/12

1940 Federal Census, Harbor Beach, Huron Co., Michigan (228 North 5th Street), 3 May 1940:
Elias Strickland, 38, head, 8th grade education, born in Kansas, lived in Wyandotte Co., Kansas in1935
Elsie Strickland, 36, wife, completed 4 years of high school, born in Texas
Kenneth Strickland, 12, son, completed 5th grade, born in Michigan
Keith Strickland, son, 10, completed 3rd grade, born in Michigan