Chaney was born in 1882 and graduated from State Teachers' College in 1905, and was appointed a missionary for educational work in Burma in 1910. Elsie married Clarence E. Chaney in 1915. Mr. Chaney became Executive Secretary of the Burma Mission, and Elsie served there as well. She took an active part in the reforms of the city of Rangoon, working with the Vigilance Society, with the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and in the inter-racial Woman's Club of Rangoon. When her husband became President of the Divinity School at Insein (Ranoon), she taught the English and Hygience classes. As World War II began, the Chaneys were sent to Calcutta to help with missionary evacuees and they next went to Assam to help with a variety of needs to the mission community. The Chaneys retired in 1944 and Dr. Chaney died in 1969. Elsie passed away in 1972.