Leona Mae Grissom's Obituary
Leona Mae (Shrider) Grissom, 97, left the bonds of this earth on Saturday, March 11, 2006. She was born in Coles County (rural Oilfield), on January 24, 1909, the daughter of Levi and Etta Blanche (McCurdy) Shrider. As a young girl she received Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the Casey Christian Church. She graduated with the Class of 1927 from Casey High School. Leona married Noble Neal Grissom on August 1, 1928 in Toledo, Illinois. Eleven children were born to this union. He preceded her in death on May 12, 1968. She went to work at the Casey Shoe Factory in 1949 when the youngest of their children started school. After 25 years of loyal service to the company, she retired in 1974. As one can imagine with such a large household, she was an exemplary homemaker, an accomplished seamstress and an excellent cook. Her banana pudding and cinnamon rolls remain unmatched by anyone. She was also an avid reader when time permitted, especially in her later years. Leona's life was spent in total devotion to her family. They were the joy of her life and she the joy of theirs. She was a tower of strength, a port of safety in all of life's battles and storms that came their way. They count it a great blessing to have been able to return a small portion of her unconditional love and devotion by caring for her these past few years. Leona is survived by Dorothy Jeanne (Harvey) Ring of Westfield; Juanita McBride of Westfield; Thomas L. Grissom of Casey; June McCullough of Casey; Richard (Joanne) Grissom of Charleston; Shirley Field of Joliet; Kay (Jim) Hunsaker of Hidalgo; Elizabeth Richards of Robinson; and Evelyn (Bill) Roan of Hidalgo; 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, James Sylvester; infant daughter, Etta Mae; infant son, Maurice Ray; sister, Dorothy Grissom; great-grandchildren Megan Paul, Christopher McCullough, and Caleb and Jordan Hunsaker and two great-great-grandchildren, Izak Guzman and Taylor Ray McCullough. Services will be at the Markwell Funeral Home in Casey Thursday, March 16 at 2 p.m. with Brother Bill Roan officiating. Burial will be in the Casey Cumberland Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 15, 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Lincolnland Hospice, 700 Broadway Ave. East, Suite 9, Mattoon, IL 61938 or Kline Memorial Library, 307 E. Main St., Casey, IL 62420. To Our Mother: Nothing could be more beautiful than the memories we have of you. To us you were someone special, God must have thought so too. All our lives we will miss you, though the years may come and go. In our hearts you will live forever, because we love you so! SERVICES Visitation Wednesday, March 15, 2006 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Markwell Funeral Home 200 N Central Ave Casey, IL 62420 Service Thursday, March 16, 2006 2:00 PM Markwell Funeral Home 200 N Central Ave Casey, IL 62420
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