ELOUISE MARTHA HANSFORD

Johnston City-Elouise Martha Hansford 85, of Johnston City passed away peacefully at 7:03 P.M. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Services will be held on Saturday February 19, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home of Johnston City with Rev. Marlin Otte officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Elouise was born on July 15, 1925 in Rockford the daughter of Elmer and Lenore (Meyer) Speener. She married William Hansford on August 23, 1947 in Elkhart, IN. together they shared almost 60 years of marriage before his death on May 14, 2007.

Elouise grew up in Elkhart, IN and graduated from Augustana Hospital School of Nursing in April 1947. While in nurses training she was a Nurse Cadet with the war effort. After her marriage she moved to Southern Illinois where she worked as a nurse for almost 40 years and retired from the Marion VA Medical Center after 20 years of service as a surgical nurse.

She belonged to many organizations over the years, including Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Order of the Eastern star where she was a Past Worthy Matron, and Association of Operating Room Nurses. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Marion.

She is survived by three daughters, Cindy Smith and husband Ed of Carterville, Billie Anne George and husband Ed of Paris, and Carol Piland and husband John of Johnston City; one son, Benjie Hansford of Johnston City; eight grandchildren, Chris Smith and wife Missy, Cathy Blythe and husband Gabe, Jennifer McGraw and husband Patrick, Eddie George, Carrie Powers and husband Jake, Billy Hansford, Amy Piland and fiancé Matt McKendree, and Cole Piland; seven great grandchildren, Macie Blythe, Marshall Blyth, Lily Smith, Zander Smith, Aidan McGraw, Hannah Powers and Alexis Powers; two sisters, Romanie Speener of Elkhart, IN and Lucille Hess of Colon, MI; a sister-in-law, Delores Rix of Marion; several special nieces and nephews and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband William; infant son, William Gregory; stepmother, Mary Speener, sister, Frances Molinder, brother, Camiel Speener; and daughter-in-law, Jeannie Hansford.