Minnie Ellard, 87

Minnie Lillian Ellard, age 87, of Mendon, died Monday July 15, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Browntown, VA on June 30, 1926 the daughter of Weaver and Gladys (Thornhill) Clem. She later moved to Washington D.C. where she attended school and worked as a secretary for the Civil Defense Department. Minnie was married to Howard Leo Ellard on Sep. 18, 1944 in Kalamazoo. They moved to Mendon in 1970. Minnie worked as the receptionist and secretary for Dr. Joseph Kincaid in Kalamazoo, was a member of the Three Rivers Assembly of God, and most recently attended the White Pigeon Church of Christ.

Minnie is survived by two daughters, Sandra (Fred) McCormick of Mendon and Deborah (Kenneth) Flanegan of Parchment; five grandchildren, Patrick McCormick, Mathew (Missy) McCormick, Major Andrew (Crista) McCormick, Michael Erin Flanegan, and Jeffrey Howard Flanegan; eight great-grandchildren, Mollie, Meagan, Madilyn, Nathan, Joshua, Caleb, Ryan, and Sierra McCormick; granddaughter in law, Lori McCormick; and sister, Evelyn Higuera of Browntown, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Howard in 1998; sister, Mildred Mathews; and two brothers, Ralph and Brian Clem.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday,  July 19, 2013 in the chapel at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park South, 3941 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008 with Rev. Barry Edds, Pastor of the White Pigeon Church of Christ officiating. Memorials may be directed to either the White Pigeon Church of Christ, or to the Three Rivers Assembly of God. Condolences may be left for the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com