Obituary of Bernice Harrelson

Funeral services for Ellen Bernice Harrelson of Eolia, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry, MO. Rev. Barry Pfister, pastor of the Eolia Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery in Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Ivy, Jim Scott, Mark Terrell, Justin Sanford, Ruel Platt and Tony Gianini. Mrs. Harrelson, 67, passed away Friday morning, June 20, 2014 at Pike County Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, MO. Born December 10, 1946 in Quincy, IL, she was the daughter of James Andrew and Anna Beatrice Niffen Leeds. Her mother married Louis Duncan when Bernice was very young and she considered him her Dad. She was united in marriage on July 14, 1979 in Elsberry to George James Shaffer. After only fifteen years of marriage, George died suddenly on October 6, 1994 from an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Bernice worked for many years as a seamstress in area garment factories. She was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, Floor Stewards. Bernice was married again on May 13, 2000 in Eolia to James Floyd Harrelson. She was active in the VFW Auxiliary Post #4539 in Eolia, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #549 in Clarksville, MO. Besides her husband, George Shaffer, she was preceded in death by her parents, James Leeds and Louis & Anna Duncan; one brother, Ernie Leeds; and four sisters: Rosemary Osborne, Jeannie Buchanan, Evie Rouch and Jen Buck. Survivors include her beloved husband of fourteen years, Jim Harrelson of Eolia; her son, Joe Hunter and his wife, Nancy, of Winfield, MO; one daughter, Erin Toeniskoetter and her husband, Ron, of Elsberry; one step-son, David Harrelson and his wife, Nancy, of Eolia; one step-daughter, Amy Gronek of Eolia; and ten grandchildren: Ian and Mariann Hunter, Chelsea and Chad Toeniskoetter, Paige, Jenna Tylie Gronek and Megan, Jacob and Tyler Harrelson. She also leaves one brother, Tommy Duncan and his wife, Susan, of Louisiana, MO; many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2014 at the Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or the Charity of the Donor's Choice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343.