Eleanor Viola Ellebracht

Eleanor Viola Ellebracht

Eleanor Viola (Kirks) Ellebracht, 75 of Kirksville passed away Wednesday (May 9, 2012) at Boone Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Born April 23, 1937, in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, she was the daughter of Henry Gregory and Tressie Lillian Kirks. On December 17, 1966, in Sidney, Arkansas, she married Pat Ellebracht. Surviving are son Rex Ellebracht and wife Debbie and their children, Marcela, Jessica, and Jenny Ellebracht of Lawrence, Kansas. Also surviving are daughter Elena Asher and husband, Jon Asher, and their son, Brady Douglas Watkins of Shawnee, Kansas. A sister, Lillian Meredith Kirks preceded her in death.

A 1954 graduate of North Little Rock, Arkansas, High School, Mrs. Ellebracht earned a BA degree from Arkansas College, (now Lyon College), Batesville, in 1958. She took additional classes at the University of Arkansas. She received MA in Library Science from George Peabody College for Teachers (Nashville) now (Vanderbilt University) in 1960.

During the 1958-1959 school year, she taught English and World History and served as School Librarian at Sulphur Rock, Arkansas. From 1960-1967, she was assistant librarian at Arkansas State University. She was employed as Reference Librarian at Truman State University from 1967 until she retired in 1997, where she also taught classes in library science.

In Kirksville, Mrs. Ellebracht served terms on the boards of YMCA and Twin Pines Adult Care Center. She was president of Red Barn Community Arts League for two years and president of Quota International. Other Kirksville memberships included Adair County Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, Delta Kappa Gamma, First United Methodist Church, Friends of Adair County Public Library, KALLI, Kirksville Arts Association, P.E.O., (Chapter CZ), Sojourners Club.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday (May 12, 2012) at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Richard Northcutt officiating. Music will be provided by Dianthe Cable, organist and Debbie Ellebracht singing, “Blessed Assurance” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer”. Burial will be in Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Jon Asher, Aaron Capps, Ted Frushour, Bill Lovegreen, Carl Baldwin and Jim Lymer.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church.