Ella May Cunningham, 98, of East Peoria formerly of Bartonville, passed away on Thursday September 19, 2024 at Accolade Healthcare of East Peoria. She was born on May 16, 1926 in Pekin, a daughter of Charles Eugene Jenkins and Pearle (Miskimen) Jenkins.
Ella married James Earl Crank on July 18, 1948 in Bartonville. He preceded her in death on June 2, 1976 in Bartonville. She married Lyle Cunningham on September 9, 1977 in Bartonville. He preceded her in death on September 26, 1998 in East Peoria.
Ella was also preceded in death by her parents; her son, James "Dick"; grandson, Kevin Alan: two daughter-in-laws, Kathleen Crank and Jackie Crank; two sisters, Mary Stuaan Anderson and Cora Ann Jenkins; and two brothers, Charles Eugene Jenkins and James Wilbur Jenkins.
She is survived by her two children, Victoria Crank of East Peoria and Michael Crank of Atlanta; step-children, Lyle (Diane) Cunningham Jr. of Metamora and Leilani Colson of Maryville, TN; two grandchildren, Rob (Heather) Kneer of Washington and Kati (Ryan) Sheley of Lincoln: 8 great- grandchildren; two sisters, Estaline Stewart Scheilein and Catherine (Mel) Allen of Peoria; one sister-in-law, Pat Jenkins; and several nieces and nephews.
Ella graduated from OSF School of Nursing. While in nursing school she was a nurse cadet. After graduation she was the head of the OBGYN department at OSF and later at Methodist hospital. It was while working there she met Dr. Robert Hart and went to work at his office until her retirement. Ella and Dr. Hart was the first Dr and nurse at the St. Jude affiliate in Peoria.
After their retirement, Ella and her husband traveled and spent their winters in Ft. Meyers Florida. They were members of Zion Lutheran Church and she played in the Bell choir.
She was a lifelong member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Bartonville, where she was a member of Lydia Circle. Ella was a member of the Red Hat Society and a past secretary of the State Council of Illinois Square Dance Association. She loved reading, crafting, gardening, stamp collecting and spending time with her great grandchildren. Ella also loved to collect coins but kids would remove her coins from her collection books to pay for ice cream from the ice cream cart.
Cremation has been entrusted to the Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel. There will be a private graveside service at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Bartonville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church at https://www.bethelbartonville.org
Online condolences may be shared with Ella’s family at www.Davison-Fulton-BartonvilleChapel.com
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