Iva L. Short Purnell
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Iva L. Short Purnell, 98, of Du Quoin, passed away at 2:40 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at the Fairview Nursing Center in Du Quoin.
Iva was born March 1, 1914 at Tamaroa, Ill., the second daughter of Harry Herbert and Mary Love (Jackson) Heape.
On Feb. 23, 1936, she married Lester Short of the Shakerag Community, west of Du Quoin, at Tamaroa, Ill. They had three daughters. After 51 years of marriage, Lester preceded her in death on Feb. 7, 1987. She then married Harry Purnell and they lived in Mt. Vernon, Ill. for a few years. That was the only time she ever lived out of Perry County. He preceded her in death.
She was one of the oldest members of the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin, where she was a member of the Euzelian Sunday School Class. She had served as a Sunday School teacher and loved being a member of the choir.
A few years were spent working at school cafeterias, Marshall Browning Hospital and Fairview Nursing Center. She and Lester also built and operated the Du Quoin Dog Motel. Making quilts and embroidery work were her hobbies and she continued to embroidery the past few years while at Fairview Nursing Center. She will be remembered for her wonderful homemade ice cream.
She will be missed by two daughters - Doris Elkins and husband Jim Jr. of Mesa, Ariz., and Janice Dennis Jaroski of Du Quoin, son-in-law - Roger Porter of Du Quoin, eight grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Two special sisters-in-law have been very close to her - Lois Short Hirsch of Du Quoin and Gladys Short Stanley of Tamaroa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, one daughter - Lora Lea Porter, who passed away in 1993, one grandson - Nick Porter, two great grandchildren - Michael and Nicole Morris and one sister - Mildred Heape Blakley.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 7, 2012 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Gerald Wright officiating.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the Fairview Nursing Center Activity Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.