What an amazing woman--sweet Grandma Eliza went to be with her Savior on Thursday, November 11th. Grandma was such a special person who had wonderful gifts--she was an avid quilter (which everyone in her family gets to appreciate by the beautiful quilts she made for each of us), a wonderful cook and baker (her hot rolls and goulash were on the top of my list), a lover of cards and presents, and she was a joy to talk to (one of her favorite things to do!). In high school I did a report on Grandma's life where I interviewed her about all of the things that she had seen in her life and how everything around her had changed so much. It was titled "From Eliza to Elizabeth". I'll have to pull it out and scan it to share. In 99 years Grandma saw SO much...and lived through many challenges...and through all of it she remained a strong, loving, spunky, kind and patient mother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, and aunt. She is so dearly loved by all who knew her and we rejoice that we will once again be reunited with her for eternity!
Mmmm...those hot rolls...delicious!
Grandma opening presents on Christmas at her house on the farm where she lived with Grandpa since 1935.
Grandma explaining the quilt she made for Craig and my wedding present.
Grandma at our wedding.
More presents :)!
Four generations...Grandma (1911), Dad (1942), Me (1979), Hannah (2008)
Visitation will be held from 4:30–7:00 p.m., Sunday, November 14, at the Myers Funeral Home in Wellsville.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 15, at the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Wellsville. Rev. Randall Cone and Rev. Mark Spence will officiate. Mrs. Margaret Scott will serve as organist.
Burial will be in the Wellsville Cemetery.
Mrs. Burkhalter was born September 8, 1911, in rural Wellsville, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Ellen Brown Blackshaw.
On March 2, 1935, in Middletown, Mo., she married Erwin Cooper Burkhalter. They shared 66 wonderful years of marriage together before he preceded her in death on July 29, 2001.
Eliza had lived on their farm in rural Wellsville since 1935, before entering Golden Living Center on June 6, 2007.
She was a homemaker and a housewife. Eliza had been employed as the head cook at Wellsville-Middletown R-1 High School from 1965-1975.
Eliza was a member of the Wellsville United Methodist-Presbyterian Church, where she had served as an Elder. She was also a member of the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church Women, United Methodist-Presbyterian Quilting Club and a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Group, where she had served as district President.
She was also a member of the Happy Workers Club and a member of the Wellsville Cemetery Association, where she had served as past president.
Liza enjoyed quilting and sewing and had made numerous quilts for her family. She also loved to garden.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles William “Bill” and Mary Ann Burkhalter, of Wellsville and Donald Erwin and Susan Burkhalter, of Columbia; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Sue and Dale Branstetter, of Pinckney, Mich.; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; in addition to several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Eliza was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Erwin Cooper Burkhalter; daughter, Janice Fern Burkhalter; brother, Samuel Henry Blackshaw and three sisters, Elizabeth Ann “Bessie” Cobb, Vera Fern Whitehead and Amy Ellen Flynn.
