Earl Lorn Eller ^{1 2 3 4}

  General Notes:

Born to Samuel Newton Eller and Lillian Valentine Jerden near Bayle City in rural Southern Illinois, Earl Eller was the only son of the four Eller children. His sister, Edna, Elva and Edith completed the household.
His parents instilled in their children the necessity for a good education to attain a better life. Riding a horse several miles to school every day, Earl was a conscientious student graduating from Ramsey High School valedictorian of the call of 1929.
With diploma in hand, Earl headed for the bug city, where opportunitywas promising for a young man with ambition. He soon found work as a machinist apprentice at Caterpillar Tractor Co. in Peoria.
While living in a boarding house, his roommate Jack Kiel often introduced him to girls. Jack was dating a Miss Erma Slager who had an attractive and unattached cousin, Marjorie Elaine Slager. Jack introduced Earl to Margie and the two couple went on several double dates.
When war broke out in 1942, Earl answered his countries call for able-bodied men to serve. Eller soon found himself in Pearl Harbor as a civil servant working for the Navy as a recovery driver. But the thousands of mile could not separate Earl form his girl back stateside. Ellerreturned to Peoria in 1944 for a brief visit to marry Margie. He soonreturned to Pearl and waited for his bride to follow. He worked for theNavy in Pearl for total of five years.
While there, the Ellers became the proud parents of their first daughter, Earlene Lavern.
After the war, the newlyweds returned to Peoria to set up housekeeping. Shortly after came another daughter Lynne Christine.
Earl found employment with Hiram Walker Distilleries before hiring onwith the Hyster Co. There, Earl worked for more than 30 years as a machinist and tool designer. He was also a member of Illinois Lodge 263,AF&AM, Knight’s Temple and Mohammed Temple, Shrine as well as an activeofficer of the White Shrine.
An avid outdoorsman, Earl spent much of his leisure time in pursuit of his many sporting interests. Hunting and fishing were boyhood pastimes that carried on well into his adulthood. Countless trips to Spooner, Wisconsin provided the opportunity to tangle with musky and pike. He was hard pressed to interest his wife in the sport of fishing untilmuch later in their years of retirement. However, once he succeeded inmaking her an angler, he was never allowed to go fishing again without her.
As a golfer, he enjoyed endless hours on the links with friends and participated in many tournaments.
But always - his love was baseball. Since his youth in Southern Illinois, he enjoyed playing baseball and excelled as a high school player.A devoted St. Louis Cardinal fan, he looked forward to a new season and rarely missed watching or listening to broadcasts of his beloved Redbirds.

OBITUARY
Earl L. Eller - 95
8/6/1912 - 11/16/2007
Mason Funeral Home-Metamora - Earl L. Eller, 95, formerly of Peoria passed away at 6:10pm Friday November 16, 2007 at Snyder Village in Metamora.

He was born on August 6, 1912 in Bayle City, Illinois the son of Samuel N. and Lillian V. Jerden Eller. He married Marjorie Slager on October 12, 1944 in East Peoria.

Surviving is his wife of Metamora, two daughters: Mrs. Earlene (Robert) Leas of Metamora and Mrs. Lynne (Rick) Abernathy of Forsyth, IL. Heis also survived by 5 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren; two sisters Edith Schneider of Cassville, Mo; and Elva VanMierlo of St. Louis, Mo. He was preceded in death by 1 sister.

A machinist he worked for Hyster Co. in Peoria from 1946 until his retirement in 1978. He was a member of Illinois Mason Lodge #263 AF & AM, Scottish Rite Bodies-Valley of Peoria, Mohammed Shrine Temple and the White Shrine all in Peoria. He was also a member of Faith ChristianCenter in Washington.

Graveside Services will be 11:00am Tuesday November 20, 2007 at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria. There will be no visitation. In lieu offlowers memorials may be directed to Snyder Village, 1200 E. PartridgeMetamora IL 61548. Mason Funeral Homes Metamora Chapel is in chargeofarrangements.

Visitor Comments
My sympathy to Marjorie and family. My mom, Anna O'Russa had a room close to Earl at Snyder Village. Over the past year. we would all be inthe hallway in the evenings and visit while enjoying ice cream. Earl was such a dear man. He and my mom would say they were ready to move onto the next world and we would talk about that big step to eternity. My mom died on 11/3. When I visited Earl this last Thursday, I toldhimmy mom had died and would meet him when he moved on. He wasn't responding, but somehow, I know he heard. I hope it gave him comfort andhopein these last days.
Joanne Bloom
11/18/2007 11:16 AM
Our deepet sympathy to you, Marjorie, Earlene, and Lynne, I remember the times when I was little and we would have a reunion down at Uncle Sam's and Aunt Lillie's. soooooooooo many years ago. I also remember you, Marjorie, and Earl and Edith and Elva coming to our home on Fawn Ct. in Mt. Zion after Bessie Kalb's funeral. It is too bad that we drift so far apart and lose contact with each other. Mom (Charlene Eller)is 94 last month. She lives with us and has for over 6 years. She hasdementia but is pleasant and cooperative and knows us. I wish we could come to the service but due to health reasons and Mom we are not able to. All of you will be in our prayers. It is a comfort to know Earlwasready to move on to the next world and to know we will be reunited again. Maybe at this time he is rejoicing with Jesus, and his Mom, Dad, Sister, and my Dad (Rupert), and my Uncle (Oscar) and my Grandpa (Robert), and many others. Allan, my husband, says we know more up there than we do down here. I didn't realize Lynne lived in Forsyth. She is just a step away from us. We live in Decatur on the southeast side.You will be in our thoughts and prayers and thoughts on Tuesday. Imogene (Eller) Fravala
Imogene Fravala
11/19/2007 7:52 AM
I should not be surprized but I am after three years of being with Earl and family and seeing him go through many valleys and emerge the victor,I was. He has a special place in my heart. My prayers are with you as a family. My thoughts are especially with Marge and wondering how she is coping. I know God is going to give you a special peace as afamily as you head towards tuesday!
frank valente
11/19/2007 11:19 AM

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence, 2006, Metamora, Woodford, Illinois, USA. ⁴

• Residence, 1920, Bingham, Fayette, Illinois, USA. ³

• Residence, 1930, South Hurricane, Fayette, Illinois, USA. ²

Earl married Living