Ethel Colbert

NEOGA - Ethel Ellen Colbert, 88, of Neoga, formerly of Mattoon, passed from this life at 10:40 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2009, at the Heartland Christian Village in Neoga. Funeral services honoring her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 26, at the Schilling Funeral Home, 1301 Charleston Avenue in Mattoon with the Reverend Burton Senter officiating. Burial will follow in the Dodge Grove Cemetery, Mattoon. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the funeral home. Ethel was born July 26, 1920, in Centralia, a daughter of Alvin Andrew and Elsie Mae (Bodine) Harris. She married Alvin Maxwell "Duke" Colbert on July 2, 1960. He passed away March 27, 1989. She was also preceded in death by her son, Steven Edward King; and one brother, Dan Harris. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Ellen Miller and husband Billy J. of Sullivan; her son, Robert Daniel King and wife Donna of Mesa, AZ; three sisters, Ruby Zick of Pekin, Beulah Lampe of Tremont, and Betty Hanson of Shelbyville; one brother, Forest Harris of Texas; six grandchildren, Mike Miller and wife Dawn of Arcola, Rhonda Cook and husband Tony of Rochester, Vonnie Lux and husband Russ of Nottingham, Penn., Kimberly Grant and husband Randy of Mt. Zion, Jeff King and wife Maica of Belle Fourche, S.D., and Amy King of Decatur; and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Colbert was formerly employed as an L.P.N. at Mattoon Memorial Hospital and retired in 1980 from the General Electric Lamp Plant in Mattoon. Ethel loved flower gardening and cooking. She enjoyed many years of camping and fishing with her husband and spending time with her canine companions, Queenie and Jasper. Memorial gifts in her honor are suggested to the Heartland Christian Village, 101 Trowbridge Road, Neoga, IL 62447.