Elmyra Dye Testman

1922 - 2021

Elmyra Dye Testman

Elmyra Dye Testman, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family May 19, 2021 at her home on Soldier Creek after 99 wonderful years.

Elmyra better known as Ellie was the fourth of six children born to Ida Richards Dye and William Columbus Dye, she was born on April 9, 1922, in Panama City, FL.

Ellie graduated Pensacola High School in 1940. The summer after graduation she started working for Southern Bell. Ellie was a switchboard operator on the morning of December 7, 1941. She loved to share the memory of connecting family and friends on that historic day.

Ellie met her husband Oliver Jens "Bubba" Testman in 1941. After a romantic courtship they were married November 5, 1942 in Pensacola, Florida, where they raised their four children Lucia (1943), Ray (1945), Jan (1949), and Sally (1954).

Ellie was a lifelong member of the Richards Memorial Methodist Church in Pensacola where her father was one of the founding members.

In 1979 Ellie and Bubba retired to Lillian, AL at their camp house on Soldier Creek where she raised two more generations.

Ellie delighted in her volunteer work for Meals on Wheels, delivering meals every Wednesday for over a decade.

Elli loved making holiday candy. While in her late 80s she would visit her sisters in assisted-living and take all the "little old ladies" candy. Never realizing half of them were 10 years younger than her.

In 2009 Ellie buried her husband of 67 years.

Ellie/Momma/Nanny had few interests outside of her faith and family. She reveled in the laughter and commotion of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her great great grandchildren. Her legacy is one of faith, patience, compassion, and unconditional love.

She was preceded in death by her husband Oliver Jens "Bubba" Testman, her parents, her sisters, Lucia Pepper, Ida Shuman and Jane Bickle, her brothers, Bill Dye and Albert Dye, and her son in law Hugh Helms.

She is survived by her four children, Lucia Helms of Lillian, AL, Ray Testman and Glynda Lee Hoffman of Chico, CA, Jan and Jack Wills of Lillian, AL, and Sally Brock of Pensacola, FL, her 12 grandchildren, Hugh William "Bill" Helms, Jr., Gretchen Helms Thomas, John Helms, and Vicky Helms Norris (Jeff Norris), Jacquelyn "JJ" Wills, Lucia Wills Svoboda (Paul Svoboda), Rachael Wills Mueller (Karl Mueller), Sara Rose Testman Bonetti (Ernesto Bonetti), Ruth Testhart (Ben Testhart), Jennie Testman Fix (Cory Fix), Heather Brock and Russell Brock (Stacey Brock), her 20 great grand children, Blake Helms, Anna Helms, Kenneth Thomas, Elizabeth Helms, Olivia Helms, William McClelland, Rayanne Gartman, Zachary Wills (Alex Wills), Jackson Mueller, Lucia Mueller, Tesla Bonetti , Bowie Bonetti, Forest Fix, Michael Gilbert, Mayah Gilbert, Macie Davis, Amber Brock, Hayley Brock, Kaden Spencer, and Rilee Spencer and 2 great great grandchildren Ella Wills and Eli Wills.

Her family will have a private celebration of life.