Mildred J Vance

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the First Christian Church of Cowden. Visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville and one hour before service Tuesday in the church. Funeral services will also be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in Stults-Neece Funeral Home, Palmyra. Visitation one hour before services. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Palmyra. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church of Cowden or Palmyra Christian Church.

Mrs. Vance was born on February 9, 1930 east of Girard, Illinois, in what was then called Adam’s Place. She was the oldest daughter of John Henry and Velmadean Crawford Simpson. She married Donald L. Vance on June 17, 1951 at her home, then at Barr, a small village between Hettick and Scottville by the Rev. Dr. Taylor. Mildred was a graduate of Illinois State University in Normal and taught school in Hettick and Gibson City. When Donald came home from Korea in 1953, she retired to become a housewife. They worked on a farm southeast of Palmyra for five years and then purchased and moved to their farm near Palmyra. In 1967 they built a new home and moved into it. Soon after they began a small ceramic business which she continued until her serious illness about a year ago. In 1985 Donald accepted a job as a rural mail carrier in Shelbyville which required a move of the belongings and ceramic business. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Cowden.

She is survived by her husband, Donald; son, David Vance and wife Sharon of Shelbyville; daughter, Robin Berendson and husband John of West Chicago; sisters, Neoma Eyer and husband Marvin of Palmyra, Joan Clemons of Affton, MO and Molly Henderson of Springfield; and three grandchildren, Derrick Vance, Christopher Berendson and Jessica Leverette.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Rose Gates in January of this year.