Mildred L. Elkin
HALLSVILLE — Mildred L. Elkin of Hallsville died Thursday, July 28, 2011. She was 89.
"She was a lady in every true sense of the word," her daughter Kena Forbis said.
She was born on Oct. 1, 1921, in Hallsville to Forrest and Esther (Schooler) Willett. Known as "Mamo" to many, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
"She was most passionate about her family," Forbis said.
She married Frank L. "Bud" Elkin when she was 19.
The Elkins were passionate about education, Forbis said.
In 1959, Mrs. Elkin and two friends started Hallsville's first kindergarten program. The program started just in time for Mrs. Elkin's youngest daughter, Deborah, to attend.
That dedication to education carried to her daughter Kena, who taught kindergarten in Hallsville, at the program her mother started, until retiring this year.
"People say she was a legend," she said. "A wonderful matriarch of the family."
Mrs. Elkin was a member of Red Top Christian Church in Hallsville.
"She was one of the most Christian women I knew," Forbis said. "She lived by the Christian word."
Mrs. Elkin is survived by her daughters, Linda Elaine George and husband, Ray, Nena Colette Kallenbach and husband, John, Kena Lynn Forbis and husband, Curt, all of Hallsville, and Deborah Denise Kelley and husband, Mike, of Columbia; a daughter in-law Sherry Elkin; two sisters, Lois Cook of Hallsville and Mary Alice Frazier of Columbia; 15 grandchildren, Nancy Jane Bayne, Skip Elkin, Jared Elkin, Jimmy Elkin, Ashley Sandoval, Kevin George, Kyle George, Kimberly George, Tyler Kallenbachc, Katy Cunningham, Jason Forbis, Julee Forbis-West, Casey Elizabeth Forbis, Jay Kelley, and Kitt Kelley; 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Frank L. "Bud" Elkin; a son, Phillip Elkin; and siblings, Bill Willett, Dave Willett, Thelma Fowler, Kathryn Durk-Hood and Dorothy Davenport died earlier.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel, 1610 N. Garth Ave., Columbia. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Red Top Christian Church at 14355 Route U. The Rev. Bill Ryan will officiate. A private family service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Red Top Christian Church Building Fund or Tiger Shrine Club in care of Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel 1610 N. Garth Ave., Columbia MO 65202.
Condolences can be posted at bachyager.com.
