Zephie Mae (Purtle) Ellerman

Zephie Mae (Purtle) Ellerman, 96, El Dorado Springs, the eldest of seven children of Arthur and Mattie (Martha Louisa Ellerman) Purtle, was born July 9, 1912, at Birdsong, near Black Jack and Rookins, in Cedar County. She departed this life on May 26, 2009, in the Cedar County Memorial Hospital.

Zephie graduated from the Greenwood Country Grade School and the two-year high school at Cedar Springs. She attended a few months at the El Dorado Springs High School in 1928.

On March 1, 1930, Zephie married Willie Emanuel Ellerman in the St. Clair County Courthouse in Osceola. For the next 47 years she was his faithful wife and companion until his death.

Zephie and Bill lived with Bill’s mother, Callie Ellerman, after their marriage, caring and helping until Callie’s death in 1958. Zephie and Callie were saved at the same time at a revival at Herriman Chapel Church of God (Holiness) on Aug. 16. 1931. She was sanctified on July 24, 1932, at Black Jack.

She and Callie always went to church together. She was baptized Oct. 8, 1933. Zephie played the piano at the Flat Rock Church, helped with the singing and served as the church secretary and treasurer. After Flat Rock Church closed, their main church was the Black Jack Church of God (Holiness). She had a servant’s heart. She faithfully and consistently lived a godly life before all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Zephie never had any children of her own but treated all children as if they were hers and children loved her. They especially enjoyed the homemade cookies she usually had on hand.

Zephie was a switchboard operator during her early-married life. In those days of the small party line phones, she and her mother-in-law operated the switchboard out of their home.

Zephie was secretary/treasurer of Love Cemetery from June 26, 1941, until late in the 1990s when she became unable to continue. She could be called a “historian” as she read many newspapers looking for births, deaths and anything of interest and history; keeping a great family record for her survivors. These items of interest were kept in clippings, diaries and even her calendars hanging on the wall.

After the death of her husband, Zephie continued to live alone on the farm the following 27 years until 2004, when she entered the Rest Haven Assisted Living in El Dorado Springs. In December of 2007, she was transferred to the Community Springs Nursing Home in El Dorado Springs where she was a resident until her passing.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Willie; her parents; Arthur and Mattie Purtle; two brothers, Calvin and Floyd Purtle; two sisters, Lucy Burns and Mabel Goodwin.

Survivors include two sisters, Minnie Burns – El Dorado Springs, and Allene Baker – Springfield; many nieces; nephews; other relatives and may friends and loved ones. She will be missed by all but we know that our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Services were held on May 29 in the Bland Hackleman Funeral Home with her nephew, Rev. Dennis Goodwin, officiating and providing the music, accompanied by his wife, Linda Lee. Interment was alongside her late husband in Love Cemetery, east of Cedar Springs, under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home

Her nephews – Curtis Burns, Donald Burns, Albert Goodwin, Larry Goodwin, Robert Purtle and Wayne Worthington - served as pallbearers.

Memorial donations can be made to Love Cemetery and/or the Black Jack Church of God (Holiness).