Elmeta B. Gaddy

Elmeta Bernadene (Murrell) Gaddy, 90, rural Collins, passed away in Cedar County Memorial Hospital, El Dorado Springs, on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 13, 2016. Elmeta was born April 27, 1926, at Newburg, MO, to Warren and Verla (Gregory) Murrell. Ever since her childhood, she was known to family members as “Bennie.”

Elmeta married Joseph Harrison Gaddy in 1943. They were married 46 years before his passing in 1990. They had two sons.

The couple retired to their farm near Collins in 1972, where they raised registered Herefords for many years, and Elmeta painted landscapes and collected dolls and carnival glass.

Preceding Elmeta in death were her parents; her husband, Joe; two elder brothers, Kenneth Murrell and Howard Murrell; and an elder sister, Thelma (Murrell) Hulett.

Survivors include sons, Sidney Gaddy and wife, Betty, of Harvest, AL, and Mark Gaddy of Collins; granddaughter, Kristina (Gaddy) Smith, of Cordova, TN; sister, Shirley (Murrell) Coleman, of rural Osceola; brothers – Leroy Murrell of El Dorado Springs, Lawrence “Gale” Murrell, of Mississippi, and George Murrell of Arizona; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, Dec. 15, in the National Cemetery in Springfield, where she was laid to rest with her husband Joe. Rev. Gary Murrell officiated under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.