Leland Earl Ijams

Leland Earl Ijams, age 94, of Schell City, Mo. passed away at 7 p.m. Monday, July 19, 2010, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Mo.

Earl was born Sept. 27, 1915 near Cambridge, Ill. He was the sixth child of Clyde Elmer and Mary Elizabeth "Bessie" (Thompson) Ijams. His brothers and sisters included Orval Ross Ijams, Edna Kroger, Lillian Peters, Ward Ijams, Irene Dade, Dale Ijams, lnez Revis, and Raymond Ijams. All of them preceded him in death. He was the last of his generation.

The Ijams family returned to Vernon County where Earl attended Belvior and Flat Rock country schools. After dropping out of school for about four years, Earl returned to graduate from Schell City High School in 1937.

Earl married Constance Evelyn Prime in Fairfax, Mo. on Feb. 6, 1940. To this union three children were born, Earlene Ann (Ijams) Christie, Ronald Lee Ijams, and Carol Lavonne (Ijams) Mandernach.

Earl retired from AT&T in 1977 after 37 years of service in Long Line, Construction and Engineering Departments. Following retirement, Earl and Connie relocated to their farm west of Schell City.

They became active in the Schell City United Methodist Church, the Schell City Masonic Lodge where Earl served as Worshipful Master, and the Schell City Easter Star where they served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron.

During this time, Earl's interests included improving their farm and he had a chance to enjoy several horses, an interest since his youth.

Connie passed away Oct. 19, 1994. Earl married Mary Lou Householder, Oct. 28, 1999.

Earl is survived by his wife, his children, six grandchildren; Douglas Sterling Christie, Eric Duane Christie, Michael Lee Ijams, Robin Deanne Morrison, Andrea Lynn Dundee, and Rachel Dawn Kufelt; ten great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Memorial services for Leland Earl Ijams are scheduled at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at the Schell City United Methodist Church in Schell City, with the Rev. Connie Locke and Bro. Doug Reynolds officiating. Masonic services will be conducted by PDDGM Lawrence Cripps. Soloist David Souza will provide the vocal selection, "We are Going Down the Valley" with accompanist Kelly Davis. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. just prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Schell City Community Building in care of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Schell City. Arrangements were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City.