Edna (Hollis) Runyon

CADILLAC — Edna Malinda (Hollis) Runyon died Thursday evening, Aug. 18, 2011, at Green Acres Retirement Living in Cadillac. She was 86.Edna Malinda (Hollis) Runyon was born on Feb. 25, 1925, in East Omaha, Neb., to Bernice Brumet Hollis and Nellie Mae Soules Hollis. She received her high school diploma from South High School in Omaha, and attended two years at St. Paul Bible School, where her sparkling eyes and cute dimples caught the eye of Ellsworth Runyon. They were married on Feb. 25, 1945, celebrating their 66th anniversary in 2011.Edna was a faithful companion and helpmate in the Christian ministry, serving with her husband, Ellsworth, at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Friends Churches at Westland and Greenfield, Ind., and Traverse City. Together they also served the Edwards Community Church near West Branch for several years. Edna and Ellsworth maintained their membership in the Society of Friends (Quakers) through the Long Lake Friends Church.Edna returned to college with five children at home, receiving her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1966. She fulfilled her call to mission and service through many years of nursing at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Grand Traverse Ophthalmology, Hart Extended Care Facility and Reed City Hospital. Following their retirement in 1986, Ellsworth and Edna continued to use their gifts serving at the Arizona School for Indian Children and the Phoenix Friends Church.Edna exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman through her industrious spirit, nurturing her family and many others by utilizing home grown vegetables, canning and baking. Her skilled sewing and needlework blessed family and friends. She enjoyed watching birds, spending time in nature and finding beauty in simple pleasures. She was an avid reader and considered the mind a "miracle too good to waste." Her feisty spirit and perseverance kept her praising God through her children, Royal (Carole), David (Sue), Sharon Brown (Lawrence), Vonalea Swanson (Dennis) and Ruby Meekhof (Kenneth), 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Edna had a special gift of listening and opened her heart to anyone who needed to share.She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ellsworth, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011. She could not wait to join him in heaven. She is also joining her parents; brothers, Leonard, Homer, Carl and George; sister, Gertrude Montieth; and grandson, Robert Royal II. Memorial services for Edna and her husband, Ellsworth were held on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at the Cadillac Christian Reformed Church, with the Reverends Brian Seifert, Bert Vanantwerpen and Candidate (granddaughter) Sarah Meekhof-Albers officiating. Edna and Ellsworth will be laid to rest at the Cornell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be given to the Cadillac Rotary Charities (to go toward scholarships) or to the Buckley Alumni Scholarship Fund, c/o Buckley Schools, PO Box 38, Buckley, MI 49620. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.

Edna (Hollis) Runyon

August 18, 2011