Eleaine E. McCullough Obituary

Eleaine E. McCullough, 81, of Oskaloosa and formerly of Russell, Iowa passed away July 22, 2013 at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Eleaine Evelyn Johnson, born March 8, 1932, in Leon, Iowa was the daughter of George Johnson and Nellie B. Gatton Johnson.  After graduating from Leon High School, Eleaine married Ivan Gail McCullough of Garden Grove, May 25, 1950.  They were the parents of eight children: Arnan Gail, Allan Lynn, Calvin Lee, Jennine Kay, Kevin Guy, Galen Lyle, Maureen Rose and Coleen Lois.

Ivan and Eleaine moved to Russell, Iowa in 1954, where Ivan had employment.

In 1964, they purchased the insurance agency from Walter and Mona Coop and together they operated McCullough Insurance Agency until it was sold in 1985.  Ivan and Eleaine were divorced in 1988.

Along with being a licensed insurance agent, Eleaine also operated a bookkeeping and tax service from the office and continued a bookkeeping service in her home after the insurance business was sold.

Eleaine was assistant city clerk for Russell for a number of years.  She also worked more than 16 years as a bookkeeper for C&C Custom Cycle of Russell.  After already retiring three times, she began working again as the Lucas City Clerk for two years.  And then she provided home health care for Dale and Katie Relph for more than four years.  

Eleaine was married to Phillip Shenefield in 1988, and moved to the Shenefield farm.  Then divorced, she moved back to Russell in 1996, where she was able to buy her own home and live where she was happy and content.  She changed her name back to McCullough following her divorce.

Eleaine was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oskaloosa.

She was involved as a volunteer for many years with the Girl Scouts, her church and the American Cancer Society, as well as school activities for the entire 26 years her children attended Russell Community School, she rarely missed any activities her children were involved in.

She enjoyed writing the Russell News Column for the Chariton Newspapers for a number of years.  Usually each column included personal writing on many different subjects.  She was hired in 1999 by the Chariton Newspapers as editor, a full-time job she continued for five years.  Following retirement from the newspaper, she continued to freelance for the newspaper until July 31, 2007.

Eleaine was an avid reader, enjoyed picture and word puzzles, playing the organ and sewing.

She had many large flower gardens with hundreds of different flowers, trees, and shrubs filling about an acre of space.  She was happiest working outside with the flowers and most days made a circle around the house and yard to enjoy whatever flowers were blooming at that time.

She was a collector  Her house was filled with angels, butterflies and books that lined the walls.  She also put together many scrapbooks - filled with an assortment of items which interested her.

Eleaine made her home with her daughter Coleen and Steve in Oskaloosa, Iowa moving with them in 2009.  The three of them created a happy home with much conversation and laughter.  They created a beautiful garden at this home, where like in Russell, Eleaine, when she was able, made daily trips circling the yard and garden.

Preceding her in death were her sons, Allan McCullough and Calvin McCullough; parents, George and Nellie Johnson, an infant brother, Eugene; a half-brother, Robert Adair and his wife, Dorothy; and two nephews Brian and Mark Adair and Mark's son.

Surviving are her children: Arnan McCullough of Wichita, KS; Jennine and Steve Rex of Enumclaw, WA; Kevin and Cindi McCullough of Russell; Galen and Pam McCullough of Chariton; Mo White of Chariton and Coleen McCullough and her husband Steve Coffey of Oskaloosa, IA.  Also surviving are fourteen grandchildren: Kimberly and Adam McCullough of Colorado; Morgan McCullough of Des Moines; Megan and Michael Arnold of Russell; Danielle, Michelle and Alissa McCullough of Hayden, ID; Dan Jacob of Oregon; Kurt and Toni McCullough of Chariton; Cody McCullough of Russell; Jeff and Emily McCullough of Chariton; Brett and Tori White of Chariton; four step-grandchildren; eight great grandchildren:  Graden, Cutler, Kyzer and Elsie Arnold of Russell; Alexander and Ian Jacob of Keokuk, IA; and Mila and Sophia McCullough of Chariton; four step-great-grandchildren; sister, Lanelle and Kenneth Herron of Chariton; and five nephews and their families.  She is also survived by Morgan and Megan's mother and dear friend, Denise and her husband, Pat Conway, and best friends, Marilyn and Butch Evans of Russell.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 27, 2013, at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton with Rev. C.J. Latham of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ officiating.

As was her wish, her body has been cremated and private inurnment of her ashes will be held later.

Memorials may be made to the Chariton Public Library.