Stansell Marie Ebelhar

Stansell Marie Russell Ebelhar, 84, of Sorgho, went to meet her maker, peacefully on Sunday morning July 8, 2012 at her home. She was born to the late Henry I. Russell and Mary Nettie Vowels Russell on June 4,1928 and resided near the community of St. Raphael. She later moved to St. Joe with her family and graduated from Mt. St. Joseph in 1946. In May of 1948, she married Kenneth P. Ebelhar at St. Alphonsus Church.

Stansell and Kenneth were married 64 years and raised six children at their home in Sorgho on the French Island Road farm. Stansell was very dedicated to her church and was involved in the church choir and the Altar Society.

Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were very important to her life as she was important to them. This was evident by the many visits from them and how they were always there to help out with anything she needed. Her oldest granddaughter, Tracy, became one of her caregivers in her last few months.

Stansell loved cooking which she did for many years for the many tobacco cutters that worked for them over the years. She was also an avid seamstress and made many of the clothes for her family. Thru the years she collected various sizes and shapes of angels that she still displays. Her love of cats was evident due to having so many and they were ''all her favorites''. Her closest were Fluffy and Momma White. During her life she traveled with her husband and visited all the 50 states and collected a spoon from each for a souvenir. They also traveled to many foreign countries during their marriage.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Kenneth of Sorgho, her daughters, Shirley Kent of Owensboro, Gloria McCarty (Fred) of Sorgho; Bernadette Monday (Larry) of Louisville. Her sons, Jerry (Linda), Grady (Donna), Lynn (Kathy) all of Sorgho. 11 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren, 10 Step great grandchildren. Her sisters, Wilma Endicott, Geraldine Gruzard and Mary Edna Riney of Owensboro.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers H. I. Russell and Elmo Russell, her granddaughter Heather Ebelhar and great granddaughter, Hayden Keller.

Services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sorgho with burial following in St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery. Officiating are Fr. Mark Buckner, pastor, and Fr. Maury Riney. Visitation will be 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday with prayers at 6:00 p.m at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and after 8:30 on Tuesday until time of service.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the St. Mary Magdalene Building Fun