Elizabeth Hamilton Milligan Vanorsdale

Elizabeth Hamilton Milligan Vanorsdale, 91, died 5:50 am, August 1, 2009, at Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County in Murphysboro, Illinois. Elizabeth was born September 2, 1917, in Paradise Prairie north of DuQuoin, Illinois to William Elmer and Bertha Lorene (Turner) Hamilton. She graduated from DuQuoin High School in 1936 and attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years. While at U of I, she met Leighton Meadows Cropper, and they were married. They had two children, Thomas Lynn Cropper and Martha Cropper. Elizabeth attended Southern Illinois Normal University to complete her provisional teaching certificate, and taught at Elm School, a one-room school in Paradise Prairie. In 1950, Elizabeth married Keith R. Milligan and moved to Niantic, Illinois. She continued to teach elementary language arts, both at Boody, Illinois and in the Niantic-Harristown system. Keith died December, 1981. In 1987 Elizabeth married Wendell T. Vanorsdale, and they enjoyed nearly 20 years of marriage until his death in July, 2008. Elizabeth is survived by her children, Tom and Martha; one step-daughter, Connie Linderman and husband, Flay, Lakeland, Florida; four grandchildren: David Parish Cropper and wife, Joni, Woodside; California, Tracy Lynn Cropper, St. Louis, Missouri; Rachel Koehn Basler and husband, Kevin; St. Louis, Missouri; and Leah Paige Clark and husband, Austin, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; one step-grandson, Roy Linderman, Savannah, Georgia; six great grandchildren: Brian, Adam and Haley Cropper,; Faith Elizabeth Provost,; Ava Rose Basler-Parker,; and Elisha Hamilton Clark,; three step-great-grandchildren, Krystal, Brittany, Hunter Linderman,; one great-great step-grandchild, Madison Linderman; many special nieces and nephews, and numerous lifelong friends, who were often the recipients of her famous pies and peach cobblers. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Luther, Gene, and William T. (Bill) Hamilton, and two special aunts, Leah Gertrude Turner Apel and Ora Turner Rountree, for whom Elizabeth was named. Visitation will be Friday, August 7, 2009 from 9:00-11:00 am at Crawshaw Funeral Home, Murphysboro, Illinois. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Pastor Mark Cavins officiating. Burial will follow at Paradise Baptist Church Cemetery, DuQuoin, Illinois. A memorial service will be held in Niantic, Illinois at a later date. Memorials may be made to Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County, 1441 North 14th Street, Murphysboro, Illinois 62966.

Elizabeth Hamilton Milligan Vanorsdale

September 2, 1917 - August 1, 2009