Ethel Cecil

LILBOURN - Ethel Mae Palmer Cecil, 83, died Aug. 24, 2002, at her home.

Born Aug. 15, 1919, in Des Arc, daughter of the late Walter Lee and Zella Myrtle Hamilton Palmer, she was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Dexter.

On Nov. 2, 1936, at Lilbourn, she married Bennie Edward Cecil who preceded her in death on Jan. 18, 1996.

Survivors include: one son, Leman Donald Cecil of Advance; one daughter, Joyce Elaine Cecil Freeman of Sikeston; three brothers, Jim Palmer and Norman Palmer of Franklin, Ind., and Preston Palmer of Poplar Bluff; five sisters, Vesta Harden of DeSoto, Texas, Betty Spane of Advance, Faye Young of Dexter, Naomi Gibson of Shoals, Ind., and Leona Down of Speedway, Ind.; and five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Also preceding her in death were one daughter, Linda Faye Cecil; and two brothers, Nelson Palmer and Charles Palmer.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ponder Funeral Home in Lilbourn, where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Roger Wooten, pastor of the First church of the Nazarene of Dexter, will officiate, assisted by her brothers, Norman Palmer, Preston Palmer and Jim Palmer.

Burial will follow in Mounds Park Cemetery near Lilbourn.

Pallbearers will be: Wayne Freeman, Jerry Freeman, Edd Bells, Steve Cecil, Mark Delay and Tom Freeman.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leman Cecil and Kaven Freeman.