Pearline Mcabee-Elam
February 27, 1918 — February 21, 2013
Pearline E. McAbee-Elam, age 94 years of Niles, Michigan died at 3:40 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at the Hamilton Grove Communities near New Carlisle, Indiana.
She was born on February 27, 1918 in Alicia, Arkansas to William Robert and Mary Ann (Brown) Whitmire. She has lived in Niles since 1954, coming from Arkansas. She was employed at Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles for many years prior to retirement.
Pearline was a member of the Church of Christ of Niles. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, and canning the produce, especially the green beans. She also enjoyed raising chickens.
On August 27, 1938 in Hopewell, Arkansas she married Mr. Linnie C. McAbee with whom she celebrated the sixty-second anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on December 8, 2000. They were also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Glenda Sue McAbee, and a great-granddaughter, Sable.
Later, on October 1, 2005 she married Glennis E. Elam, who preceded her in death on April 29, 2012. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Bruce Whitmire and sisters, Beulah Graham, Alice Lee, Gatha Decker, Grace Reese, Mildred Sherman, and Geniva Konce.
Surviving family includes her children, Linda G. (& Kenneth) Grubbs and Donald Hugh (& Kathy) McAbee, both of Niles; nine grandchildren, Lisa Hemphill of Sumter, South Carolina, Scott Grubbs, of Alvaton, Kentucky, Gregory (& Kathy) McAbee of Westfield, Indiana, Sarah (& Allen) Hinkel of Sterling, Virginia, Trisha (& Bill) Kromer of Moyock, North Carolina, Linda (& Chris) Lingle of Clayton, Delaware, Jennifer (& Roger) Kirksey, Jacquline Kirkdorfer and Donna McAbee, all of Niles; twenty great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren; and Pearline’s brother, William Whitmire of Umatilla, Florida, and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Pearline McAbee-Elam will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Mr. David Thompson of the Church of Christ officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Pearline may be made to the Church of Christ, 1515 Huron Street, Niles, MI 49120.