Cora Harms Elliott

Cora Harms Elliott, 97, of Windsor, Mo., died Saturday, May 21, 2011, at the Windsor Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Windsor. She was born January 29, 1914, in Benton County, near Cole Camp, Mo., the daughter of George Edward Harms and Laura Marie (Muller) Harms. She attended rural schools in Benton, Henry, Johnson, and Pettis counties, graduating as Valedictorian from Lincoln High School in 1931. At age 17, she passed the Benton County Teachers Exam to qualify to teach in a rural school, and she taught in Benton County rural schools for the next three years while attending Central Missouri State Teachers College during the summer terms. She enrolled full time at CMSTC in 1933 and graduated in 1935 with a B. S. Degree in Education with majors in Mathematics and Social Studies, and she taught at Maple Grove School, east of Windsor, and Versailles High School, from 1935 to 1938. Later, she received graduate degrees (M.S. in Education, 1956, and Ed.S. 1964). On June 5, 1938, she married Joseph Mitchell Elliott, and they lived on the family farm east of Windsor, near Brandon. She was a busy farm wife, mother, teacher, 4-H leader, and was also a Sunday school teacher at Brandon United Methodist Church, where she had been a member since 1937. In 1942-1944 when teachers were in short supply during World War II, she returned to teaching mathematics at LaMonte High School, followed by teaching two years at Bryson School, northeast of Windsor. She taught Mathematics and Social Studies at Windsor Junior and Senior High Schools from 1946 to 1962. Mrs. Elliott went to William Woods College in 1962, as an assistant professor of mathematics and was promoted to associate professor and then to full professor, receiving the Outstanding Distinguished Professor Award in 1980. After her retirement, she returned to Windsor and was active in church, extension and farm clubs, Henry County Retired Teachers Assoc., Windsor Historical Society, and the Windsor Senior Center. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, raising chickens, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. Cora is survived by a daughter, Glynna (Elliott) Morse, Windsor; a son, Casey J. Elliott, Morris, Okla,; a sister, May (Harms) Wiskur, Windsor; a brother and sister-in-law, Calvin and Madeline Harms, Lexington, Mo. She had 11 grandchildren: Rebecca Harmon, Lebanon; Robin Elliott, Okmulgee, Okla.; Jason Elliott, Springfield; Ronda Hatton, Owasso, Okla.; Misty Brown, Owasso, Okla.; Kim Kopichanski, Tulsa, Okla.; Shawn Elliott, Midland City, Ala.; Sara Edmundson, Henryetta, Okla.; Joseph Elliott, Morris, Okla.; Julia Morse, Assaria, Kan., and Kathleen Bariteau, Louisville, Ky.; 27 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Cora was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Mitchell Elliott in 1959; a brother, Leonard G. Harms; a sister, Lillie (Harms) Harris; and a great-granddaughter, Carmen Paige Elliott. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at the Hadley Funeral Home, Windsor, with Rev. Peggy Eshelman officiating. Burial will be in the Laurel Oak Cemetery, Windsor. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home and also on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., before the service. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Brandon United Methodist Church, the Windsor Historical Society or to the Windsor Senior Center and contributions may be left at the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.hadleyfuneralhome.com.