Don Elam

Don W. Elam, age 85 of Beardstown, died Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Heritage Health in Beardstown.

He was born July 27, 1933 in Beardstown the son of John Wayne and Estelle Marie Peak Elam . He married Myra Joan Logsdon on July 27, 1954 and she preceded him in death December 13, 2005.

He is survived by his children Jaye Elam Winkelman, John (wife Mita) Elam, and Jason (wife Amy) Elam all of Beardstown; 7 grandchildren Jamie (husband Terry) Comiskey, Drew (wife Mallory) Birdsley, Jake (wife Samantha) Elam, Audra, Hannah, and Jack Elam, and Elli Taylor; and two great grandchildren Ella and Vera. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister Sue Gish, his brother Dick Elam, and a son-in-law Eldon Winkelman.

Don graduated from Beardstown High School in the class of 1951. He joined the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War. He had worked at Beatty Hardware and Critic Mills in Beardstown. In 1978, Don and Terry McCoy opened Beardstown E&M, which is still owned and operated by Terry and the Elam family, with the same hard work ethic instilled in them by Don. He was a member of I.B.E.W. Local 193, B.P.O Elks Lodge #1007, Cass Lodge #23 A.F.&A.M., and was past President of the Beardstown Chamber of Commerce. In his earlier years he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Recently he had taken up carving, painting, and making jewelry, and he has always been a great cook. Don loved his family, and his greatest joy was being with his wife.

A memorial service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown. Burial will be in the Beardstown City Cemetery with Military Honor’s conducted by Guthrie-Pierce VFW Post #1239. The family will meet with friends from 5-7 PM Friday at the memorial home. Masonic services will be held at 7 PM on Friday, following the visitation.

Memorials have been suggested to Cass/Schuyler Area Hospice. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.