Feb. 19, 1930 — April 3, 2015

Ella Mae Winningham, age 85 years, of Berrien Springs, Michigan died at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2015 at her home following an extended illness.

She was born on February 19, 1930 in Wynne, Arkansas to Ernest Lee and Lottie (Blackwell) Waters. She was raised and schooled in Wynne and Vanndale, Arkansas, and came to this area in 1950. She was employed as a bookbinder in the former Niles plant of the Simplicity Pattern Company, retiring after twenty-six years of service.

Ella was a member of the Church of Christ in Niles. She enjoyed sewing for her family and relatives, baking and cooking, and canning – especially peaches. She also enjoyed flower gardening, and fishing with her husband. They often fished on Pettibone Lake near Bitely, but also on local lakes.

On December 3, 1949 in the parsonage in Wynne she married Murray Leon Winningham with whom she celebrated last year the remarkable Sixty-fifth anniversary of their wedding. She was sadly preceded in death by both of their children, Shirley Yvonne Herr died on August 28, 2007 and Gerald Leon Winningham died on Oct. 10, 1985; and by three of Ella’s brothers, James, David, and Grover Waters.

Surviving family includes her husband, Murray Winningham and their grandchildren, Kimberly (Doug) Boal of Buchanan, Michigan, Gerald “Scott” (April) Winningham of Niles, Ronald (Tamara) Pressler II of Niles, Ronica (& Dan Alverez) Pressler of Berrien Springs, and Matthew (Stephanie) Winningham of Niles; great-grandchildren Cody (Stephany) Boal, Kaine (Kaitlyn Williams) Boal, Faith Biggs, Dylan Winningham, Gage Winningham, Tristian Pressler, Gabrielle Pressler, Gracia Pressler, Bryce McLane, Ella McLane, Natalie Winningham, Abigail Talley, and Seth Winningham; great-great-grandchildren Evylen Boal and Vivyen Boal; and Ella’s siblings, Ruby Brittian of Arkansas, Jane (Paul) Gearhart of Scottsdale, Arizona, Arthur (Joyce) Waters of Rockford, Illinois, Kenneth (& Nancy) Waters of Dallas, Texas, and Ernest “Lee” (Cindy) Winningham of Osceola, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews including those who assisted in caregiving: Susan (Gary) Selander, Melissa (Brent) Severson, and Celeste Heine.

The funeral service for Ella Mae Winningham will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Mr. David Thompson of the Church of Christ officiating. Committal will follow at the Union Cemetery in Berrien Center, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Ella Mae may be made to Hospice at Home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com