Pattonsburg, MO: Elanor Sue McMahill Best, 89, Pattonsburg, MO passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023, at a Kansas City, MO hospital.
She was born on April 13, 1934, in Caldwell County, Kidder, Missouri the daughter of William Fern and Alice (Potter) McMahill.
Elanor was a graduate of Osborn High School, Chillicothe Business College and when encouraged by her mother, completed the prescribed course of Studies in Illustrating and Related Art from Art Instruction Inc., Minneapolis, MN.
She accepted Christ as her Savior when she was twelve. She married the love of her life, Morris G Best, on July 18, 1954, at the Baptist Church in Osborn. They celebrated 50 years together until his passing on October 19, 2004.
They were the parents of Kathy Sue, Morris G Best, Jr., Kimberly Gayle, and Guy William. Elanor was active in their children’s school activities. She enjoyed summers when their children were home.
She began working at Cameron Mutual Insurance in 1979 and retired as a secretary in 1999. She enjoyed her work and many friends there.
Elanor was known for artwork and her murals. She loved children. She and Morris began the Franklin Graham Ministry and Operation Christmas Child at the First Baptist Church in Pattonsburg. She taught young adults Sunday school for many years and then Adult Women’s Sunday school. She enjoyed teaching and then helping in Vacation Bible School.
In the fall of 1990, she felt a call to start a women’s prison ministry at the Daviess-Dekalb Regional Jail in Pattonsburg.
In 2016, Elanor became interested in family history and wrote a book, “Abducted,” which was published in 2018. She was also a member of the DAR and the First Baptist Church of Pattonsburg.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Margaret Mills, Doris Kirkpatrick, and Mary Olsen; brother, William Francis McMahill and sister-in-law, Norma Best.
Those she leaves to mourn are her children, Kathy (Dan) Burger, Columbia SC, Morris, Jr., (Joyce) Best, Bethany, MO, Kim (John) Smith, Venice, FL, and Bill (Suzanne) Best, Montrose, MO; sister, Anne Wolfe, Osborn, MO; grandchildren, Ryan Best, Jonathan (Sarah) Best, Andy Burger, Mark Burger, Kelsy (Michael) DeMeo, Kirsten (Michael) Joyce, Lillie Smith and Braden Best; and great grandchildren, Madi and Quinn Best, Max Chessley and Finn Morris DeMeo, Hayes Michael, Graham Martin, and William Thomas Joyce and Andrew Bennett Burger.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at the First Baptist Church, Pattonsburg, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, MO. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery, Pattonsburg, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday at the church.
