PEKIN ~ Bernice Mae Ethridge, 90, of 1520 El Camino Drive, passed away at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Pekin Manor.

She was born May 26, 1922 in Schucktown, Mississippi to Rev. Charles Enoch and Jessie Lee (Eshe) Snowden.  She married Harvey Truman Ethridge on December 20, 1942, in Longview, Mississippi.  He passed away March 27, 1999 in Morton.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, one brother, Vernon; three sisters, Helen, Ilene and Doris; and one daughter, Pam Helmintaler.

Surviving is one daughter, Sharon (Larry) Creekmur of Pekin; five grandchildren, Angela Knowles of Pekin, John (Stacy) Creekmur and  Rachel (Kevin) Snow both of Tremont, Tobi (Chris) Fisher of Houston, Texas and Dana (Matt) Ware of Arlington, Texas.

She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren, Ashley and Nicholas Knowles, Drew, Alex and Connor Creekmur, Abigail, Sophia, Isabella and Lily Snow, and Jack Fisher.

She was a member of Roland Manor Baptist Church in Washington.  She was employed for many years at Berg’s Clothing Store in Creve Coeur.

Her family and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a true joy and blessing in her life.

Her funeral will be at 11a.m. Friday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Rev. Randy Justus will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Grace Baptist Church at 1301 S. 14th St. Pekin, IL 61554.