Zelma Rea Durham

NORTH PEKIN ~ Zelma Rea Durham, 84, of 2000 West Willow Knolls Drive in Peoria, passed away at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2010 at the Bickford Cottage of Peoria. She was formerly of North Pekin and Fort Smith, AR.

Born Mar. 10, 1926 in Ursula, AR to Oscar and Clara (Jackson) Duvall, she married James "Jim" Durham on Mar. 18, 1946 in Barling, AR. He died Feb. 22, 2007 in Fort Smith. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Janet L. Durham; her son-in-law, David A. Nelson; one sister, Norma Jean Osborn and one brother, Leonard Duvall.

Surviving are two daughters, Linda D. (John) Kommers of Lansing and Brenda A. Nelson of Pekin; one son, Phillip J. (Kristie Wright) Durham of North Pekin; two grandchildren, Kyle D. Nelson of Pekin and Amanda M. (Ted) Misdom of Lansing; two great-grandchildren, Christian T. Misdom and Courtney H. Misdom; one sister, Anna Mae Moore of Claremore, OK and her twin brother, Dr. Wallace Lee Duvall of Rockwall, TX.

Zelma worked in an airplane factory in Oklahoma City during World War II to support the war effort. She also was a first-grade teacher in Arkansas for many years. Most recently, she worked in childcare at Country Garden Day Care in North Pekin.

She enjoyed cooking and canning. She also liked to sew and was an avid reader. Zelma will be remembered for enjoying family holidays.

She was a member of the Church of Christ at South 46th Street in Ft. Smith.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Gary L. Ford will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral. Burial will be Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Cafe, a ministry of Grace United Methodist Church, 503 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Central Illinois Chapter, 606 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614.