Emma C. Talley, 93

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Emma C. Talley, 93, of Litchfield died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, at 11:38 a.m. at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. 

Funeral services will be held Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield with the Rev. Dennis Hill of Litchfield officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time at the church

Burial will be in Medora Cemetery in Medora. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements. 

Mrs. Talley was born on July 26, 1923, in rural Medora in Jersey County, the daughter of the late Ralph Herschel and Mayme Wesley (Milby) Chandler. She married Hayward Leroy Talley on Sept. 2, 1950, in Springfield, and he preceded her in death on June 10, 2015. 

She graduated from Medora High School and Illinois State Normal University and earned her master’s degree from the University of Illinois. She taught school for nine years at Ball High School in Sangamon County.

Mrs. Talley was a member of St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield, where she served on various committees and was a member of United Methodist Women and the Builders Sunday school class.  She was also active in Zonta Club of Litchfield for 50 years, serving two terms as president and on various other committees. 

In addition, she was a member of the Litchfield Woman’s Club, where she had served as president, and The Eastern Star, both for over 50 years. She also was a member of the Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Sigma Delta Pi, American Association of University Women and of Montgomery County Home Economics Teachers. 

Mrs. Talley's late husband, Hayward, founded WSMI Radio Station in Litchfield. They moved to Litchfield on June 17, 1954, and she began working alongside her husband as the WSMI office manager.  

She is survived by two sons,  Brian (Lea Ann) Talley of Hillsboro and Kevin Talley of Litchfield; four grandchildren, Nicholas (Autumn) Talley, Jacqueline (Joshua) Gilson, Chandler Talley and Anna Talley; three great-grandchildren,Grayson Talley, Emma Talley and Brooklyn Gilson; and one brother, Herschel (Sandi) Chandler of Medora.

Besides her parents and husband, Mrs. Talley was preceded in death by one sister, Lola Smith.

The family suggests memorials to St. Timothy United Methodist Church.  

For more information, to light a candle or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.