Joan Burdine Ellington passed away in her home December 31, 2021, at the age of 92.

Joan was born on May 28, 1929, a stormy day in Tupelo, Texas to Baxter and Maud Burdine. Her father was a farmer and rancher, while her mother took loving care of the extended-family home, which included both Maud's father and Baxter's mother. As her beloved brother, Richard Baxter Burdine, Jr., was 10 years older, Joan grew up as a virtual only child and was treated like a princess by both her Papa Edmundson and her Granny Burdine. She felt so fortunate to have enjoyed their endless undivided attention, and often recalled happy times spent with her Papa as he played with and read to her for hours on end. She spoke often of growing up with her cousins and neighborhood friends and remembered playing church with her cousin Jimmy leading the singing and doing the preachin' as she and young Davis Evelyn sang in the choir.

Although she started school across the road from her home in Tupelo, Joan soon found herself riding the bus to school in Rice. She truly enjoyed school and was a member of the pep squad and voted football sweetheart, favorite girl in her class for many years, as well as Queen her Senior year. After graduating as Valedictorian of her class at the age of 17, Joan was excited to be able to attend Navarro College, majoring in Business Administration. She was in the school's very first class, a group that later proudly became known as the Barracks Bunch because those original college classes met in barracks at the army airfield, later to become Corsicana Municipal Airport.

Joan had fond memories and made lifelong friends during her 20s while working at Lone Star Gas, but that Corsicana career was not to last long. It was years ago while she was riding the school bus to Rice as a young girl that Joan had first met and set her sights on her future husband, Dillard Ellington. Decades later, the two were married on November 29, 1953 at the Tupelo Methodist Church and Dillard whisked her off to the oil fields of west Texas. Joan terribly missed her hometown family and friends and in a few years they returned to Tupelo and Navarro County, where they lived their "happily ever after." Being a homemaker and a mother to their daughters Marianne and Susan was of utmost importance to Joan, who also enjoyed a very close relationship with her granddaughter all her life and helped raise Becky as her own.

Church and her faith were always a big part of Joan's life. She played piano and was an active member at the Tupelo Methodist Church until she married and moved away. She and Dillard later found lifetime friends in the Wesley United Methodist Church in Corsicana, where she remained a member until its closure in June 2021. She performed various supporting roles through her decades there, acting as church treasurer, active member of Wesley's United Methodist Women, and assisting with the Lord's Acre annual fundraiser and monthly Communion services. She loved helping with Vacation Bible School and the after-school children's program. Joan was an unselfish, practical woman who believed in doing the right thing and being true to her word and will be remembered for her quiet, gentle nature. She had many true friends and is taking to her grave any secrets they shared with her. When she wasn't busy supporting her family or her church, Joan enjoyed painting ceramics and doing pencil sketches, especially portraits. An excellent seamstress, she loved designing and planning outfits for her girls. Her creations could compete with the best apparel from any department store and she has photos of young Marianne and herself wearing the matching fashions she created to participate in a Corsicana fashion show at the local ladies clubhouse, the Kinsloe House.

Dillard retired early from U.S. Gypsum, and for years they loved to travel to Branson, Missouri with their dear life-long friends, the Bradleys and the Murpheys. They volunteered and delivered for Meals on Wheels, and cared for both sets of parents for years, giving all four the individual care each required. They enjoyed square dancing and were Silver Dollar Dancers and Log Cabin Swingers. They also loved dancing at the Chatfield Community Center and doing a little boot scootin' at private Country/Western dance parties in the area.

Joan leaves behind her daughter Marianne Ellington Kreason and husband Tom, daughter Susie Ellington Drum, granddaughter Becky Murray Kinnibrugh and husband Kelly, great grandson Tyler Kinnibrugh and wife Chazeley and son Levi, great granddaughter Kelsey Kinnibrugh, grandson Kaplen Perez and wife Samantha and their children Ry, Ella, and Remy.

The family especially wishes to thank all who helped make it possible for Joan to remain in her home, something that was so very important to her. Many friends and family members supported our decision to stay at home, with New Century Hospice with us since last February. We certainly couldn't have made it without Christy Glasgow, Chasity Blue, and certainly Crystal who joined our team a few weeks ago. Thanks also to Home Helpers who jumped in to help so very much in these last few weeks.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Ellington were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday January 5th 2022 at Chatfield United Methodist Church with Pastor Kevin Diggs officiating. Burial followed at the New Chatfield Cemetery.

To share memories and condolences with the family, please visit www.corleyfuneralhome.com