Golda M. Crain Beers

Golda M. Crain Beers, age 98, of Pittsburg, Illinois, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020 at 10:45 p.m. at her home.

Golda was born on November 14, 1921 in rural Pittsburg, the daughter of Edgar and Maude Harris.  She married Joseph Crain on June 10, 1944, and to this union two sons were born.  He preceded her in death on June 27, 1992.  She later married Glenn Beers on September 14, 1997, and he preceded her in death on May 10, 2010. 

Golda began working as a young teenager, staying with families having new babies, caring for mother, baby and other siblings, cooking, doing laundry and cleaning, earning $3.00 a week.  During wartime, she worked at the Egyptian Café in Marion.  She stayed home after her children were born before returning to the work force in 1955, when W.T. Grants Department Store opened on Tower Square in Marion.  She continued to work for Grant’s until the close of the store in 1975.  She was the only employee that remained with them from the beginning to the closing of the store.  After her first husband passed away, she once again entered the work force for a few years, working for Jenny’s Uniforms in Marion, until she and Glenn Beers married.  Golda attended Pittsburg Freewill Baptist Church and always enjoyed Pastor Eddie Donelson and Pastor Keith McDannel’s messages, as well as all the special friends there.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to the home health care nurses and the team at Hospice of Southern Illinois that helped Golda to enjoy being at home, as well as special friends, John and Donnie Kay Howat, who always brought her zinnias.

Survivors include her step-children, Brenda (Mike) Smith of Panama City Beach, Florida and Jerry (Sharon) Beers of Pittsburg; daughters-in-law, Barbara Elam of Chester, Illinois and Ann Nall of West Frankfort, Illinois; grandchildren, Leslie E. (Effaney) Crain, Jr. of Benton, Illinois and Michael Crain of Chester; step-grandchildren, Greg (Kerrie Jo) Beers of Pittsburg, Christopher (Olya) Smith of Newton, Alabama and Alicia (Guy) Burtt of Cullowhee, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Zoie and William Milt, Wyatt James Crain, Caleb and Tasha Riddle and Sarah Walden; step-great-grandchildren, Cameron, Allison and Colin Beers, Dawson and Autumn Burtt, and Caroline and Masha Smith; ten great-great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Noah, Brody, Virgil, Kennedy, Karly, Kimber, Karson, Roland and Harlow; and two sisters, Reva Smith of Pittsburg and Earlene Hendrickson of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Maude Harris; parents-in-law, Clarence and Nettie Crain; two husbands, Joseph Crain and Glenn Beers; two sons, Larry Joe Crain and Leslie Eugene Crain; siblings, Irvin Harris, Ira Harris, Olive Stewart, Sylvia Anderson, Ivan (Curly) Harris and Marvin Harris; and two brothers-in-law, Lodge Hendrickson and Mitchell Smith.

DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND BY THE SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER, a private graveside service will be held in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion with Reverend John Howat officiating.

Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion is assisting the family with the arrangements.

For those who prefer, memorial donations may be made to the Corinth Cemetery Association and will be accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 North Market Street, Marion, Illinois 62959.