Gradie Sue Ewell

Gradie Sue Austin Ewell, 82 of Marion, Illinois, came into this beautiful life on December 31st 1937 in Hardin County, Illinois into a small village named Peters Creek which is the title of her second novel. She met her husband at the age of nine while he was playing a Revival at her home church. She was saved in that Revival and was baptized into the Fellowship of the Peters Creek Baptist Church. There were four other siblings in her family: Mary Lou, Luther, Rosalie, and Daniel. Gradie and Bill married on October 15th 1954. In 1958 Bill was drafted into the service and went to Germany where she followed him at two and a half months carrying their first born, Kevin Paul. Upon discharge, Bill was re-activated to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was on alert during the Bay of Pigs during the nine months they lived in North Carolina. She was very active in church, teaching Sunday School. Gradie retired from the federal government after twenty-five years of service. She worked on new water line projects as well as federal housing. A second son, Eric Christian came along ten years later in December of 1969. A first grandson, Kaleb Christian came on June 22nd 1999 and a second, Carsen Kohl was born on January 19th 2001. Gradie went to be with her Savior on February 26th 2020 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, Kentucky. She is survived by her husband, Billy Paul Ewell of Marion; two sons, Kevin Paul and Gail Ewell of Pittsburg, Eric Christian and Christina Ewell of Herrin; two grandsons, Kaleb Christian Ewell and Carsen Kohl Ewell; three siblings, Luther and Laverne Austin of Cave in Rock, Rosalie and Dennis Sinnett of Fort Collins, Colorado; Daniel and Bren Austin of Kailua-Cona, Hawaii. Gradie was preceded in death by her parents, Luther Austin and Edmona (Suits) Austin Siener; and her sister, Mary Lou McCrite. Visitation for Gradie will be held on Saturday, February 29th from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Marion. The Reverend Bob Dickerson and Reverend Jason McKinnies will officiate the service. Burial will follow at the Macedonia Cemetery at Mitchellsville. Donations in Gradie’s memory may be made to the Carmi Baptist Children’s Home. Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills in charge of the services. Internet condolences may be made at the website, www.feltyfuneralhome.com .