Nellie May Barrett, 89, of Riverton, IL, entered heaven on Thursday, March 20, 2025, surrounded by her family at Springfield Memorial Hospital, Springfield, IL. She was born on September 16, 1935, to the late Edwin and Nellie (Loy) Frank in Godfrey, IL. She married Fred F. Barrett on August 28, 1971, in Jerseyville, IL and he preceded her on October 28, 1992.
Nellie was a graduate of Jersey Community High School and after graduation she worked as a telephone operator in Jerseyville. She graduated from Olin Vocational School of Practical Nursing on February 4, 1971, as an LPN. She worked at Alton Memorial Hospital, Eunice Smith Nursing Home, Alton, Greenwood Manor, Jerseyville before retiring from Jersey Community Hospital.
Her hobbies and interests included embroidery, doing word search puzzles, bowling, gardening. Bible studies, spending time at the library, babysitting grandchildren and taking her great grandchildren to puppet shows. She also enjoyed cooking and was well-known for her chicken and noodles, homemade donuts, rolls and fried chicken in a cast iron skillet.
She is survived by seven children, Cindy Cole, Decatur, IL, William (Roberta) Eads, Albuquerque, NM, Dale (Susan) Eads, Arlington, TN, Phillip Eads, O'Fallon, MO, Cathy (Alan) Suhling, Springfield, IL, John (Cindy) Eads, Godfrey, IL and James Eads, Evans, GA, 23 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, a great-great grandchild, a sister, Mary Kuehnel of Alton, IL, a brother, Louis (Mary) Frank of Jerseyville, IL and a step daughter, Lindy Barrett of Phoenix, AZ and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son-in-law, Terry Cole, grandsons, Steve and Alex, step sons, Homer and William Barrett, step daughter, Sally Pohlman, brothers and sisters, Clinton Frank, Wilma (Orville) Rogers, Annie (Claude) Cope, Joseph (Lorraine) Frank, William (Agnes) Frank, Jessie (Steve) Goewey, George "Art" (Minnie) Frank, brother-in-law, Gene Kuehnel and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 10 am until time of service at 11 am at the Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville, IL with Nurse Honor Guard service. Burial will be in Kane Cemetery, Kane, IL. Memorials may be made to the Riverton Library, Riverton, IL or the Jerseyville American Legion Honor Guard. Thank you all for remembering our mom. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com .