Effie Louise Beggs

	Effie Louise Beggs daughter of John Joseph Clem and Sarah Jane Box was born June 29, 1907 in Indian Territory near Beggs, Oklahoma.  Six months later that year Oklahoma was granted statehood.  She lived a long and interesting life.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph S. Beggs who worked as a mine foreman at both Old & New Kathleen mines at Dowell, Illinois, four brothers and one sister.
	She is survived by three daughters, Lois Jean Gross of DuQuoin, Joanna Beggs Edgar And husband Gerald of Santa Teresa, NM, and Sue Carol Tucker and husband Ron of Marion, IL; eight grandchildren, Jane Ellen Fox and husband Loren of Plymouth, MI, June Elaine Borecky and husband John of DuQuoin, IL, Eugene E. Gross and wife Patricia of DuQuoin, IL, David B. Pittman and wife Sheila of Tucson, AZ, Brett L. Pittman of Carbondale, IL, Thad J. Tucker and Todd C. Tucker of Fort Myers, FL, and Tara Sue Tucker of Marion, IL; 8 great-grand children, Matthew Fox a law student at Duke University, Jill Kirkpatrick and husband Eric of DuQuoin, IL, Joseph Borecky of San Diego, CA;  Angela Diane Floyd and husband Daniel of Winters, CA, Kirsten Tucker of Marion, Katy Ancell, Abby Ancell and Zoe Jean Gross all of DuQuoin, IL, and three great-great-grand children; Cole and Quinn Kirkpatrick of DuQuoin, IL and Hailey Floyd of Winters, CA. two brothers, Shearl W. Clem of Dallas, OR, and Leroy E Clem of DuQuoin , and many nieces and nephews.  Effie was admired and dearly loved by all her family.
	She married Joe Beggs in Ft. Smith, AR in April, 1925 after a short courtship.  He came to Southern IL to work as a coal miner.  Effie traveled to IL alone on a train later that year to join her bridegroom.  She had never been on a train and often said she didnt know if she would recognize Joe when she arrived in DuQuoin.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell a good joke.  They were married 47 years when he died in 1972.  They lived their married life in Dowell, IL and raised their family there.  She belonged to the Dowell Baptist Church, taught Sunday School and san gin the choir.  She loved to search antique, used furniture stores and flea markets.  She could turn old things into treasures with her skill refinishing and upholstering.  She could hang wall paper, make curtains, braid room size wool rugs and gladly shared her talents with her family and friends.  Effie was a creative homemaker, a decorator, clothing designer as well as a loving wife mother and grand mother.  She made many cheerleader outfits for all the Elkville HS cheerleaders, drum majorette costumes, original dresses and formals for her three daughters.  She created award winning Halloween costumes and beautiful Easter outfits from her grand children.
	Effie moved to DuQuoin after the death of her husband and lived the last twelve years of her life with her daughter, Lois Gross in DuQuoin.  She moved her church membership to the DuQuoin Baptist Church.  She was a good listener, with an abundance of common sense.  Effie was there to encourage, give advice and reassure when projects were attempted.  She encouraged all her children to reach for their dreams, and was very proud of them.  Effie will live on in our hears but she will be missed every day for in may ways she touched us all.
	The funeral was Wednesday, June 14, 2000 at the Neal-McClure Memorial Chapel at 1:00 p.m. with visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service.  Burial was in Sunset Memorial Park in DuQuoin.
