From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] BENTON -- Ellafair Gunnells, 73, passed away at 6:05 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2014, at home. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in Leffler-Poulson Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Larry Odam officiating. Burial will be in Plasters Cemetery, north of Thompsonville. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Ellafair was born July 26, 1940, in Logan, the daughter of Kirby Smith and Mary Mag (Perryman) Irvin. She married Walter Clark in 1956, and he preceded her in death May 11, 1988. She later married Arther Thomas Gunnells on Sept. 8, 1989, and he survives. She was a homemaker and attended Logan Church of God. Mrs. Gunnells loved antiques and karaoke. Most of all, she was a loving grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Survivors include her husband, Art Gunnells of Benton; two children, Connie Sue Orley and Walter Carl Clark and his wife, Debra, all of Benton; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three sisters, Brodie Odam, Betty Myers and Almeda Tadlock, all of Benton; two brothers, Teddy Irvin of Benton and Troy Irvin of Key West, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband; two brothers, Kenneth M. "Sam" Irvin and Donald Irvin; and sister, Janice Kay Irvin. Memorial contributions may be made to Franklin County Animal Shelter and will be accepted at the funeral home. To leave online condolences and view the obituary, visit <http://www.lpfuneralhome.com/> www.lpfuneralhome.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan from Apr. 27 to Apr. 28, 2014