Viola Mae Clayton Hankla

Viola Mae Clayton Hankla, 90, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Manor Court of Carbondale.

She was born on May 3, 1928, in Union County, the daughter of Everett and Pearl Smith Clayton.  

She married Joseph R. Hankla on Sept. 16, 1949.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph; sisters Geraldine Elkins of Marion, Vurtis Duckworth (James) of Perks, Louise Smith Pender (Art) of Anna and Carolyn Bird (Bill) of Jonesboro; a brother, Jerrie Clayton of Anna; nieces Teresa Althoff, Regina Wilkinson, Julia Milkovick, Pamela Graham, Sonya Jaquet, Ramona Ralls; and nephews Stanley Elkins, Cary Clayton, Brad Duckworth, Thomas Smith and Jeremy Bird.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Loretta Clayton Harris; a brother, Dennis Everett Clayton; a brother-in-law, Dennis Jr. Harris; and nephews Fred Leon Harris and Gregory Smith.

She was a member of First United Methodist of Carbondale and the United Methodist Women of Anna, while they lived in Anna after retiring.  

She was a devoted wife and companion working beside her husband as a pastor’s wife and helpmate on all of his work projects, and a homemaker and later caretaker after his stroke.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hankla were at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at the First United Methodist Church of Carbondale, with the Rev. Alan Rhein, the Rev. John Annable and elder Keith Joiner officiating. Burial was in the Anna City Cemetery.  

Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Carbondale, Little Grassy Camp, Hispanic Ministries of Cobden or the Midwest Mission Distribution Center. 

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale was in charge of arrangements.  

To leave a story or memory, visit www.meredithfh.com.