PONTIAC - Nellie I. Soule, 92, Pontiac, died at 9 a.m. Thursday (July 2, 2009) at Evenglow Tjardes Health Care Center, Pontiac.

Her funeral will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Martin-Burke Funeral Home, Pontiac, with the Rev. Gretchen Stinebaugh officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service, and inurnment will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Cemetery, rural Pontiac. Memorials in Nellie's name may be left to Evenglow Lodge or OSF Franciscan Hospice of Central Illinois.

Nellie was born Feb. 2, 1917, in Indiana, a daughter of Halcom and Margurite Wilcox McCain. She married Willard Stratton in 1950. He preceded her in death in 1970. She later married Robert Soule in 1971. He preceded her in death in 1989.

Survivors include one daughter, Doris (Wayne) Eymann, Chenoa; five grandchildren, Jerri (Otis) Leach, Cindy (Tom) Streid, Linda (Bill) Kauffman, Dan (Denise) Shepherd and Bob (Diane) Shepherd; 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Raney, Fort Myers, Fla.

Nellie was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert McCain and Homer "Mike" McCain; and one daughter, Lois Boulware.

Nellie was educated in Gridley Schools. She worked at the Pontiac Shoe Factory for several years and later managed B&N Cafe in Pontiac. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Pontiac.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.martin-burkefuneralhome.com.