Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Button Pemberton
Apr 7th, 1945 - Apr 29th, 2022Maria Elena “Button” Pemberton, age 77, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Friday, April 29, 2022, peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
She was born April 7, 1945, in Harrisburg, the second child and only daughter of David Howard and Agnes Marie (Walton) Schoonover.
Button graduated from Flora High School in 1963, and then enrolled and completed several college courses.
She married Thomas Lewis Pemberton on October 31, 1975, in Louisville. It was a running joke in the family that it was the only day witches could get married. Button was far from a witch, as she was a very loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a true and loyal friend. She enjoyed her monthly lunches with friends, especially her long-time friend, Jean Guerrettaz.
Button enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, reading, embroidery, cross stitch, feeding and watching the birds, genealogy, spending time with her fur babies and most importantly her family.
During her lifetime she worked for Fred McCollum at Smith, McCollum, & Riggle Attorneys at Law, First National Bank of Flora, and she and Tom were the owners and operators of East End Liquors. After retirement she returned to work at local long term care facilities and Edward Jones.
Two highlights in her life were attending the Walk to Emmaus Religious Retreat in Santa Claus, Indiana, and a weeklong trip to Savannah, Georgia with the Girl Scouts to visit the home of Juliette Lowe, founder of the Girl Scouts.
She was a past Board member of Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers, a former Girl Scout leader, and a member of the Flora American Legion Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband: Tom Pemberton of Flora; children: Jami Marie (Tony) Gibbons of Louisville, Jacki Michele (the late Mike) Sehie of Flora, Chad (Deana) Pemberton of Flora, and William Christopher (Alicia) Wildbur of Edgewood; grandchildren: Jenifer (Brandon) Gibbons of Flora, Jason (Morgan) Gibbons of Flora, Gabriel (Kelsey) Gibbons of Louisville, Mackenzi Windle of Flora, Bart Briscoe of Flora, Sydney Rudolphi of Noble, Dallas Mulvaney, Teagan Robinson of Cisne, Brian Pemberton of Flora, Bailey Fleming of Olney, Jayden Fleming of Olney, and Halli Stanley of Olney; great-grandchildren: Eli Schnepper, Elena Powless, and Alexa, Mariah, and Zaine Gibbons, Grayson Parker, and Ethan, Emma, Aaron, and Anderson (A.J.) Gibbons, Avery Henderson, Reese Briscoe, and Kaisley Robinson; an expectant first great-great-grandchild; estranged brother: Stephen Howard Schoonover; sister-in-law: Donna Schoonover; brother-in-law: Ed (Dena) McCracken; nieces: Laura Schoonover, Julianna (Don) Bowling, and Joni Pickel; nephews: Mike (Paige) McElroy, Rodney Pickel, Keith (Linda) England, John (Mary) England, and Ed McCracken Jr.; a cousin: Donna Kay Burlison; and her fur babies: Bear, Scrappy, Twinkie, and Fred.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons: David Arrah Pickel-Pemberton and Michael Wade Pickel; a brother: William “Bill” Leo Schoonover; sisters-in-law: Janet Fay England and Vickie Sue McCracken; brother-in-law: Larry England; mother-in-law: Leona Pemberton Totten; father-in-law: Verne Pemberton; son-in-law: Michael Sehie; and beloved pets Garfield, Sally, and Bianca.
A graveside ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Floral Garden of Memories Cemetery, Flora. Those attending are asked to arrive directly at the cemetery. Arrangements are by Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County Cancer Crusaders and will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a memory or condolence, visit: www.frankandbright.com