Rev. Edgar Elic McElhannon, 87, transitioned to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Springfield, Mo.
Edgar was born near Henryetta on October 20, 1936, to Rev. Marvin and Rosetta (Been) McElhannon. He was the second of four sons. The family sharecropped for many years with cotton and peanuts being the primary crops.
Edgar attended Wilson schools in rural Okmulgee County until his Junior year of high school when his father accepted a pastorate in Council, Idaho, where Edgar graduated in 1954. He remained quite close to his classmates and was able to attend several reunions with them.
A key time in Edgar’s life was when he attended Southwestern Bible Institute (now Nelson University) in Waxahachie, Texas, graduating in 1958. He formed many lifelong friendships and served for many years in various alumni council roles, including vice-president.
Edgar was licensed with the Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God in 1956 and ordained in 1958. He pastored his first church in Keefeton. Other pastorates would follow in Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois and Oklahoma. He would serve in the leadership role of presbyter in three of those states.
On May 3, 1959, he married Phyllis Nadine Walls at First Assembly in Okmulgee, a congregation they would later pastor from 1991-98. While pastoring in Berryville, Ark., their son Reggie and daughter Regina were born. Feeling a call to minister in Alaska, Edgar and Nadine received home missions appointment and the family moved to Cordova, Alaska in 1961 where their younger son Rick was born.
During their time of ministry in Alaska, Edgar was elected to serve as the first statewide director of youth ministries for the Assemblies of God. During this time, he and Nadine helped establish the varied youth programs that remain active today. He served as a youth camp speaker in Alaska, Arkansas, North Texas and Southern Idaho camps.
Nadine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1971 and through the years Edgar served as her caregiver as her health declined to an invalid status. He later served many years as a prison chaplain in Arkansas and Alaska.
In July of 2002, Edgar suffered a paralyzing stroke in Palmer, Alaska. He and Nadine transitioned to Maranatha Village in Springfield, Missouri, where Nadine passed in December of 2004.
In 2009, Edgar reconnected with Ruth Isaacs Kersey, a fellow October 20, 1936 – May 19, 2024
classmate at Southwestern, and a recent widow. They were wed on November 21, 2009, in Colorado Springs.
Two years ago, Edgar and Ruth relocated to Maranatha Village in Springfield, Mo. They began a bi-weekly singing and time of fellowship in the lobby of their apartment building. This has been a wonderful source of encouragement to many.
Edgar was preceded in death by his first wife Nadine, his youngest son Rev. Rick McElhannon, his parents and three brothers, Marvin Lee, Walter and James, and a grandson Ryan Engroff.
Edgar is survived by his wife Ruth of the home, son Reggie of Springfield, Missouri, and daughter Regina Lang of Bossier City, La. Five grandchildren Lindsay and Chris Mathis of Sand Springs; Richard (Casey) and Leann McElhannon of Salina; Katie and Stephen Spencer of Guthrie; Courtney and Eli Vincent of Manhattan, Kansas; and Jeffrey Lang of Covington, La. He was a great-grandfather to 14 including Abraham Archer Vincent, born one week ago, who joins Olivia, Addisyn, Gracie, Emily, Kylie, Ethan, Lily, Isla, LeeElla, Lucy, Rosie, Richard Silas and Malachi.
When Edgar and Ruth married, he was blessed with an extended family that includes her children Robert and Sue Kersey, Cindy and Mike Caton, and Jayson and Amy Kersey and their children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at Okmulgee First Assembly of God, 301 N Seminole in Okmulgee, followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Salt Creek Cemetery in the Wilson community.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, at Maranatha Village Chapel, 233 E Norton Rd. in Springfield, Mo.
In recognition of the impact Edgar’s alma mater had on his life and ministry, memorials may be directed to the existing McElhannon Scholarship, SAGU/Nelson University, 1200 Sycamore, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. Online donations may be made at www.sagu.edu/give (be sure to include McElhannon scholarship in the comment section).
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home of Broken Arrow.
