Obituary - Marian "Punkie" Alexander

Marian "Punkie" Alexander

The Funeral Service for Mrs. Alexander will be held at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating at the service will be Brother Jim Knight and Pastor Tony Reynolds. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Interment will be in Westfield Cemetery rural Appleton City, Missouri. The family suggests any Memorial contributions be made to Evelyn Brown Laney Hospice or the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship.

Marian “Punkie” (Ellinwood) Alexander, daughter of Howard and Sarah (Kellogg) Ellinwood entered into eternal rest, peacefully, at her home surrounded by her family on November 1, 2015.

Punkie was born March 26, 1939 in Wellesley Massachusetts, where she attended Wellesley High School. Upon graduation Punkie received further education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, studying fine arts and was a member of the swim team. After completing her Bachelor Degree, Mrs. Alexander began a career as a stewardess with American Airlines, earning her wings in 1959.

Nevertheless, by chance during her years at Stephens, Punkie met Matt Alexander in the midst of a snowball fight between numerous Mizzou Tigers and Stephens Stars, and the two were united in marriage on October 15, 1960. The couple first moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa where Matt worked in sales for Rath Packing Company, then to Kansas City in 1964, and finally to Appleton City in 1967 where they purchased their farm. To this union two sons were born, Bret and Dean

Mrs. Alexander always proved a devoted mother preparing the most wonderful meals on the farm for both family and farmhands. She never missed a single game that her boys played in; nor did she ever fail to have their uniforms in perfect condition, even if it meant stay up most of the night. Mrs. Alexander was a longtime member of the P.E.O., serving as Chapter CC president twice and in numerous other capacities within the sisterhood. Though always her own worst critic, Punkie was a magnificent artist as the many pieces hung throughout her house readily stand as evidence. This time spent with her pen and ink creating artwork was one of her most cherished activities. Yet Punkie’s family remained the most important part of her life. She dearly loved her boys, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and her husband of 55 years, Matt.

Preceding Punkie in death were her parents. Survivors include her husband, Matt of the home; her two sons, Bret Alexander (Melodie) of Balwin, Missouri and Dean Alexander (Shanna) of Appleton City; grandchildren: Ty Cumley (Olivia), Cory Cumley and Eli Mitchell of Appleton City; Matthew and Coleton Alexander and Rille Blackshear of Balwin; Nicholas Alexander and Lauren Alexander of Jefferson City, Missouri; one great-grandchild, Oakley Cumley; and one brother, David Ellinwood of Charleston, South Carolina