Malesa Talmage

Malesa Beth Talmage, 51, of Cypress, Ill., died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis, Ill.

Malesa was born in Cape Girardeau and raised in Grand Chain, Ill.

She graduated from Century Unit District 100 High School in 1977 to attend Shawnee College, where she graduated in 1979. She then attended Southeast Missouri State University and received a degree in education in 1981. Following graduation, she became an elementary school teacher at Century Unit District 100 near Ullin, Ill., where she would remain for 29 years. In 1998, she received a specialization in early childhood education from Southern Illinois University.

While settled in Cypress, she remained a loyal member of the United Methodist Church in Belknap, Ill., and a member of the Eastern Star Society. She was also a member of the Massac Homemakers Society.

Surviving is her husband Oscar; a daughter, Jenna and her husband, Dr. Blaine Eubanks, a son, Brenden; her parents, Virginia and Preston George; two sisters, Jennifer and husband Don Bopp and her sister Annette and her brother Anthony and his wife, Kim.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Century Elementary School Gymnasium, with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the same location.

Burial will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Grand Chain.

Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: Komen St. Louis Affiliate, P.O. Box 790129, Dept. SK, St. Louis, MO 63179-0129, or to the Heather Harper Treat Memorial Foundation. Envelopes to be provided.