Illa Mae (Harnish) Huff

Illa Mae Huff, 71, of East Leroy, MI, went to be with her Lord on Monday, January 11, 2021.

Illa was born May 31, 1949 in Kendallville, IN, to Walter and Cordelia Elizabeth (Goodpastor) Harnish. She was a 1967 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School and attended Kellogg Community College. Though she held many different jobs over the years, her favorite and most recent was office manager at Dr. Goldstein's practice.

Illa Mae Harnish married Donald William Huff at Southside Bible Church in Battle Creek, MI, on Valentine's Day, 1971. On their fifteenth anniversary, they renewed their vows among family and friends at Calvary Baptist Church, also in Battle Creek, MI. They were currently attending Wakeshama Community Church in East Leroy, MI.

Illa will be remembered for her generosity, her tender heart, and her genuine love for others. Her grandchildren meant everything to her, and she loved spending every minute with them she could. She liked to make cards and write poems for her family and friends, and she enjoyed canoeing and playing cards as well.

Illa is survived by her husband, Don; her son, Darren (Jody) Huff; her daughter Nicole (Mark) Iannone; her grandchildren, Rachael and Emelia Huff, and Nate, Jake, and Ethan Eberhard; three sisters, Sandy Finney of Battle Creek, Mary (Robert) Waters of Milton, FL, Pam (Bob) Sackett of Battle Creek; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and their families. Illa was preceded in death by her parents; a twin sister, Sue Howard; her brother, Dick Harnish; and her brother-in-law, Dick Finney.

Friends will be received 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 14, 2021 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. The funeral service will be held for immediate family only 8:30 a.m. Friday, January 15, 2021 at the funeral home. Committal and internment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the service is limited to only 25 people. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/event/614469, or you may also view it on Farley Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home Facebook page.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.