J. Eldon Elledge

Joel Eldon Elledge, 90, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at his home in Oak Grove, Missouri.  His family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26^th at Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove.  Graveside services will follow at 2:00 p.m. in Oak Grove Cemetery.  Eldon’s family requests that you come dressed in overalls if you have them.

Eldon was born July 26, 1936, in Vernon County, Missouri, the son of Virgil Noel and Ophelia Marie (Long) Elledge.  He married Sandra Sue Roberts on October 19, 1957 and she preceded him in death on July 3, 2022.  They had been married for almost 65 years.

Dad was a man who always had to be doing something. Sitting still just wasn’t in his nature. There was always something to fix, something to build, or another project waiting for his attention.

And of course, Dad was almost always wearing his overalls.  In fact, I don’t think any of us can picture Dad without them on!  They were a part ow who he was.

He took great pride in his vegetable garden, his little orchard, and especially his lawn, which he kept in immaculate condition. Everything had to be just right, and of course, it had to be done Dad’s way!

But even with all that attention to detail, Dad did have a few mishaps along the way. Like the fact that he managed to drive his lawnmower into the creek — not once, but twice!

And one of those times, he ended up with his face stuck in the mud!

Now, for a man who could invent, build, or fix just about anything, you would think he could manage to keep his lawnmower out of the creek! But apparently, even MacGyver had his off days.

And Dad truly was our very own MacGyver. If he needed a special tool or something to make a job easier, he would simply figure out how to make it himself. His mind was always working, and his hands were rarely still.

He was determined, resourceful, and extremely stubborn. He knew how he wanted things done, and there wasn’t much convincing him otherwise.

But those are the things that made Dad who he was. The perfectly manicured lawn, the garden, the fruit trees, his endless projects, his inventions, and yes, even those unforgettable trips into the creek.

When we remember Dad, we won’t just remember all the things he could do. We’ll remember the little moments, the funny stories, his determination, and all the things that made him one of a kind.

When I close my eyes and picture Dad, I see him in his overalls, out in his yard, working on something, making sure everything is just right.

And I have a feeling that every time we see a beautifully kept lawn, a thriving garden, or even a lawnmower a little too close to a creek, we’ll think of Dad and smile.

His survivors include his daughter, Shari Palmer (Leigh); his son, David Elledge (Susan); six grandchildren: Jill Mattiello, Craig Foree, Brian Foree, Joseph Palmer, Hannah McBride, and Daniel Elledge; eight great-grandchildren; and brother, Lawrence Elledge (Carolyn).  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Karen Small (Philip).

Arrangements by Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove, Missouri.