Wanda Elmer

Wanda Aleen Elmer, age 95, departed this life for her heavenly home surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at her home in Miami, OK.

Wanda was born to Curge and Bertha Burkhart in Racine, MO at their home on September 1, 1929. Wanda grew up in Racine, MO. Wanda lost her mother when she was seven years old. Being the oldest girl of seven children, she had to grow up fast and help her father care for her siblings. As a young girl, the local bank, hosted a watermelon eating contest where she out ate the banker's son and won the contest. The banker was so surprised and delighted she beat his son he gave her extra money and added it to her winnings. She never ate another watermelon after that contest. She attended Willow Springs, a one room schoolhouse, till the eighth grade. The teacher taught through memorization of poetry and rhymes to help the children learn. Wanda was an adaptive learner and enjoyed it so much that the teacher had her instruct the younger children. She had read every book in the library. During WWII, she fibbed on her birth certificate so it would allow her to work for Camp Crowder doing laundry.

Walking across the bridge in Seneca, a handsome Marine in uniform caught her eye, as well as she caught his. It was love at first sight. After just turning seventeen, she was united in marriage to Harrie Elmer, in Columbus, KS at the courthouse in front of the Justice of the Peace on September 10, 1946. Through their union of marriage, they raised four children, Harriet Sue, Harrie Micheal, James Mitchell, and Rebecca Lynne. Their marriage lasted forty seven years and nine months until Harrie proceeded her in death on June 16, 1994.

Wanda worked as a housewife. She was exceptionally good and talented at making the dollar stretch. They raised butcher rabbits, chickens, cattle, and hogs. They grew a large, beautiful garden, where Wanda would always state that it would feed Cox's army. She enjoyed canning the vegetables from the garden until Harrie brought in more just as she thought she was finished canning. She would bake cakes in the winter and freeze them, so in the summer months the oven wouldn't heat up the house. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She could whip up anything with whatever they had. She was not only a good cook, but seamstress. Continually patching up the boy's jeans from working in the hayfield to making the girl's dresses and doll clothes. A woman of many hidden talents. After warning her husband to put up his prize-winning rooster, who would try to chase her and flog her. She had enough one day after being chased to the back porch. She grabbed a gun, shot him through the screen door. She had the rooster cooking on the stove turning him into chicken and noodles and had the screen door patched all before Harrie had made it home from work. Wanda never had a driver's license nor had a birthday party of her own until her family surprised her with one on her ninetieth birthday.

She was an avid reader of Murder Mystery books and had quite the library of her own. She enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and British comedies. She enjoyed a variety of music from big band to Tennessee Ernie Ford to The Irish Rovers. She was very knowledgeable and could recite poems and rhymes from heart. She was exceptionally good at crossword puzzles. She enjoyed going to thrift stores, garage sales, or anywhere where they had fried chicken and hot tea. She loved watching birds, especially having a charm of hummingbirds surround her every year. She was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.

She had a fun-loving quirky sense of humor. Always singing with her children while doing the dishes and could dance a good Irish jig all the way to the Charleston when they were growing up. She was a dedicated and loving mother. She cared for her oldest daughter Susie with Cerebral Palsy. She cared for her in their home for as long as she could until placing her in the nursing home. Wanda never missed a day of going to see her and brought her food until she proceeded her in death on February 14, 2001. Wanda's love for her family was her most cherished prized possession.

Wanda was the last living Burkhart cousin of her generation. Wanda is survived by her sons, Harrie "Mike" Elmer, of Miami, OK. & James "Mitch" Elmer, wife Carolyn, of Fairland, OK, & daughter Rebecca "Lilly" King, husband Jimmy "Poncho", of Miami, OK. 6 Grandchildren; Brian Elmer, Joshua Elmer, Christopher Elmer, Jacob King, Aaron King, and Jonathan King. 9 Great Grandchildren.

Proceeded in death by her parents. Husband, Harrie Elmer. Daughter, Harriet "Susie" Elmer. Brothers, Walter Burkhart, Waldo "Darieus" Burkhart, Wallace Burkhart, Winford Burkhart, Wayne Burkhart. Sister, Wilma Reed.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7pm, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, Seneca, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Eastside Baptist Church, Miami, OK with John Crowley and Mike Mayfield officiating. Burial will be in the Burkhart Cemetery, Racine, MO with Jacob King, Aaron King, Jonathan King, Joshua Elmer, Christopher Elmer and Brian Elmer serving as pallbearers.

In lieu of flower memorial contributions can be made to Burkhart Cemetery. Please send checks to

Attn: Karren Love
Burkhart Cemetery, INC
PO Box 871
Racine, MO 64858