Elizabeth Eloise (Derry) Bisby peacefully entered into the care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 12:20 on September 27, 2026, at Bickford Cottage in Macomb. Eloise was born at home in Industry, Illinois, on April 11, 1928, to Lloyd and Ruby (Eddington) Derry. Before she was one year old, the family moved to a farm west of Burnside where she lived until her elopement with James S. Bisby on October 11, 1948. They were married in the First Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

Learning was always important to Eloise. She attended Burnside Grade School and one year of high school in Burnside before it consolidated with Carthage. She then transferred to Nauvoo High School where she graduated. She would have been the Valedictorian of her class but was denied that recognition because she had not attended all four years at Nauvoo. Eloise continued her education at Carthage College, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. Eloise taught first in Ferris and then in Burnside. After ten years as an elementary education teacher, she returned to college at Illinois State University for Special Education certification. Her new certification required a move to the Dallas City-Lomax school district. The last twenty years of her teaching career were spent in the Nauvoo-Colusa district.

Eloise was chosen by the Hancock County Retired Teachers Association for recognition as the 1999 Retired Teacher of the Year. Finding that retirement was not for her, Eloise started a preschool in the Burnside Methodist Church and operated it for two years.

She was an active member of the Burnside Methodist Church where she played the piano and organ for over 70 years. She was also active in the United Methodist Women organization. She served as secretary of the Hancock County Retired Teachers Association and as a volunteer reader at the Hancock County Nursing Home.

As much as she loved teaching, Eloise's greatest joy came from being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also loved flower gardening and reading. She was an example of faith and grace to all who knew her.

Eloise is survived by four sons, Roger (Karen) of Carthage, Rodney of Newman, Illinois, Greg (Bonnie Helms) of Carthage, Jeffery of Burnside and one daughter, Rachel (Gary) Sutton of Macomb. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew. Also surviving are Bonnie's daughters, Melissa (Chris) Mott, Sara (Steve) Swallow and their families, Rodney's stepsons, Doug (Penny), Dan (Erin) and Kevin (Lauren) Krabel and their families.

After 72 years of marriage, James (Bud) preceded Eloise in death on December 1, 2020. She was also preceded by her parents, one sister-in-law, Harriet Green, two daughters-in-law, Linda (David) Bisby and Carolyn (Krabel) Bisby, one grandson, and one niece.

A funeral service will be held at 10am on Monday, October 5, 2026, at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with burial to follow at Moss Ridge Cemetery in Carthage. Visitation will be held Sunday evening, October 4, 2026, from 4pm – 6pm at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage. Memorials may be made out to Shriners Hospital or the Hearts of Hancock Humane Society. Printy Funeral Home is handling arrangements.