E. Richard Bails

E. Richard Bails, 81

Posted Sunday, September 15, 2013 6:16 pm

E. Richard Bails, 81, of Harvel died on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, at 11:06 p.m. in his residence after a lengthy illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Bails are to be held Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, at 10 in the First Presbyterian Church of Morrisonville. The Rev. Jim Ferrill will officiate, and burial will be in Morrisonville Cemetery. Visitation is this afternoon, Monday, Sept. 16, from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Perfetti Funeral Home in Morrisonville.

Mr. Bails was born on Feb. 2, 1932, in Taylorville to the late Everett and Ellen (McWard) Bails. He married Deanna Dudley on June 14, 1959, in Prophetstown, and she survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Lisa (Lynn) Waldeck of Farmersville and Linda (Curt) Poe of Williamsville; two sons, Steven Bails of Raymond and Jim (Annette) Bails of Springfield; ten grandchildren, Jarrod (Kara) Waldeck, Aaron (Briana) Waldeck, Jessica Waldeck, Nathan Waldeck, Caleb Poe, Josh Bails, Drew Bails, Lauren Bails, Keenan Gilpin, and Morgan Bails; and one sister, Mary Ellen Wernsing of Springfield.

A graduate of Morrisonville High and the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana), he held a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he began his lifelong farming career in the Harvel area.

He was a member and had served as president of the Raymond-Harvel Kiwanis Club, was a member of the Harvel Village Board and of the Christian County Farm Bureau Board. He also served on the Christian County Farm Supply Board for seventeen years. He was a fifty-year member of the Morrisonville Masonic Lodge #681 and a member of the Ansar Shrine of Springfield. He participated in several parades each summer with the Three Wheels of Ansar Shrine Unit.

He also was a member and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Morrisonville. He was a licensed ham radio operator and belonged to the Christian County Ham Radio Club. An avid Cardinal fan, he always enjoyed traveling, photography, hunting and time spent with children and grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be directed to the University of Illinois College of ACES Scholarship Fund, the Raymond-Harvel Fire Department, or the National Parkinson Foundation.