Jim LeForge

Jim LeForge, 85, of rural Ava, passed away at 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 at home. Jim was born Aug. 31, 1929 in Terre Haute, Indiana a son to the late Forrest Gerald and Lova (Moss) LeForge. He was united in marriage to Mary Lou Spivey on June 9, 1954 in Hudsonville, Ill. Jim and Mary celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2014; Mary survives of Ava. He attended the First Baptist Church in Dowell, Ill. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served with the Army Special Intelligence Forces during the Korean conflict, serving for three years in Austria and Germany. He was a retired electrical engineer and had worked at a number of mid-western power plants.

Memorial services will be on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Dowell, Ill. Pastor Philip White will officiate. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has been accorded. There will be no visitation preceding the services; there will be a reception after the memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Dowell. Memorials are encouraged and may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Survivors include his wife Mary LeForge of Ava; one son and daughter-in-law, Jimmie II and Kathy LeForge of Chester, Ill.; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Vicki and Roy Wyrick of Holden, Mo., Kathie and Doug Ticer of Du Quoin, Ill., Linda and Montie Mezo of Ava, Ill., Paula and Terry McClanahan of Christopher, Ill. and Julia LeForge of Ava, Ill. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Leanne Griffin Moore who passed away in 1998; two brothers, Gary LeForge and Gene Edward LeForge; one great-grandson, Gabriel Mazurak and one son-in-law, Greg Hanson. To send a condolence or find additional information, visit the memorial tribute at www.crawshawfuneralhome.com.