Raybern Bernice Quinn
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Raybern Bernice Quinn, 87, of Millbury, Mass., formerly of Du Quoin, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 at the Millbury Health Care Center in Millbury, Mass.
He was born Oct. 1, 1924 at Scheller, Ill. His parents were Salathiel Lassie Quinn (1884-1973) and Mary Storey (1901-1975). He was the oldest son of eight children. His sister Lucille (1923-1924), sister Mary Louise (1925-1988) and brother Donald (1942-1995) preceded him in death. Still living are sisters Roberta Waller, Shirley Murry, Vera Morgan and brother - Salathiel, Jr. of Du Quoin. He has many nieces and nephews who loved him and will miss him as well.
Raybern served in the Army during World War II as a medic. He was severely wounded in New Guinea, being hit in the head with a rifle butt by a Japanese soldier. He spent six months in a hospital but finally recovered.
In 1946 he married Pauline L. Wagner. From this union was born his daughter, Monita Pauline Quinn. She married David Hutchison and they gave Raybern two grandchildren, Terry Duayne Hutchison and Heather Hutchison. Heather married Michael Keith and they gave Raybern his great grandson, Nathan Keith.
In 1950 Raybern married Roma Waller. They had one child, Billy Ray Quinn. He preceded his father in death in 1982.
In 1969 Raybern married Betty Jane Liska Rees. They were married for 42 years. They lived several years in Las Vegas and then settled in Paducah, Ky. No children were born to this union, but two step children, Sherry Rees Mitchell and Scott Allyn Rees were added to his family. This addition included six grandchildren, Scott Rees, Jr., Thomas Mitchell, Daniel Mitchell, Kara Hackett, Nathan Mitchell and Hannah Mitchell. He also added 17 great grandchildren to his family.
Raybern was an avid hunter, bagging 75 deer in his lifetime. He loved to fish and go camping. He was famous for his gardening, raising enormous produce, including a giant hybrid plum tomato that he developed himself. He was trained by the Chevrolet company as a body repairman and had his own body shop on Wells Street. He raised dogs and horses and became a commercial pilot. He enjoyed searching for Indian arrowheads and making fishing rods. He and Betty loved to travel and visited most of the United States. They spent winters in Ruskin, Fla. and leave many friends there.
In 2011, he and wife Betty moved to Massachusetts to his step daughter Sherry's and son-in-law Michael's home due to health issues. On Jan. 9, 2012, Betty passed away.
Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Joe Wagner officiating.
Friends called from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin V.F.W. and American Legion.
Friends may make memorials to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.