Katie Lee Vancil
Katie Lee (Horn) Vancil, 97, of Dowell, Ill., fought a good fight and finished her race at 3:14 p.m. on April 15, 2013 at the Fair Acres Rehab and Care Center in Du Quoin, Ill. Her children were near for her final triumph and rejoice knowing that she is alive in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Katie was born the youngest daughter of Charles and Laura (Clendenin) Horn on March 31, 1916 in Energy, Ill.
She married the love of her life, Scott Vancil, on Oct. 30, 1937 and faithfully enjoyed 65 years together before he received his final reward in heaven on Jan. 5, 2003. Their love created a heritage spanning four generations of 80 members in their immediate family. They include five children: Donna (Wayne) Poole, Elkville, Ill., Laura James, Marion, Ill., Virginia (Roger) Stewart, Dowell, Ill., Jim (Linda) Vancil, Elkville, Ill. and Anita (Charles) Kreid, Dowell, Ill., 13 grandchildren: Tammy (Jim) Seaward, Scott Morgan and Todd (Toni) Morgan, all of Elkville, Ill., Elisabeth James and Paul James of Marion, Ill., Tim (Melinda) Stewart of Vergennes, Ill., Gina (Paul) Noble of Murphysboro, Ill.; Mike (Christy) Stewart of Du Quoin, Ill., Jami (Russell Black) Vancil of Du Quoin, Ill., Terri (Troy) Young of Eldorado, Ill., Jim (Shelly) Vancil of Murphysboro, Ill., Brent (Kim) Kreid of Franklin, Tenn. and Kelli (Chad) Price of Energy, Ill., 31 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren completed the family that Katie loved.
She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends who were so faithful to love and cherish her.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Scott; a wonderful son-in-law, Mel James and a beautifully perfect great great granddaughter, Aislynn Heininger. Going on before her were her parents, Charles and Laura (Clendenin) Horn; four brothers and three sisters, Harold, Henry, Fisher and Leon Horn, Isabell (Horn) Miller, Margaret (Horn) Canady and Barbara (Horn) Williams.
Katie, known lovingly by her family as Granny, was a hardworking woman who always had a good word to say about others. Active throughout her life, it was not uncommon to find her building cabinets, mowing the yard or sending encouraging cards to others. Granny always taught her children the importance of having a personal relationship and serving the Lord Jesus with all their hearts. She loved playing the tambourine in church while she worshiped her Lord, most recently as a member of God's House of Prayer in Carterville. She possessed a generous servant's heart exemplified by her crocheting numerous afghans, capes and bedspreads which she gladly gave away. Many family and friends were blessed by Granny's Chicken & Dumplins and her delicious homemade pies. She enjoyed good conversation and routinely spoke of her baseball pitching endeavors as a youngster in Hallidayboro, Ill. and her love later in life of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Granny spent the final year of her life making memories with many new friends and nurses at Fair Acres Rehab and Care Center where staff affectionately nicknamed her Katie-Kate. She enjoyed visiting with her special roommate Eva, as they regularly played Bingo, exercised, performed the Harlem Shake and occasionally tried to escape!
Please share with Katie's family in celebration of love and life led by her family and Pastor George Calhoun of God's House of Prayer in Carterville, Ill. at Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin, Ill. for visitation on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m.
A service to honor her will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the Hallidayboro Cemetery at Hallidayboro.
Friends may make memorials to God's House of Prayer in Carterville, Ill. and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.