Dr. Milton Leon Axley

Dr. Milton Leon Axley, 85, of Peoria, passed away peacefully Friday, July 18, 2014, at his home.

He was born Aug. 18, 1928, in Hardscrabble near Du Quoin, Ill., to Clyde and Annie L. (Lively) Axley. He married Marietta E. Shurtz on Sept. 16, 1950 in Davenport, Iowa.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Marietta Axley of Peoria; two children, M. Joyce Myers of Morton and Dr. Milton J. (Shelagh Smith) Axley of Rockville, Md.; two grandchildren, David (Abby) Ely of Morton and Elizabeth Axley of Rockville, Md.; two great grandchildren, Zane and Izzy Ely; his Aunt Jackie and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son-in-law, Dwight "Abe" Myers; one sister, Betty Jean Houchins; one niece, Doris Walters and his grandfather, Milton J. Lively, who held a special place in his heart.

Milton was an Army veteran, having served in Korea.

Milton was a chiropractor in the Peoria area for 50 years and a former member of Prairie State Chiropractic Association. He was instrumental in establishing the initial licensing requirement that allowed chiropractors to practice in the state of Illinois. While serving as the association president, he organized the donation of a leopard to the Peoria Zoo.

He was of the Baptist Faith and was a member of Woodland Baptist Church in Peoria.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, both at the funeral home. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Peoria, where military rites will be conducted.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Runners Association or South Side Mission, both in Peoria.

To view Milton's video tribute or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.