Lela M. Vallow

Lela M. Vallow, 87, of Morris, passed away early Friday morning, November 22, 2024 at Morris Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 27,2024 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Morris, with Rev. Jason Stone officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 am until the time of the Mass. Interment will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Lela was born December 7, 1936 in Iuka, IL and was the daughter of Merle and Maxine (Monical) Young. She graduated from Salem Community High School. On February 4, 1955, she married William (Bill) Vallow at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Salem, IL.

She was a homemaker while her children were young. She was employed by M.E. Robinson Insurance Agency and later she and Bill owned Morris Shoe Repair and Sales which later became Morris Family Shoes.

She is survived by one son, William Michael Vallow of Pontiac; two daughters, Anna Marie (Edward) Louis of Campton Hills and Kathryn Jean (Charles) Worley of Seneca; five grandchildren, Matthew (Kelly) Louis of Keller, TX, Nicholas (Abbey) Louis of Greenwood, IN, Andrew Louis of Ft. Worth, TX, Theresa (Duncan) Brown, of Hennepin, and Daniel Worley of Marseilles; six great grandchildren with another one to come in January; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her daughter-in-law Melinda Vallow, her parents, her brother Marvin Young, and her sister Carolyn Allison.

Lela loved sewing quilts and quilting them by hand. Her family and community benefited from her many knitted and crocheted items. Lela was instrumental in starting the prayer shawl ministry at Immaculate Conception.

Memorials may be directed to Immaculate Conception Catholic School.

Fruland Funeral Home, 121 West Jefferson Street, in Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call the funeral home at 815-942-0700 or sign the online guestbook at www.frulandfuneralhome.com .