U.J. Stover

U. J. Stover

"Smokey"

Age 79 of Wilmington and formerly Gore, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday January 17, 2012 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood.

Born July 5, 1931 in Livingston, Tennessee, Smokey was a son of the late Carnis and Claris A. Pryor-Stover. He was raised and educated in Tennessee and Southern Illinois. Smokey was a veteran of the United States Army, entering into active duty on July 26, 1949 in Carmi, Illinois and serving during the Korean Conflict with the 101st Airborne Division, prior to his honorable discharge at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky on November 22, 1952. He married Gwen A. Blackburn and she preceded him on January 26, 2011. Smokey worked as a mechanic and his employment included positions at John Mansfield, Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, Kerr Glass in Plainfield, Universal Glass in Rockdale, U.S. Steel in Joliet and 7-Up in Joliet. He was also the former owner and operator of Stover's General Store in Lorenzo from 1976-1985. Smokey was a life member of the Wilmington V.F.W. and will be remembered for his enjoyment of fishing, raising birds and collecting coins.

Survivors include his son Michael (Traci) Stover of Wilmington; five grandchildren: Christal Grimes of Braidwood, David (Marie) Stover of Bourbonnais, Dawn (Jeff) Jackson of Wilmington, Tim Hutchinson of Iowa and Donald Hepp of Kentucky; eight great grandchildren: Austin, Autumn, Caleb, Keeley, Cole, Mia, Jenna and Drew; one brother Riley (Barb) Stover of Joliet; three sisters: Anna (Larry) Kisner, Judy (James) Boyd and U. Dean (Kenny) Taul, all of Carmi, Illinois; two sisters-in-law: JoAnn (the late John) Blackburn and LaDonna (Wilmer) Perry, both of Kansas, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, as well as his dear friend and neighbor Carla Manley of Oklahoma.

Smokey was preceded in death by his parents; wife Gwen; daughter Debra Lynn Hepp; granddaughter: Carolyn Hutchinson, brother Corbert, and one brother in infancy.

Visitation will be held on Sunday January 22, 2012 from 1:00PM until time of funeral service 3:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Burial will follow Thursday January 26, 2012 at Gore Cemetery in Gore, Oklahoma, where Smokey will be laid to rest with his wife Gwen.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Smokey's memory to his family for their distribution.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)