GALESBURG - Gary L. Boone, 73, Galesburg, died at 7:09 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 19, 1941, in Galesburg, to LeRoy and Alda Briggs Boone. He married Iona Wells on July 22, 1961, in Galesburg. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Michael Boone of Texas and Jon Boone of Galesburg; a daughter, Ellen (and Todd) Basham of Vacaville, California; a brother, Thomas (and Donna) Boone of Greenfield, Indiana; two grandchildren, Tim Basham and Virginia Basham, both of California; and a great-granddaughter, Cheyenne Basham of California. Also surviving is a cousin, Joan (and Clarence) Collins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Crystal Boone in 1998; a brother, Carl Dean Boone; and a sister, Rosalie Boone.
Gary worked for Alton Box Company, Smurfit Stone and Rock Tenn for 49 and a half years and retired in 2009. After his retirement, he was a crossing guard for the city of Galesburg for one year. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1959. He attended First Church of the Nazarene. He was a member of the United Steelworkers Union. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. He was a kind, gentle, devoted man.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at First Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Harold Berrian will officiate. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Cremation will be accorded following the funeral service and burial of cremated remains will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, American Breast Cancer Society or Galesburg Rescue Mission. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.