James Leon Fox

He was born August 8, 1936 in Hannibal, Missouri to Lewis James and Velma (McCullough) Fox. He married Sharon Naomi Rees on October 14, 1964 in Peoria. She preceded him in death and passed on November 15, 2018 at their home. He was also preceded in death by his parents, one infant brother, Lewis Eugene Fox and one sister, Rose E. (Fox) Sparkman.

Surviving are one son, James R. (Leigh Ann) Fox of Edwards; two daughters, Amy (Shannon Paris) Fox of Mt. Vernon, Indiana and Kathleen “Kady” (Kevin Dupent) Trier of East Peoria; four grandchildren, James Dillon Fox, Emily E. Trier, Madison R. Trier and Sophia K. Dupent and one brother, Robert W. (Elsie) Fox of Springfield.

James was proud to be a veteran of the United States Army, where he served from 1960 - 1962. During his service he was an ASA Armed Guard with top security level. His travels in the Army took him to such places as East Africa (Eritrea), where he was privileged to be a convoy security escort for the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I. He also got the opportunity be a member of a safari that went through the Sudan and enjoyed exotic hunting…in other words it was more like a vacation for him! He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign War and the American Legion Post 16, both in Canton.

He had a strong work ethic from a young age where he fibbed about his age to get his first job at Peoria Brick Company in 1950 at the age of 14. He also traveled out of state for summer jobs as a teenager working at places, such a lumberyard and on a ranch as a ranch hand. That strong work ethic led him to his long-term job as a sheet metal worker for 41 years before retiring on September 29, 1998. He was a member of Sheet Metal Worker Union Local 1 in Peoria for 41 years.

He had a great love of hunting and fishing where his travels took him many places within and outside the United States. One of his favorite local fishing outings was running his boat on the Illinois River. He was an avid duck hunter and one of his favorite places to hunt was the Red Leg Duck Club. The last few years he enjoyed spending time at his farm that he specifically purchased for hunting near Lewiston, IL. He was a connoisseur of collecting duck and turkey calls. He was also a collector of Native American artifacts and other antiques. He was a Benefactor Life Member of National Rifle Association.

He enjoyed gardening and canning vegetables with his wife for many years.

One of his greatest accomplishments with his wife, besides his children, was personally building their house with their own hands from the ground up in 1971 to raise their family.

A celebration of James and Sharon’s life will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Military rites will be accorded by the Tazewell Military Rites Team and the United States Army at 3 p.m. His body has been donated to medical science.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society, One East Wacker, Suite 1500, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com