Rev. Lelon B Gatlin

Born August 30, 1929 in Craighead County, Arkansas to Lelon Walter and Ruby B. (Cobb) Gatlin, he married Pansy Eloise Allsup on May 9, 1952 in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Marsha (Scott) Frick of East Peoria and Carol Cynthia Meadows of North Pekin; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Bernice Powell of Tennessee and Gale (Jimmy) Powell of Michigan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Lelon Marcus Gatlin.

Lelon was a member of the Springfield Road Baptist Church in East Peoria.

He had worked as a millwright for Caterpillar, Inc. in East Peoria for 30 years, retiring in 1982.

A member of the Northern Illinois and Iowa General Baptist Association, he had served as Baptist minister at area churches for 55 years. A dependable and devoted minister, he was always there for anyone at any time, day or night.

Lelon enjoyed building homes as a side job throughout the years.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2014 at Springfield Road Baptist Church at 3212 Springfield Road in East Peoria. Pastor JustinCook and Pastor Duane Surels will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday, prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be given to his church at 3212 Springfield Rd. East Peoria, IL 61611 or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation at 640 N. Lasalle St. Chicago, IL 60654.