On November 11th, Ray Black said his last “I love you” to his three children and their families. He passed away while being treated at Prairie Heart Institute in Springfield, IL. Ray was preceded in death by the love of his life of 70 years, Joan Black; his parents Jack and Nellie Black; his sisters Dorothy Ross and Ruth Dowdell; and an infant brother Lester. Ray is survived by his daughter Connie(Tom) of Springfield, IL; sons Dan Black (Dotti) of Mt. Vernon and Darrell Black (Patty) of Salida, CO; six grandchildren, Matt Byerly (Julia), Eric Byerly(Angela), Andrew Black(Becca), Brittany Collier (Joseph), Zackray Black, Rhiannon Young (Jay); 7 great grandchildren; brother, Kenneth Black and wife, Shirley of Apopka, FL; and sister, Helen Gill of South Easton, MA; and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Visitation: 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Funeral Service: 12:00 P.M. Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Hughey Funeral Home with Mr. Randy Sells officiating. Interment: Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Memorials: Prairie Heart Foundation, Central Christian Church, or to the Coram Deo School.