Melvin Boaz

MARION-Melvin `Tuffy` Boaz, 74, of Marion passed away at 6:10 PM, Saturday, May 8, 2004 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Darrell Wimberly officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at the funeral home. Masonic services will be held at 7:00 PM Tuesday evening. Burial will be at Wolf Creek Cemetery, southwest of Marion. Military rites will be held at the cemetery by the Marion VFW Post #1301 and the Marion American Legion Post #147. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Southern Illinois; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mr. Boaz was born on July 23, 1929 in Williamson County, Illinois to Aaron and Mamie (Bunker) Boaz. He married Venita Owens on September 3, 1955 in Williamson County, Illinois and she survives. Other survivors include sons and daughter-in-law, Aaron Lee Boaz, James Boaz both of Marion, and Donald and Sara Boaz of Belleville; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Tim Legere of Murphysboro; eight grandchildren, Joshua Boaz, Charity Hamilton, Jesse Boaz, Justin Boaz, Peyton Boaz, Lindsey Legere, Alex Legere and Philip Legere; four great grandchildren, Blake Boaz, Bailey Boaz, Dustin Allen and Gillian Allen; two brothers, Milton Boaz of Marion and Vail Boaz of St. Petersburg, Florida; and two sisters, Ida Mae Pritchett of Chicago and Patsy Owens of Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Aaron, William and Calvin Boaz; and two sisters, Edith Riley and Virginia Ropp. Mr. Boaz retired from Dover Elevator Company after several years of employment. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Marion. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict, one of six brothers with almost 100 years of military service. He was a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local #61, the Williamson County Shrine Club, Masonic Lodge Wolf Creek Chapel Hill #719, Marion American Legion Post #147, a lifetime member of Marion VFW Post #1301, and a volunteer with the Republican Party. He was an avid gun collector. He loved to hunt, fish, and drink coffee with his `Buddies`.