Ray Charles Gant

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Ray Charles Gant, 71, of Du Quoin, passed away at 8:45 a.m., Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 at the Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

Ray was a retired coal miner. He had also worked at Wal-Mart and Turco Mfg. in Du Quoin. Ray had been a resident of Chicago for 16 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin and the American Legion. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

He was born Feb. 16, 1939 at Du Quoin, Ill., the son of Curtis W. and Anna M. (Krmitzski) Gant.

He married Marsha Schram on Oct. 22, 1966 at Du Quoin and she passed away on July 1, 1994. He then married Myra Noakes Born on July 18, 1998 at Du Quoin and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin, two sons- Freddie Ray Gant and wife Sandy of Du Quoin, Kevin Gant and wife Jamie of Highland, daughter- Dana Rice and husband Ryan of Lake St. Louis, Mo., stepson- Wayne Alan Born and wife Marianne of Du Quoin, brother- John Gant and wife Iva of Christopher, 15 grandchildren- Jacob Gant, Braden Gant, Alexa Gant, Cari Bailey, Will Higgerson, Krista Gant, Anthony Gant, Abigail Gant, Emily Amos, Megan Amos, Haley Amos, Colin Rice, Dalton Rice, Makaylie Rice, and Emily Born.

He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife.

Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Joe Wagner officiating.

Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.

Burial was in the Old Du Quoin Cemetery at Du Quoin.

Military graveside rites were conducted by the Du Quoin VFW and American Legion.

Friends may make memorials to the First Baptist Church Building Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.