Bill Choate of Ozark

Bill Choate, age 78 years and a resident of rural Ozark, Illinois, passed away at 2:55 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2019, at Herrin Hospital.

Bill was born July 2, 1941 in New Burnside. He was the eldest of two sons born to Lowell Herbert "Toe" Choate and Beulah Mae (Wall) Choate.

On July 21, 1961, Bill was united in marriage to Donna Jean Simmons at Stonefort. Donna preceded him in death on July 18, 2017.

Survivors include two daughters, Kristi Raben of Evansville, Indiana and Kara Rash of Ozark; four grandchildren, Jared, Andrew and Kelsi Raben and Baylee (Shawn) Penrod; five great-grandchildren, Kennedee, Kayden, Annie, Ellie and Adam; a brother and sister-in-law, Bob (Linda) Choate of Boaz, Kentucky; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to his parents and wife, Bill was preceded in death by a son, Scott Eric Choate.

Bill was a 1959 graduate of Vienna High School. He joined the International Union of Operating Engineers Local #318 in 1960 and worked as an operating engineer throughout his career until his retirement in 2003.

For 10 years, Bill was employed at Burning Star Mine No. 5 near DeSoto as a dozer operator. Bill served on the IUOE Local #318 Executive Board as well as serving as local treasurer for a time.

Bill was very community-minded. He loved people and was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed. Bill served for more than 26 years as a member of the Burnside Water District board and served as chairman for 14 years, a position he still held at the time of his passing. Additionally, Bill served as a member of the New Simpson Hill School Board for eight years. He was a former member of the Wise-Robinson Cemetery board. Bill was a member of the Stonefort General Baptist Church.

Bill is remembered for his love of restoring and trading tractors and trucks. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time in the woods. Bill enjoyed hunting ginseng and had also raised bird dogs and enjoyed quail hunting. Bill was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

Bill loved to visit with his friends. He was a proud member of the "Ozark University." Bill is fondly remembered for his love of family and his generous and giving nature. He was a father figure to many and had frequent front porch sessions providing his wisdom and advice.

A celebration of the life of Bill Choate will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Jeff Owens will officiate. Burial will be in the Wise-Robinson Cemetery north of Ozark.

Visitation will be conducted from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.

Memorials may be made to the Heather Harper Treat Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 98, Vienna, IL 62995 or to the Wise-Robinson Cemetery, c/o Rhonda O'Neil, 1255 Ozark Road, Ozark, IL 62972.

To share a memory of Bill or to leave an online message of condolence for his family, visit www.baileyfh.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.