William R. Valerius

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ William Ray Valerius, 73, of Elkville, passed away at 10:10 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2008, at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Bill had been Superintendent for Elverado School District from 1971 to 1989. He had been Principal for Elkville Grade School for four years and had taught math for four years at Lincoln School in Carbondale. He was a member of the Elkville Christian Church, Daytona, Fla. Moose Lodge, Carbondale Eagles, Du Quoin American Legion and Illinois Teacher's Association. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War.

He was born August 14, 1934, at Elkville, the son of Adolph and Olive (Casleton) Valerius.

He married Helen (Crabb) Messer on July 1, 1988, at Daytona, Fla. and she survives.

He is survived by his wife of Elkville; two sons, Dirk Valerius and wife Sharon and Derek Valerius, all of Elkville; three step sons, Curtis Messer, Robert Messer, and James Messer; five grandchildren, Kia, Caleb, Alec, Savannah, and Max; four step grandchildren; Christopher Messer, Trevor Messer, Janetta Messer, and Madison Messer; and one sister, Doris Little and husband Carroll of Decatur.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruby Busby; and one brother, Jimmy Adolph Valerius.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 10, 2008, at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Bro. Gary Pruitt and Bro. Ron Kreid officiating.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.

Burial will be in the Elkville Cemetery at Elkville.

Memorials may be made to the William R. Valerius Mathematics Scholarship Award and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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