Carolyn Drue of Carrier Mills
Carolyn (Lanton) Drue, 78, of Carrier Mills, Illinois, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
Carolyn was born on July 28, 1943, to the late George and Florence (Jones) Lanton in the Lakeview community outside of Carrier Mills.
She was a lifelong member of the Carrier Mills East Washington Street Church of God and attended Lakeview Grade School, Carrier Mills High School and Southeastern Illinois College.
The greatest love of her life was Richard (Dickie) Drue Sr., formerly of Harrisburg, whom she married on April 28, 1961. Carolyn and Dickie were married for 35 years, until his death on July 6, 1996.
Initially, Carolyn and Dickie lived in Harrisburg, and in 1967, they moved into a farmhouse in the Lakeview community outside of Carrier Mills, just down the road from her father and mother. Carolyn continued to live in that house for the remainder of her life. Many of you know this house because Carolyn and Dickie made it an open and welcoming home full of love, laughter, and cooking.
Carolyn was very active in her church and was retired from the U.S. Forest Service. Her special interests included talking, cooking, playing the piano, quilting, traveling, bowling, supporting her children, grandchildren and everybody's children in sports. She was also a staunch champion of academic excellence.
She loved life and loved people regardless of blood relation or not; she was a grandma, aunt and friend to many. She fed everyone (hungry or not) and loved showing off her ongoing quilting projects. Most of all, she loved to host folks in her home and engage in lively conversations.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; Uncle William Archie Jones; her father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Mary Helen (Claybrook) Drue; seven sisters, one brother and four brothers-in-law, Velma Sumner, Willa (Martin) Williams, Joyce Green, Nola (John) Bell, Peggy (Charles) Beard, Nedra Redding; Boneva Morgan, baby brother Lanton, and brother-in-law, Charles Alvin Drue.
Survivors include her three children, son Richard (Donita) Drue Jr. of Grand Prairie, Texas and their children William Sr. (wife Jessica and children Jocelyn and William II), Julia and Melissa; son Brian (Shaun) Drue of Carrier Mills, and his children Jerica (son Joshua) and Jaycie; and daughter Leah Denise Drue (Brian Salone, significant other) of Harrisburg, and her children, Bahari and Blake.
Other survivors include her nephew/brother Ronald (Jeannine) Williams Sr. of Harrisburg; brother-in-law Ray Morgan of Roswell, Georgia; as well as many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and close friends.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 9, at Harrisburg High School, with public viewing from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., promptly followed by the funeral service.
Per Carolyn's wishes, COVID protocols will be strictly adhered to; masks are required for the duration of service, and chairs will be spaced for social distancing.
Graveside services will be at Lakeview Cemetery, 660 Taborn Road, outside of Carrier Mills.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to either "Lakeview Cemetery" and mailed to 1170 Taborn Road, Carrier Mills, IL 62917 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Felty Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn knew no strangers, and if she could share a word with you today, she would say, "All is well with my soul, and please go live a life filled with joy and peace. Finally, and above all, love God with all your heart and love thy neighbors."