Willis (Bill) Eugene Elliott, aged 82 of Parker, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024, after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
He was born February 1, 1942, to parents Willis C. Elliott and Janie (Lee Elliott) Schumacher, in Dix, Illinois. Bill, or “Billy” as he was lovingly called, enjoyed a childhood full of music and adventures with his sisters Barbara and Bonnie. Frequent get-togethers with his large extended family, including dozens of his cousins he treasured greatly, provided memories he cherished and shared throughout his life. After graduating from Arcola High School in 1960, Bill moved north to Lake Zurich, Illinois where he worked multiple roles in electronics, before eventually joining the US Air Force. While serving in the Air Force, Bill became pen-pals with the daughter of a family friend, whom he would later marry. On July 20th, 1968, Bill married Elaine (Reuter) Elliott at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Algonquin, Illinois. They settled in nearby Crystal Lake and built a life there with their three children. He spent years there enjoying his passions of gardening, travel, home improvement projects and even rebuilding a vintage MG. Bill would rarely sit idle and was happiest when tinkering with one of his many hobbies. During his career, he worked at Aeroquip Technologies and Motorola, in electrical manufacturing. After retiring in 2004, Bill was excited to return to the Mt. Vernon area and reconnect with many family members he grew up with. He enjoyed tracing the family genealogy and looked forward to the annual family reunion to spend time with all the family he loved so very much. In 2021, Bill moved to Parker, Pennsylvania, where he spent the last few years of his life enjoying local daytrips and watching his great grandchildren’s ball games.
In addition to his wife, Elaine, he is survived by his children, Cindy Snyder and husband Brian of Parker, Pennsylvania, Jennifer Elliott of Orange, California and Jeff Elliott, of Woodstock Illinois; grandchildren Mara Judd Smaretsky and husband Phil of Bluffton, South Carolina, Cierra Snyder and fiancé Nathan of Parker, Pennsylvania, Alyssa Hutchison and husband Brice of Aurora, Ohio; great-grandchildren Taylor, Nolan, Michael and Charlie Smaretsky of Bluffton, South Carolina; sisters, Barbara Elliott Carpenter (Glenn) of Salem, Illinois and Bonnie Elliott Mitchell (Ron) of Yucaipa, California; brother-in-law, Walter Reuter (Betty) of Huntley, Illinois; nieces Becky (Tracy) Carpenter Timmerman, Lori Piske, Debbie Bakley, Cherri (Dennis) Moyers, Kristi (Scott) Poskitt, Debra McMurtrey; and nephew Mike (Joyce) Carpenter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Johnny Marvin Elliott.
A graveside memorial service for Bill will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. Graveside military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #141 of Mt. Vernon. Following the service, his family will be hosting a gathering for family at Salem Grace Church of the Nazarene in Salem, Illinois. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.