Cheryl Ruth Gracey, 77, of Hillsboro, died on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Hillsboro Health.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Hough Funeral Home in Hillsboro, with a visitation to be held prior at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Green Hill Cemetery in Van Burensburg. Cremation rights will be accorded. A luncheon will follow at First Baptist Church in Hillsboro. Hough and Sons Funeral Home of Hillsboro is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ms. Gracey was born on Jan. 23, 1947, in Los Angeles, CA, to Justin Neuenschwander and Geneva Whitten.
A California girl at heart, Ms. Gracey spent the majority of her childhood in Altadena, CA, and Glendora, CA. She experienced her first culture shock when her family moved to their familial home in Coffeen at the age of 15. Ms. Gracey graduated from Hillsboro High School with the class of 1965. She went on to work as a secretary for the Illinois Department of Corrections, where she retired from after more than 30 years.
Following retirement, Ms. Gracey relocated to Sarasota, FL, where she happily spent 15 years as a snowbird, living near her sister and brother-in-law. While in Florida, she developed many close friendships and loved trips to the beach and evenings out with her dinner and wine club. During this time she made a commitment to Christ and was baptized in the Gulf of Mexico. She was an active member of Gulf Gate Church.
In her later years she returned to Hillsboro to be close to her family. She was an ardent book lover and spent many happy Thursday evenings laughing and discussing books at Hillsboro Public Library with her book club.
Among her many hobbies, Ms. Gracey loved to knit and crochet and enjoyed selling her items (and socializing with fellow vendors) at the Hillsboro Farmers Markets. She was always up for an outing, especially if it meant she could spend time with her grandchildren. She was especially proud of her great-grandchildren, and her greatest joy was that she got to be an integral part of their childhoods. One of her favorite memories to share was earning her nickname, “speedy grandma.”
Ms. Gracey was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro. She cherished the many friendships she made with her church family and especially loved her Friday night dinners with them.
Ms. Gracey is survived by her daughter, Justine Miles; granddaughters, Tori (husband, Coran) O’Dell and Caitlyn (husband, Kenny) Voyles; great-grandchildren, Reagan and Lucas Voyles, and Glenn and Archer O’Dell; sisters, Connie (husband, James) Miles, Celene (husband, Bill) Harrelson and Catherine (husband, Mark) Carlock; nephews and nieces, James (wife, Shelly) Miles, Kevin Miles, Dawn (husband, Dave) Parker, Sara (husband, Rusty) Duff, Lainie (husband, Mike) McNary, Mark (wife, Jennifer) Carlock and Lydon (wife, Jes) Carlock; great-nieces and nephews, Kaiden and Avery Miles, Austin Pierce, Alexander, Caleb and Lucas Duff, Ashlyn, Dillyn and Raylyn McNary, Kylie Williams, Kennadie, Loralei and Levi Carlock, Rheys, Rhett and Rhenly Carlock, Brandon (wife, Taylor) Parker, Dylan and Carson Parker, Joshua (wife, Kara) Hale and Jesse and Lucas Sowell; and friends she loved like family.
She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved niece, Holly Miles.
Memorials may be made to TASC (The Autism Support Connection) at 1902 Summit Street, Hillsboro, IL.
