Raymond Andrew Kerley

December 28, 1932 - August 12, 2019

Raymond Andrew Kerley, age 86 years, a resident of rural Metropolis, Illinois, passed away Monday morning, August 12, 2019, at 4:56 AM at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. Andrew was born December 28, 1932 in Cobden, Illinois. He was the son of Bass H. and Laura (Murrell) Kerley. On August 13, 1955, Andrew was united in marriage to Virginia Lee Spurlock at Corinth, Mississippi. Together, Andrew and Jenny shared almost 60 years of marriage before her death on May 26, 2015. Andrew is survived by: his children – William (Cathy) Kerley of Knoxville, Tennessee, Andrea (Kent) Sommer of Grand Chain, and Timothy Kerley of Metropolis; 3 grandchildren – Stephanie (Rocky) Robins-Machan of Metropolis, Matt Kerley of Metropolis and Christopher Kerley of Knoxville, Tennessee; 2 great grandchildren – Aria Evans and Lennon Kerley both of Metropolis; a sister – Laura (Richard) Clayton of Vienna; 3 half-sisters – Joyce (Pee Wee) Schell, Rosemary Harper and Beatrice (Randal) Ford; as well as nieces and nephews, including a special nephew, Jerry (Sharon) Miller. Andrew was preceded in death by: his father – Bass H. Kerley; mother – Laura Palmer, wife – Virginia Spurlock Kerley, his stepmother – Frances Kerley; a sister – Helen Robinson; a brother – Bassie Ray “B.R.” Kerley and a half-sister – Doris Jean Kerley. Andrew was a 1951 graduate of Vienna High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War era from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955. Andrew was stationed in Germany during his military service. Andrew was employed for over 33 years at Allied-Signal (later Honeywell) Inc. in Metropolis. He retired in 1994 as a shift superintendent. Andrew was an avid hunter. He, along with his hunting buddies, enjoyed hunting in the evenings with their hounds. Additionally, Andrew was an expert on his family history and genealogy. He spent many hours on trips to track down information about his family from various regions of the country. Andrew was a member of the Johnson County Historical and Genealogical Society. He had archived his vast collection of research papers with the society. Andrew was a member of the Simpson Baptist Church. A graveside service honoring the life of Raymond Andrew Kerley will be conducted Thursday morning, August 15, 2019, at 10:30 AM at Rock Springs Cemetery near Simpson. Pastor David Wright will officiate. Military honors will be accorded. Those attending the service are asked to gather at the cemetery at 10:15 AM Thursday. There will be no public visitation. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, 320 East Walnut Street, Suite A, Carbondale, Illinois 62901. www.alz.org