TAMAROA – Meril Queen, 77, of Tamaroa, passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Sparta Community Hospital, Sparta, Illinois.

Meril was born April 12, 1945, in Bremen, IL, to Ira and Rebecca (Huggins) Queen. He married Thelma D. Kendall on September 15, 1967, in Platte City, MO, she passed away on March 18, 2022. Meril was a Veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a retired maintenance personnel and a member of the V.F.W. in DuQuoin, IL.

Meril is survived by his children: Shelly (Billy) Conway of Ava, IL, Kelly Queen of Chester, IL, Meril Queen, Jr, of DuQuoin, IL, Niki Keller (Nate) of Tamaroa, IL; grandchildren: Brandon Queen (Brittany), Shelsea Luehr (Aaron), Kameron Queen, Candace Queen, Brittany Depper, Todd Depper, Larry Depper, Dustin Queen, Matthew Queen, Savannah Tincher, Mandi Queen, Hailey Queen, Nathan Queen, Naomi Keller, Trenity Nycole, Dacey Keller, Hannah Patterson, Emma Patterson, Sumer Patterson, Nathan Keller II; great grandchildren: Hunter Gipson, Aiden Gipson, Raelyn Downey, Bentley Depper, Kenna Depper, Kasey Queen, Karsen Downey, Kaylee Downey, Jalyn Luehr, Madalynn Luehr, Graham Depper, Deryck Depper;  and a brother, Ovid Queen (Judy) of Columbia, IL.

Meril is also preceded in death by parents, siblings, Dale, Rod, Fern, Lester, Ira Jr, and Hilda Moss.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Loyalty Missionary Baptist Church, Eden, IL, with Rev. Tom Foster officiating. Burial to follow at Cutler Cemetery, Cutler, IL. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Steeleville, IL, where family and friends may call from 5 - 8 pm, Tuesday and 1 - 2 pm, Wednesday at the church. Memorials may be given to Wounded Warriors and can be mailed to Wilson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 217, Steeleville, IL 62288. To sign the guestbook, visit www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net .