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Kevin Joiner, formerly of Sesser

Kevin Joiner passed away Friday, April 3, 2020 in a quiet bedroom at his daughter's home. A bedroom where he could both feel the springtime air and see the flower beds. A bedroom where his grandson could buzz in with a toy or a snack. A bedroom where family gathered in the last days to retell stories and laugh deep belly laughs. A bedroom decorated with pictures of those he loved the most. A bedroom where his best hats were on display.

His affinity for those hats may have been inherited from his Dad, Ronald. Kevin was born May 3, 1964, the third child of Ronald and Linda Joiner. Growing up, he would have grabbed a hat to go fishing any chance he had. In the winter, he suited up as #45 on the Sesser-Valier basketball team and was a proud teammate of the 1978 junior high state championship team. He traded his hat for a helmet in high school and played football for the Red Devils alongside his brother, Richard. Kevin graduated from Sesser-Valier High School in 1982.

Kevin's hat collection continued to grow. He was meticulous about the cars and trucks he owned, only ever donning a Ford hat. He was an avid sports fan; many a summer night he could be found wearing a St. Louis Cardinals hat and watching all nine innings, many a winter night a Saluki or Illini hat and catching a basketball game, on Sunday afternoons in the summer, a Nascar hat, and on Sunday afternoons in the winter, a Bears hat.

Kevin put on one of his most important hats, that of Dad, in April 1990. His daughter, Lindi, was who he worked hardest for, and whom he was most proud. This hat never came off, but did get upgraded, when Lindi and her husband, Andy, had Grayson in January 2015. Kevin put on the hat of PaPa, and he and Grayson were two peas in a pod, and often partners in crime.

He valued his family most and would both give the shirt off his back and the hat off his head to someone who needed it. He shared many a rich meal with family at the holidays, at family reunions, and just simple gatherings, the best of which were finished with a homemade coconut cream pie from his sister, June.

At his core, it is most important to consider what Kevin hung his hat on. Kevin was one of the most selfless men you could meet, helping in small and big ways any chance he could. He never missed the opportunity to inject humor into any situation. He was deeply thoughtful, characterized best by a phone call on every birthday, and out of the blue calls just to see "how you were doing."

Kevin's health declined in the last several years, but his spirit never did. And while his time on this earth was undeniably too short, he joins a host of some of the Valier Patch's greatest. A card game has commenced, a lawn in Heaven has been freshly mowed, and a fishing tournament is likely scheduled for tomorrow. Those participating are encouraged to wake up early and have coffee at Heaven's Maid Rite. He will be missed. He will be missed for his smile. He will be missed for his laugh. He will be missed for his hugs. He will be missed for his love.

And yet, he would encourage us all to put on a hat, and take care of one another.

A private graveside service will be held. Memorials can be made to the family.