James W. "Jim" Furlong

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[James W. "Jim" Furlong, 83, of Arcola, passed away at 11:23 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at the Walnut Grove Christian Church, 12930 E. County Road 1700 North, in Arcola. The Rev. Brandon Hatfield will officiate. Visitation will be held two hours before the memorial service at the church.

Jim was born on July 12, 1925, in Harrisburg. He was a son of Pleas and Margie (Laymon) Furlong. He married Georgia Tate on Sept. 29, 1946, in Harrisburg.

He is survived by his wife Georgia Furlong of Arcola; five children, Terry Tiller and her husband Jim of Peoria, Vickie Biggs and her husband Richard of Arcola, Jerry Furlong and his wife Linda of Mattoon, Robert Furlong of Decatur and Tammy Knowles and her husband David of Colchester; daughter-in-law, Diane Furlong of Arcola; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and one on the way; three brothers, Lowell Furlong and his wife Linda of Harrisburg, Junior Furlong and his wife Onedia of Harrisburg, and Bobbie Lee Furlong and his wife Joan of Pontiac, Mich.; two sisters, Velma Furlong and Mary Ruth Threet and her husband Otis, all of Harrisburg, and his extended family Bernice, Bill and Sam Blackwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, William Eugene Furlong; three brothers, John, Luke and Hubert Furlong; and three half-brothers, Charlie, Carl and Freeman Furlong.

Jim drove a truck before going to Arcola to work for Sam Blackwell in August 1951. Farming has been his life for the past 57 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Walnut Grove Christian Church.

Arrangements are in the charge of Edwards Funeral Home, Arcola.