Vernon Dale Boatright

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Mr. Vernon Dale Boatright, 78, of Anna, passed away at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at the Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

He was born Jan. 15, 1932, in Brushy Township near Harrisburg, the son of Vernie and Nola B. Barter Boatright. He married Joann Fiala on May 30, 1954, in Corinth, Miss.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Joann Boatright of Anna; two children, Dale Conrad Boatright of Anna and Karen (Bobby) Toler of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren, Michelle Boatright of Harrisburg, Heather Boatright of Anna, Beth Ann (Chad) Myers of Anna, Jennifer (Ben) Wetherington of Danville, Kimberly (Josh) Spurlock of Jonesboro, Mary (Robbie) Petzoldt of Jackson, Mo. and Bobby Dale Toler and Amber Toler, both of Jonesboro; eight great-grandchildren, Makenzie, Dylan, Jayden, Chad Jr., Olivia, Levi, Lily and Zachary; cousins; other relatives; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two children, Cecil Lee Boatright and Lori Machelle Boatright; one sister, Julia Lacene Boatright; one brother, Robert Everett Boatright; and one grandson, Jackie Dale Boatright.

Vernon was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, the Anna Masonic Lodge No. 520 A.F. and A.M., the Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Southern Illinois, the Ainad Shrine Temple of East St. Louis and the United Mine Workers of America. Vernon was employed at Pool Pontiac in Harrisburg and was a retired coal miner.

Funeral services for Mr. Vernon Dale Boatright will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Joe Aldridge officiating. Interment will be in the North America Cemetery near Harrisburg. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the funeral home. Masonic services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home by the Anna Masonic Lodge No. 520 A.F. and A.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lori Boatright Scholarship Fund. Envelopes will be available at the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.

To view this obituary and leave an online condolence for the family, you may visit the Internet site www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.

Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.