Rev. Leroy B Allison, 76, died in his home at 4:01 a.m., August 21, 2024 from cancer.  Leroy was born on July 21, 1948 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Elsie and Gene Allison, who have preceded him in death.  He had a brother, Art, who preceded him in death, a sister, Mary Ann States who survives and a half-brother, Nate, who preceded him in death.  Leroy's Mom and Dad met during WWII on a troop train in England and later married.  His Dad retired from the Air Force so Leroy and the family moved around a bit.  He spent the first 8 grades of school in Rantoul.  Later his family moved to Georgia and then to Cahokia, Illinois where he spent his Junior and Senior year at Cahokia High School, graduating in 1966. There he met Marilyn and they dated throughout those years and married in 1967.  Leroy attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and graduated in 1971.  While in college, he worked for Pinkerton as a guard and for GM&O Railroad. He enlisted in the Air Force after graduating and went to Officer Training School in San Antonio, Texas.  30 days later, he was discharged because of allergies. He worked for Public Aid in various roles until 1976.  At one point while working for them, he and Marilyn moved to Ullin, Illinois and attended Cache Chapel UMC.  While there, they attended a Marriage Encounter weekend where Leroy dedicated his life to God and said he would enter the ministry.

Leroy pastored Ebenezer and Saratoga UM Churches from 1976-1978 and while there, a son, Anthony, was born in 1977.  They then moved to Breckenridge, Missouri where Leroy pastored the Breckenridge and Grandview UM churches while attending St. Paul's School of Theology in Kansas City  At the Southern Illinois annual conference in 1979, Leroy was ordained a Deacon.  A son, Andrew, was born in 1980 in Chillicothe, Mo. Leroy graduated from seminary in 1981 and came back to Illinois to pastor Rosiclaire, Elizabethtown, and Cave-in-Rock UM churches from 1981-1985.  In 1982, he was ordained an Elder at the Southern Illinois Annual Conference and went on to pastor Iuka, Bee Branch and Salem Grace UM churches from 1985-1988.  He pastored West Salem Zion UM Church from 1988-1995, Nashville Grace UM Church from 1995-2000 and Carmi Emmanuel from 2000-2007.  Leroy was then appointed to the Arthur UM Church in 2007 and retired from there in 2015.  Leroy and Marilyn bought a home in Arthur and stayed there where Leroy was active in filling pulpits at various churches and at Countryside UM Church as an interim pastor. During this time, he lost his "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" sweet granddaughter, Haley Allison, to a car accident.  Leroy also was privileged to have a monthly preaching opportunity at the Zion UCC Church.  In each place he served, he loved being a part of a ministerial alliance and helping people as much as possible.

Leroy served on many boards and agencies in the various places he lived but most notable were:  he trained in hospice and chaplaincy in Olney, on the board at the Community Resource Center in Centralia, Head Start Policy council in Hardin and White Counties, WADI in White County, President of the Moultrie County Counseling Center in Sullivan, and The Illinois Great Rivers Conference Communications board where he loved running cameras at various Conference activities. He became a great St. Louis Cardinal fan and loved teasing all the Cub fans in the area.  He also enjoyed attending many U of I sporting events. He loved travelling – especially to see family and friends and was privileged to get to go to Scotland, England and the Holy Land. He golfed off and on in various places but really enjoyed his Monday morning golfing outings here in Arthur.  He would never miss them unless he absolutely had to.  He went home with a big smile on his face if he won the trophy that day!  Leroy loved trivia and actually tried out for Jeopardy twice.

Surviving is his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; 2 sons, Anthony (Marissa) of Glendale, Arizona, Andrew of Urbana; 3 granddaughters, Kelsey of High Hill, Missouri, Reilly of Madison, Wisconsin, and Arya of Glendale, Arizona; a sister, Mary Ann in Prospect, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Janet, in Great Mills, Maryland; a niece, Maria, in Maryland, 2 nephews in Prospect, Tennessee and many cousins.

Leory cherished his many friends from all the places he lived and loved being a pastor and watching the seeds he planted grow into such beautiful people.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Arthur United Methodist Church, 128 E. Illinois Street, Arthur, with Pastor Jill Bunker officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church. Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Arthur United Methodist Church.

Online condolences to the family may be shared at hilligossshraderfh.com.