Lorraine Davis Best, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and incomparable friend, passed away peacefully in the company of her family at Presence Covenant Hospital in Urbana on Friday, January 2, 2015.

Lorraine was born on July 14, 1950 in Jacksonville, IL to Delbert M. and Maria "Tommie" (Patacconi) Davis. She was a 1968 graduate of Tuscola High School, and a 1971 and 1985, graduate of Eastern Illinois University. She married John Best in 1985; he survives. She is also survived by her mother, two sons, Frank Dominic (Claire) Tarantino of Apex, NC and Matthew Davis Best of Chicago, IL, a brother, Roy (Brenda) Davis of Carbondale, IL, a sister, Diane (Wayne) Cuculich of Whiting, IN, two grandsons, Mark D. Tarantino and Luke W. Tarantino, one nephew, Adam Cuculich, five nieces, Katie Caldwell, Megan Best, Julie Vogel Simpson, Dana Vogel and Ashley Vogel and one great-niece, Josephine Kidd Caldwell. She was preceded in death by her father.

Lorraine enjoyed her two careers, first as an elementary school teacher, and later as a speech-language pathologist at Dr. Howard School in Champaign, and North Ward Elementary School in Tuscola. In each career and work place, she strove her utmost to make a positive difference in the lives of the children entrusted to her care, and there are many, many, individuals who have gone on to lead productive and useful lives, in part as a result of her devoted attention to them.

Lorraine had many interests, including almost all types of music, well-prepared food, and travel. Above all, Lorraine loved to be among her family and friends. Any extended conversation with her was sure to include laughter, much of which was initiated by her and all of which she enjoyed. She was a person of grace, integrity and unbounded generosity. Among her cardinal beliefs was the following: If a person is treated with the fundamental dignity and respect owed to any human being, then that person will respond by opening a door that shows all the potential goodness within them.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at the Forty Martyrs Catholic Church, 201 East Van Allen Street, Tuscola, IL, followed by burial in the Tuscola Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Tuscola Community Foundation.

Online condolences to the family may be shared via hilligosssshraderfh.com