William M. "Bill" Burress, 77, of Tuscola, IL, passed away at 9:49 p.m., Thursday, September 22, 2011 at the Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, September 26, 2011 at the Tuscola United Methodist Church, 901 North Prairie Street, Tuscola, IL, with Rev. Patty Johansen and Rev. Harold Pike officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, September 25, 2011 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL. Interment will be private.

Bill was born on December 29, 1933 in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the son of William M. and Leora E. Sanders Burress. He married Phyllis J. Wetzel on June 10, 1956 in Tuscola, IL. She survives.

Also surviving is his son: Brian Burress of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, his sister: Bettye May of Champaign, IL, many loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother: Carl "Bud" Burress

Bill retired in 1990 from the Tuscola Community School District, where he taught and coached basketball for many years. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University. Bill was a member of the Tuscola United Methodist Church. He served as the Tuscola Township Assessor for several years and he formerly worked as a real estate agent for the Hillard Agency. He was past president and a member of the Tuscola Rotary Club. Bill loved playing golf and was an avid Tuscola Warriors, St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini fan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Tuscola United Methodist Church Building Fund or Donor's Choice.

Online condolences to the family may be sent via hilligossshraderfh.com