Charles K. “Chuck” Searcy, age 78, passed away Saturday July 18, 2015 at 2:25 p.m. at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL.

He was born Dec. 9, 1936 in Rock Island to Glen R. and Saraphina (Marasco) Searcy. He married Beverly Brown Sep. 6, 1959 in Whiting, KS. She survives along with two daughters: Teresa (Rex) Palmer of Moline, Tanya (Earl) Jones of Downs, IL, and one son, Ted (Christy) Searcy of Downers Grove, IL, seven grandchildren: Jacob and Jonathon Palmer; Rayven, Matthew, Michael, and Mia Searcy; Gabriel Blancaflor, one great-grandson, Joel Palmer, three step-grandchildren; Jacque and William Jones, Josh Palmer, three sisters; Frances (Hale) Paxton of Loma Linda, CA, Mary Schwab of Galesburg, Lorraine (William) Morgan of Galesburg, and two brothers; Gary (Joyce) Hendren of Rock Island, and Royce Bandle of Las Cruses, N.M.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers; Robert and William Searcy and Gary Carlson.

After graduation from Rock Island High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-1959 and served as Airman First Class. After the service, he worked at a variety of businesses: International Harvester, John Deere Parts Depot, Reynolds Engineering, Quad Cities Engineering, and Caterpillar Tractor CO. in the Quad Cities. He transferred to Caterpillar in Peoria in 1987 as a tool designer, retiring in March of 2002. He was awarded an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Mechanical Design Technology on May 18, 1997.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Peoria and served on the Board of Trustees. He worked with the American Baptist Men serving with the Disaster Relief Organization, and worked on various church buildings and conference centers, and helped plan and serve the AB Men’s Breakfast.

Chuck liked jokes and spending time with his family and friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday July 22, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Funeral services will be Thursday July 23, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Peoria. There will be an additional visitation one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or Habitat for Humanity.

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Springhill Cemetery in Whiting, KS. Mercer Funeral Home in Holton is entrusted with local arrangements. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.