Jackie Dean Gregory, 77, died Sunday, Oct. 2, at his home in Panama, IL, after a long illness.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Perfetti Funeral Home in Panama with the Rev. Paul Kala officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Panama.
Friends are invited to join the family for a dinner at the Panama VFW immediately following the burial. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rosary recited at 8 p.m.
A celebration of life and dinner will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. at The Church of Christ on Highway 104 east of Meredosia.
Mr. Gregory was born in Meredosia on March 7, 1939, the son of the late Lucille Allen and Earl “Bud” Gregory. He married Susan Griebler on March 7, 1957, and together they had six children. He then married Sue (Curbis) Dixon on May 12, 1981, in Hillsboro, and they made their home in Panama.
He grew up in Meredosia on the Illinois River and graduated from Meredosia-Chambersburg High School in 1957. He played basketball during his school years and in later years refereed games there.
Mr. Gregory enjoyed camping and fishing at Meredosia lake and the Illinois river, and he and his family spent many summers on the lake. He tended bar at his parent’s place, “Bud and Lucy's,” and worked at National Starch as a union Boilermaker for 17 years before going into the field. He coached Pony league baseball and was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Bluffs.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Panama and served for many years on the village board. An avid gardener, he enjoyed wine making and loved to sing karaoke. He enjoyed drinking Stag beer at the Panama VFW with his dear friends, Todd Rau, Robby Benson, Kenny Cruthis, Norton Henke and Terry and Debby O'Dell.
As a lifelong Union member, Mr. Gregory was a rabid Democrat. He loved his trade and retired from Boilermaker's local #363 in 1999. Shortly after, his illness caused him to be bedridden, however he and his faithful bed companion Oliver, his Yorkshire terrier, seldom missed a sporting event as he loved Cardinals baseball, NFL, Fighting Illini games and NASCAR.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, David (wife Sherri) Gregory of Concord, Pammy Jean Gregory of Meredosia, Anthony “Fred” Gregory of Meredosia, Jacquie (husband Jerry) Dugger of Bruner, MO, Carla Henline (partner Randy Jackson) Henline of Versailles, IL, Alan (wife Holly) Gregory of Murrayville and Amy (Dixon) Mattox (partner Gary Muich) of Panama, whom he raised with his wife Sue; two grandchildren whom he also raised, Adreanne (husband Doug) Cruthis and Christopher Mattox, both of Panama; brother, Jerry “Tadpole” (wife Carol) Gregory of Meredosia; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his parents, Mr. Gregory was preceded in death by two sisters, Marty Floyd and Mary Rausch; one grandchild, Lucas Barfield; one great-grandchild, Liza Jane Gregory; and his dear friend, Bruce R. Newman, whom he thought of as a father after his own father's death.
Condolences to his family may be left at www.perfettifuneralhome.com.
