Earl C. Sorrells, 91, of Raymond, died on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.
Visitation will be held Sunday, Jan. 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. at A Community of Faith Church in Raymond. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Jan. 6, beginning at 11 a.m. at the church with Pastor Tom Mulch and the Rev. Jennifer Fielden co-officiating. Burial will follow in Asbury Cemetery in Raymond. Hough Funeral Home of Raymond is assisting the family.
Mr. Sorrells was born Feb. 4, 1928, in Hillsboro, to Merrill and Nora (Stillahn) Sorrells. He married Doris M. Pocock on June 20, 1948, at the First Methodist Church in Nokomis, and she preceded him in death on March 24, 2019.
He graduated from Raymond High School and went on to begin his career farming. In 1972, he became owner of Sorrells Elevator and Farm Supply.
Most know him from listening to his segments on WSMI as he read from his mother's diaries and gave the market report.
Mr. Sorrells and his wife enjoyed traveling all over the U.S. and many other countries and hosted many foreign exchange students from all over the world. A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, he was an avid supporter of the FFA.
He was a member of the Morrisonville Masonic Lodge, ANSAR Shriners, M&M Shrine, 4-H Hall of Fame, Raymond-Harvel Kiwanis, and served as a 4-H leader.
Mr. Sorrells was part of numerous boards including the Livestock Feeders, Soybean Checkoff Board, Midwest Truckers, National Cattleman's Association, Hillsboro Area Hospital Board and IL Corn Growers Association.
He is survived by four children, Mark (Nancy) Sorrells of New York, Jean (David) Fuchs, Kent (Sandy) Sorrells, both of Raymond, and Brenda (Blake) Cloyd of Springfield; ten grandchildren, Shawn (Meghan) Sorrells of Pennsylvania, Trevor (Gregory) Sorrells of New York, Gwen (Dustin) Ziegler of Washington, Rachael (Jon) Root and Ben (Katie) Cloyd, both of Colorado, Garrett (Sydney) Fuchs of Raymond, Bart (Melanie) Cloyd of Michigan, Brooke (Zach) Bell of Springfield, Tara (Zach) Gahr of Normal and Megan (Brad) Humbert of Glen Carbon; 14 great-grandchildren, Morgan and Mia Root, Layla and Emma Ziegler, Vale and Reid Fuchs, Beckett and Lincoln Cloyd, Cooper and Tucker Bell, Charlotte Cloyd, Riley and Reese Gahr and Hayden Humbert; and one sister, Dorothy Betzold of Nokomis.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Sorrells was preceded in death by his parents; and one grandchild, Tonya Fuchs.
Memorials may be directed to the Raymond Park District or to the donor's choice.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
