Tony Clifford Hails, 87, of Murphysboro passed away 2:20 p.m. June 27, 2006, at his son's home in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday at Mt. Catherine Christian Church in Woodlawn, with John Schnautz officiating and burial at Mt. Catherine Cemetery, with military services conducted at the cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Pettett Funeral Home in Murphysboro and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials may be made to your local hospice.

Mr. Hails was born July 12, 1918, in Woodlawn to John Douglas and Mohsea (Pitchford) Hails.

He married Marilyn (Cunningham) Hails Jan. 31, 1942, in Huntsville, Ala.; she preceded him in death May 16, 2004.

He was a World War II Army veteran, serving from December of 1940 to Sept. 30, 1945, in the 33rd division of the 130th Infantry. He had served in the South Pacific, where he was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Battle Stars during the Philippine Campaign.

Mr. Hails was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 159, American Legion Post 127, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7190 and the Carbon Lake Club. He had worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a store keeper.

Survivors include two sons and their wives, Paul and Kim Hails of Gig Harbor, Wash., and Mark and Mary Hails of Evansville, Ind.; eight grandchildren, Kenny Hails and wife Angela, Eric Hails, Donald Budden, David Budden, Gary Schemel, Greg Schemel and wife Joni and Dawn Byron husband Jack; five great-grandchildren, Marissa Byron, Kaylah Byron, Hailee Byron, Kayla Schemel and Dylan Schemel; and two sisters, Fern Moore and Ora Thurness and husband Harold of the Woodlawn area.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, four brothers and his parents.

For further information, you may contact Pettett Funeral Home, 1418 South St., Murphysboro, IL 62966 at 684-2101.

Source: Register-News
Date: July 1, 2006
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman