Gerald J. Stanford

Gerald Joseph Stanford, 64, of Mattoon, Illinois entered the Kingdom of Heaven surrounded by his loving family on February 25, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, March 3, 2023 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday evening at the chapel. Burial will be in the Humboldt Cemetery. Memorials in his honor may be made to the Charleston Baptist Church and left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL  61920.

Gerald was born in Normal, Illinois on November 17, 1958 to Elmer Glen Stanford and Lula Belle (Eblin) Stanford. Gerald is survived by his wife Dee Stanford (Mattoon); children, James Stanford (Mattoon), Kim and Elmer Miller (Arthur), and Mark Stanford (South Carolina); grandchildren, Emma and Jase Miller (Arthur); father, Elmer Stanford (Arthur); and siblings Carl and Sherry Stanford (Newman), Charles Stanford (Mattoon), and Candy Stanford (Arthur). Gerald was preceded by his mother Lula Belle Stanford, nephew Jacob Stanford, an infant sister; grandparents Walter and Versie Stanford, Sarah Wisner, and Carl Eblin.

Gerald was a graduate of Arthur High School class of 1976 and a graduate of EIU in 1980. He married Dee Ann (Haney) Stanford on December 5, 1981 in Cooks Mill, Illinois. Gerald was an employee of SBLHC for 32 years and a member of the University Baptist Church (Charleston Baptist Church) for 35 years, where he enjoyed leading worship with his wife Dee. A man of many skills and passions Gerald, an avid outdoorsman and loving father, led his two sons and many others through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as Cubmaster of Pack 57 and Scoutmaster Troop 57 (Mattoon). Gerald was a very gifted musician, playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, tin whistle, and bagpipes with his friend Lance Beever in their band the Over the Hills and with many other friends in the Irish Music Circle. However, Gerald’s greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

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