Mary Melvin

WILMINGTON—Mary Melvin, 69, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at home surrounded by family.
Born Aug. 15, 1948 in Joliet, IL, Mary Ruth was a daughter of Melvin Louis and Helen Marie (Johnson) Jackson. She was raised and educated in Wilmington, and graduated from Wilmington High School with the class of 1966.
Mary drove a school bus in Wilmington for 12 years. She primarily transported the kids into school from the country, and also served as a CDL Instructor, training new bus drivers. Mary later gained employment with Empress Casino, where she drove a shuttle, and enjoyed meeting people of notoriety, as well as from around the world.
She bowled on a league in Wilmington for 12 years, and took pleasure in reading mysteries and working crossword puzzles, as well as jigsaw puzzles. Mary also had a flair for painting and home interior decorating; enjoyed tending to her flowers, and would refer to her gardening as her therapy. Mary was one who cherished the south, and loved traveling to Branson, southern Tennessee and to the Smokey Mountains.
Music played a big part in Mary’s life, especially that of the 50’s and 60’s, and original country. Nothing, however, was more important than her family, which she dearly cherished.
Survivors include her children: Brian (Lalar) Melvin, Randy (Laurie) Melvin, Tina Dybas and Sandra (John) Cary, all of Wilmington; 10 grandchildren: Jamie, Alisha, Zack, Lindsay, Caitlyn, Kyle, Hannah, Nicholas, Grace and Clara; one sister, Anna Sims, of Wilmington; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Roger (Brenda) Melvin, of Coal City; Mary Ann (the late Greg) Melvin, of Streator; Judy Carrell (the late Ronnie Melvin), of Flora, IL; Nancy (the late Dennis) Melvin, of Hermitage, TN and Michael (Sunny) Melvin, of Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as cousins.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, one son, William Melvin (1979); her former husband and the father of her children, Randy Melvin Sr., one brother-in-law, Ralph Sims and one sister-in-law, Jane Melvin.
The family will receive friends for a visitation on Friday, May 18, 2018 from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 12 p.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 E. Kahler Rd. in Wilmington. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Wilmington.
Pallbearers will be: Zack Melvin, John Cary, James Naples, Mike Wilber, Kris Neese and Billy Widlacki.
Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Mary’s memory to Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431.
Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Mary’s memorial page online by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com.
Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington.