Larry B. Fancher

Larry B. Fancher, age 70, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 10:50 AM on Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, Texas. He was born on June 20, 1945 in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Basil and Margaret (Thompson) Fancher. Larry attended schools in the Monmouth area and was a graduate of Warren High School. Larry was previously married to Diane Russell and Eleanore Peck. He was first employed at Maple City Furniture. In 1962, he began work at Gates Rubber Company before moving on to Munson Transportation. Larry then began his career that would take him to retirement as a heavy equipment operator for 38 years with Local 649 Operating Engineers. He was a member of Monmouth Masonic Lodge #37 where he was a Past Master. His love of cowboy and single action shooting also led him to the Masonic Shooter Hiram's Rangers #45. He was a Range Officer II with the Single Action Shooting Society. Larry was known by his friends as "Smiley"; he was never seen with a frown on his face. When he was younger, he enjoyed riding Harley Davidson Motor Cycles. He then road Gold Wings before returning to his first love of Harley's. He was a member of the Gold Wing Brotherhood. Larry loved to wheel, deal, and barter anything; especially vehicles. When his children were younger, he built and raced Sprint Cars. Larry was a firearm enthusiast. He spent a great deal of his retirement participating in cowboy and single action shooting and traveled the country to shoot in different events. He loved archery, hunting, and traveling, spending his winters in Texas. He also enjoyed many years flying his powered parachute. Larry is survived by three sons; Jeffery (Katy) Fancher of Little York, IL, Brian (Kimberly) Fancher of Galesburg, IL, and Tim (Annie) Fancher of Monmouth, IL, fifteen grandchildren; Kevin, Kyle, Robert, Clark, Christen, Kindra, Logan, Elijah, Kylie, Ciera, Tyler, Sequoya, Olivia, Courteney, and Devin, nineteen great-grandchildren, step brothers and sisters; Jack Hasten, Jerry Hasten, Nancy Oaks and Mary Ann Skees of Monmouth, IL, Raymond Hasten of Kirkwood, IL, and Ruth McVey of Trivoli, IL. Also surviving are many cousins and extended family throughout the country, and his best friends; Jerry and Ann Thompson of Kennewick, WA and Dwight Sergent of Rosetta, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents. Visitation His family plans to receive friends from 9:30-11:00 AM prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial Service A memorial service is planned for 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, IL. Masonic Rites will be given at 9:15 AM before the visitation. Cremation is being accorded and a private family inurnment will be held at a later date. A memorial fund is being established and will be named at a later date.