Raymond O. Maddox

Raymond Orland Maddox, 94, of Galesburg, Illinois, formerly of Oreana, Illinois, died at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.

Ray was born May 12, 1931 in Urbana, Illinois, the son of Walter Raymond and Lucy Mae (Fryer) Maddox. Ray married Carolyn Sue Watson on June 25, 1961 in Urbana, Illinois. They celebrated over 51 years of marriage until her passing on February 26, 2013.

Ray is survived by one son, Gregory Maddox of Elmwood, Illinois; one daughter, Elisabeth (Matthew) Branch of Viola, Illinois; three grandchildren, Quinn Branch, Reese (Keyonna) Branch, and Sophia Branch; and many nieces and nephews. Along with his wife and parents, Ray was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, William, and Edward Fryer.

Following high school Ray attended and later graduated from University of Illinois Institute of Aviation. He served in the US Navy from November 13, 1951 until he was honorably discharged on November 14, 1955. He went on to attend Illinois State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts and his Master of Science in Education. Ray went on to work for 20 years as an industrial arts teacher at Lakeview High School in Decatur, Illinois. While a teacher, Ray worked part time as an arborist, and after retiring from teaching in 1981, he began working full time as an arborist and landscaper in Decatur, eventually retiring in the early 2000’s.

In his free time, Ray enjoyed travelling around the US and Canada with his wife and sister in-law, being outdoors gardening or doing anything related to plants, and spending time in his woodworking shop. He was a Scouter with the Boy Scouts for most of his adult life, and was given highest awards in Scouting and in Order of the Arrow. He was a longtime elder of Prairie Avenue Christian Church in Decatur, and later a member of First Christian Church following his move to Galesburg.

Private family services will be held at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Private burial will be with his wife at Union Cemetery, Oreana, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to plant a tree in your favorite spot in memory of Ray. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.