Jahala J. DeMoulin

Jahala DeMoulin, 97, of Decatur, Illinois passed away on October 13, 2026. She was born in Charleston, Illinois, on November 6, 1928, to Oscar and Hallie (Morrison) Foote.

Jahala attended elementary school and high school classes on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, graduating as valedictorian from Teachers College High School in 1946. She then studied speech and math, leading to a Bachelor’s of Education Degree from EIU and a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois. While in college, she met Ray DeMoulin, an EIU basketball and baseball star. They married in 1951. They taught at schools in Albion, IL and Oregon, IL, before moving to Decatur in 1957.

Ray taught P.E. and coached basketball and baseball at MacArthur High School. Jahala taught math at Roosevelt Middle School and Stephen Decatur High School, then served in two administrative positions with the Decatur Public Schools, first as math consultant, then as director of research.

Starting in the mid 1970’s, Decatur grade school students were introduced to the metric system by a puppet show, which Jahala created and performed. The show featured metric-themed characters: superhero Mighty Meter, boxer Killer Kilogram, among others. Jahala retired in 1993 but performed the puppet show for many years thereafter.

Jahala always felt lucky to be born in Charleston. Starting in third grade, she attended the EIU Laboratory School. Her mentor was Ruth Carmen, a longtime EIU faculty member. Ruth and Jahala were neighbors. They walked to school together. Ruth took Jahala to the movies and to basketball games, and corrected Jahala’s grammar whenever she misspoke. Years later, Jahala persuaded the college administrators to honor Ruth by naming a campus dormitory “Ruth Carmen Hall.” (Today, both the dormitory and Laboratory School are defunct.)

Jahala was active during her “Charleston years.” She was a Girl Scout, expert baton twirler, drum majorette in the school band, state finalist at the Illinois High School Speech Contest, “Queen” of her senior class, field hockey player, and nationally recognized member of the EIU debate team. She was awarded a full scholarship for graduate school after being declared the top student among members of all Sigma Sigma Sigma chapters nationwide, earning a perfect grade-point average for course work completed during her senior year of college.

One of her fond memories was of the day Eleanor Roosevelt visited Charleston in the fall of 1938. During a brief stop at the EIU campus, Eleanor spoke to a small group of students who were assembled outdoors, sitting on a lawn near the “Old Main” building. One of those students was fifth-grader Jahala Foote. Although she had no memory of what Eleanor said that day, Jahala was impressed that the wife of President Franklin Roosevelt took the time to visit sleepy Charleston, Illinois.

During the final years of her life, while housebound or living in a nursing home, Jahala appreciated the visits with her good friend and fellow school administrator Marge Handley. Jahala also valued the friendship with longtime acquaintance and former MacArthur basketball player, Pat Ryan, and his wife Betty.

Her survivors are sons, Paul DeMoulin of Decatur, Mark (wife Karen) DeMoulin of Aurora, IL; two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her husband, parents, two brothers, and one grandchild.

Visitation will be held at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, on Friday, October 23, 2026 from 10 am until time of the funeral service at 11 am. Burial will follow at Macon County Memorial Park in Harristown, IL.