William Mcgaughey

William Ray (Bill) McGaughey, Jr., 93, of Decatur was born March 13, 1921 in Mt. Zion and passed away December 3, 2014 in Cary, IL where he had been living recently to be closer to family. Bill served his country as a Lieutenant (LTJG) in the Navy during WWII. He fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and was a skipper of a landing craft on D Day at Utah Beach, Normandy. In 2011 he participated in the Central Illinois Honor Flight to Washington, DC to see the WWII Memorial. Bill's professional and work career included residential development and home construction. He created the McGaughey Subdivision in Mt. Zion on land which had previously been his grandfather's farm. Bill worked earlier for Purity Baking Company; Osgood & Sons garment factory; and McElroy Construction Company. Bill graduated from Millikin University in 1943 where he majored in business and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a board member and treasurer of the Millikin Homestead for more than 13 years and was the coordinator of the Homestead's gardening and landscaping. More than once he played the role of Mr. Millikin for school children's visits. He received an award from the City of Decatur's Historical and Architectural Sites Commission in recognition of his landscaping there. In 1996 he was named Millikin Homestead Volunteer of the Year. He was on the Millikin University alumni board for three years and was class reunion chair on numerous occasions. In 2007 he was named a recipient of an Alumni Loyalty Award in recognition of his years of service. Bill was actively involved in many other volunteer roles in the Decatur community. He was an 11 year member of the Decatur Garden Club and served on the club's civil projects committee. He enjoyed volunteering with residents at Imboden Creek Living Center showing them how to cut, dry, and arrange flowers. In the spring and summer he would deliver flower arrangements from his own yard to several medical locations around Decatur. In 2002 he was invited to a Rotary meeting on the pretense that he was to deliver a talk about gardening. There he was surprised to be given the Decatur Noon Rotary Club "Service Above Self" award, the first non-Rotarian to be so honored. Bill enjoyed live music and jazz, especially the Millikin Jazz Band. Family and friends enjoyed a number of enthusiastic gatherings featuring live music in the heavily wooded back yard of the family home of 57 years in South Shores. He is survived by son Doug and wife Carol of League City, TX; son Jim and wife Barb of Avon Lake, OH; son Scott of Cary, IL; daughter Ann Loofbourrow and husband Galen of Louisville, KY; seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. He is preceded in death by his wife Isabelle (Osgood), granddaughter Heather McGaughey, daughter-in-law Betsy McGaughey, sister Joda Harington, and parents W. R. McGaughey, Sr. and Myrtle May McGaughey. On December 28, 2014 at 3:00 family and friends are invited to a memorial service with reception following at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in his name to Millikin University, 1184 West Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522; or to Millikin Homestead, 125 North Pine Street, Decatur, IL 62522. Condolences to any family member or to the Family of Bill McGaughey, 310 Breezway Bend Ln, League City, TX 77573. "
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