Gerald “Gary” S. Elliott, 91, of Fairbury, passed away in his home on Sunday, January 5, 2025, with his wife at his side.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at the Cropsey Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life will follow from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Indian Creek Country Club in Fairbury. Friends and family are welcome to come share food and fellowship.
Memorial donations may be made in Gary’s name to the Boys and Girls Club of Prairie Central (https://boysandgirlscluboflivingstoncounty.org/donate), the Cropsey Area Community Fund (CACF) (https://cropseyareacommunityfund.org/), or Southeast Livingston County Ambulance Service (SELCAS) (https://www.selcasambulance.com/).
Gary was born on December 5, 1933 in Fairbury, the son of Virgil and Lucy (Gee) Elliott. He married Marilyn Ferguson on March 25, 1955. She survives in Fairbury.
Surviving are his children: Teri Elliott-Burke, of Lake Zurich; Mark (Jeanne) Elliott, of Fairbury; Matthew (Libby) Elliott, of Blue Hill, Maine; Timothy (Lori) Elliott, of Clayton, Missouri; and Ruben (Margarita) Giraldo of Medellin Colombia (AFS student). Also surviving is his sister, Judy (Bob) Sinclair.
Gary is also survived by his 12 grandchildren: Jeremy (Amanda) Rambo, Jason (Sarah) Elliott, Josh (Allison) Elliott, Sarah Elliott, Sam Elliott, Luke Burke, Adam Burke, Jack Elliott, Mitch Elliott, Erin Elliott, Sarah (Roberto) Giraldo, David Giraldo, and 9 great-grandchildren Olivia Elliott, Parker Elliott, Brooklyn Elliott, Jake Rambo, Lydia Rambo, Eli Rambo, Kate Keck, Charlie Keck, and Auroa Kattan.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Lary Elliott and Tery Elliott, one grandchild, Matt Rambo, and one son-in-law, Mike Burke.
Gary was a graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School and Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, Colorado. Gary worked for the University of Illinois Extension Service, Meiners Farm Service, was a co-owner of Crop-Fax and worked until he retired as an agronomist at A&L Laboratories.
He was a life-long member of the Cropsey Methodist Church, serving on the board and teaching Sunday School for many years. Gary also served on the Fairbury-Cropsey School Board, was a boy scout leader, and a member of the Cropsey Sportsman Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and was an avid woodworker. He also loved reading, playing cards with his grandchildren, and traveling with his wife Marilyn. He spent summers boating at the Lake of the Ozarks with family and taught many hopeful youngsters to water ski.
Gary’s greatest pride and joy were his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a loving and caring man and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
