Clem Junior Haxton

Clem Junior Haxton, 93, died on Tuesday, October 16, in Prairie View Care Center, Lewistown. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Havana, on Sunday, October 21, 3:00 p.m., with the Rev. Sid Davis officiating. A visitation will be held in the church beginning an hour and a half before the service. Clem was born in Jacksonville on September 28, 1919, the son of Clem C. and Vivian Fernandes Haxton. He grew up in Arenzville and Beardstown, graduating from Beardstown High School in 1937. He and Freda Ellen Daniel eloped to Hannibal, MO, and were married on April 20, 1941. Clem came to Havana in 1944 to be the manager of the Kroger store, where he served until 1948. He then began working at the new Havana Power Station of Illinois Power Company, from which he retired in 1984. Clem enjoyed hunting, fishing, and a bit of trapping on the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers. He enjoyed sports, especially Havana High School basketball and National League baseball. He was a second-generation diehard Chicago Cubs fan. He was a natural musician and entertained family and friends playing his Gibson “tenor” guitar. He also played in a harmonica band in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. He was passionate about barbershop quartet music, singing in quartets and choruses in Havana in the 1950’s, and attending many international contests of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society of America. Clem is survived by a son, the Rev. Stanley (the Rev. Mary Louise) Haxton of Le Roy; a daughter, Ann L. Phillips of Oak Hill, WV; eight grandchildren and a step-grandson; two sisters, Dorothy De Freitas of Indianola, Iowa, and Mary E. Daniel of Creve Coeur; a son-in-law, Duane D. Bruninga of Pekin; a brother-in-law Raymond E. Daniel of East Peoria; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Freda E. Haxton; a daughter, Mary Carole “Carrie” Bruninga; a sister, Eileen Yopp Miles; two brothers who died in early childhood; a brother-in-law, William E. Daniel; and a sister-in-law, Earlene Daniel. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, Havana, in lieu of flowers. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com. Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.

Clem Junior Haxton

September 28, 1919 - October 16, 2012

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