Ray Ferrell

Ray Ferrell, age 101, of Hanover, Illinois passed away Saturday, July 18, 2026 after a short illness.

Ray was born August 30, 1924 in Dudley, Missouri the son of James and Florence (Malone) Ferrell. He grew up in Arkansas working on the family farm and picking cotton as a young man. Living through the Depression Era fostered his strong work ethic.

Once World War II began, he enlisted in the US Navy and served from 1943 to 1945 in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged and made his way to Illinois seeking employment. While working in Illinois, he found his way to Hanover and met Shirley (Jackson) Curley. On September 15, 1950, Shirley and Ray were married in St. Louis, Missouri. 

A jack of all trades, he started a trucking business in Hanover and surrounding area hauling cattle, hay, coal, furniture, and even burros to be sold in the Sears Catalog. From there, he started a logging business which led to lifelong friendships at Hanover Sawmill. Continuing the trucking business, being the gear jammer that he was, he then started driving semi cross country for Crete Carrier, Rowley Transport, and years with Art Pape Transfer. His fellow truckers knew him by the CB handle “Acorn”. After trucking, a couple years were spent at Eaton Corp. before retiring and wintering in Mission, TX with Shirley.

Ray’s pride and joy was his family and he loved having everyone around him. He loved a cup of coffee and several cookies in the morning, feeding the donkeys, and checking for the mail. He was always ready to go for a ride to check the timber and tell you that there is no place more beautiful than Jo Daviess County.

Those left to cherish his memory include six children, Marcia Holmbo of Thomson, Joe (Mag) Ferrell of Hanover, Kathy Teberg of Hanover, Jamie (Scott) Mills of Savanna, Brenda “Bean” Ferrell of Hanover and one-step daughter, Judy Law of Savanna; 22 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, one-step son, Leroy Curley, two sisters, Helen Pickett and Roberta Kelly, two brothers, Melvin Ferrell and LeRoy Ferrell and 3 son-in-laws, Gary Law, Stan Holmbo, and Tom Rafferty.

A visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Hanover. The funeral will be at 10:30a.m., on Friday, July 24 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover, followed by burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover. A special thank you to the entire staff of Big Meadows Connections unit in Savannafor the compassionate care that was bestowed upon Ray.