Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Don Fornear
Feb 26th, 1929 - Jun 9th, 2023Donald Lyle Fornear, age 94, of Flora, Illinois, passed away early Friday morning, June 9, 2023, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
He was born February 26, 1929, in Sesser, the son of Robert and Beatrice (Settles) Fornear. He was united in marriage to Betty Lee Kunkel on January 7, 1949, in Sesser, and together they shared 70 wedding anniversaries until her death December 22, 2019.
Don served in the US Air Force from 1952-1956 during the Korean War era. After his promotion from the Illinois State Police Academy in 1958 he retired as a Sergeant after 30 years of service. He was a 60+ year member of the Masons and an active member of the Flora First Methodist Church. Don was often affectionately known as “Babe” around his hometown of Sesser. He enjoyed golfing, square dancing, camping, gardening, fishing, and rabbit hunting over the years. Don enjoyed exchanging stories and tales of all kinds when visiting with his friends and family. He will especially be remembered for his caring thoughtfulness, and how he shared a kind word with others, especially young people.
He is survived by a daughter: Barbara (Pat) Beck of Effingham; 3 grandchildren: Patrick Alan (Amber) Beck of Maumelle, Arkansas, Matthew Ryan (Faith) Beck of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Andrea Don (Curtis) Rexroad of Winter Haven, Florida; 7 great-grandchildren: Cayden, Jase, Averi, Ashlynn, Noah, and Braxton Beck, and Olivia Rexroad; and 3 step great-grandchildren: Dylan and Jaxon Evans, and Piper Miller.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Betty Fornear; a beloved son: Mark Alan Fornear; and 3 brothers: Meredith, William, and Robert Fornear.
A funeral ceremony and masonic rites will begin at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with Pastor Mark Smith officiating. The committal ceremony and interment will take place at 4 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser with the presentation of military funeral honors. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Flora First Methodist Church, and these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com