Jeri Lynn Draper

Born August 30, 1951, in Pekin to Gerald Starts and Doris Alberta (Lasister) Junker, she married Allen Jay Draper on February 8, 1969, in Pekin. He died on October 26, 2021, in Peoria. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Terry Lee Junker, and one brother-in-law, Patrick Arthur McElwee.

Surviving are one son, Allen Joseph “A.J.” Draper of Portland, Oregon, and one daughter, Jeremie Linn (Andrew Sledd) Draper of Metamora; one step-daughter, Jessica Sue (Mark) Meeks of West Peoria and her children Mazzy & Austin; her sister, Julie McElwee of Venice, Florida; two nieces, Angela (Gleb) Gorelick of Wilmette and Jillian Jansen of Pekin; two nephews, Matthew McElwee of Chicago and Jackson (Wawa) Junker of Chandler, Arizona and several great-nieces and nephews.

Jeri was a 1969 Pekin Community High School graduate and earned her Associates Degree in general studies from Illinois Central College.

She was a proud homemaker and a loving mother to Jeremie and AJ. Jeri also owned and operated Twinkle Toes, an in-home pedicure business, for over 10 years.

Jeri was a longtime volunteer for the Pekin YWCA, Pekin Hospital League, and AARP at The Cookery for the last few years. She loved to contribute photos to the Pekin Daily Times and Facebook. She was a member of the University of Illinois Home Extension

Jeri loved to travel with Golden Tours and her children. She was an avid Weight Watcher, and you could find her walking The Coal Miners' Park. She was a social butterfly with her wine, euchre, pickle ball, bible study, and grief share groups. She was a Christian.

Her service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2024 at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin. Pastor Jim Isbell of Grace Grief Share and Col. (Retired) Susan Junker, her cousin, will deliver eulogies. A celebration of life gathering will immediately follow at Pekin Country Club from 2 until 5 p.m. Cremation has been accorded. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pekin Park Foundation, 1701 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Pekin YWCA, 315 Buena Vista, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com