James C. "Cliff" Simpkins

Born October 19, 1941 in McClure to Eddie Edward and Crisse (Parish) Simpkins, he married Carol Jean Louwers on March 26, 1961 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Stephen (Maria) Simpkins of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Gregory (Shelley) Simpkins of Pekin; five grandchildren, Brooke (Mark) Donnelly, Ian (Susie) Hacker, and Taylor Biga, all of Pekin, Jesse (Aaron Shafer) Biga of Moscow Mills, Missouri, and Patty Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Harley (Charlotte) Simpkins of Mesa, Arizona; two sisters, Zelta Hileman of Jonesboro and Shirley Bennett of Wheatfield, Indiana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Albert Simpkins and Norman Simpkins; and one sister, Linnie Simpkins.

Cliff worked at Hick’s Gas in North Pekin for 22 years, retiring in 2003. Previously, he had worked at Willie Helmick’s Marathon Service Station and Preston Funeral Home, both in Pekin.

He attended First United Methodist Church in Pekin.

Cliff enjoyed fishing and playing on the computer.

His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, where visitation will be one hour before the funeral. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

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