Ray M. Len Hanks (88)
Carmi, Illinois
Birth: May 7, 1924
Death: December 5, 2012
Ray M. “Len” Hanks, 88, of Carmi Illinois, died Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at Phoenix Rehab and Nursing in Carmi. He was born May 7, 1924, in Centerville, Illinois, the son of Ellison “Rube” and Susan (Hargrave) Perkins. He married his first wife, Mary Lou (Rudolph) Hanks on December 31, 1947, and she preceded him in death on March 21, 2000. He later married Carolyn (Campbell) Cleveland and she survives.
Len began his work career at the age of eight working for is grandfather Willy Hanks on a hay bailer for 25 cents a day. He was a star basketball player for Crossville High School and in the summers, he worked on his uncle Hubert Hanks’ farm. After high school he worked in the oilfields for Superior Oil Company.
After serving in the Marine Corps during World War II, he attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. He worked for Baker Oil Tool Company in various sales and management positions in the tri state area, and in Pennsylvania. Later, he worked as a field superintendent in Lafayette, Indiana, for Indiana Gas Company that is now known as Vecten Energy Corporation.
Len was a member of the Crossville United Methodist Church, and also attended the McHenry Good News Chapel in Crossville. He had a passion for golf and was a very active member of the “Over the Hill Gang” at the Carmi Country Club.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Hanks of Carmi; son Paul (Patricia) Hanks of Coloma, Michigan; step-son Barry (Karen) Cleveland of Crossville; step-daughters Cathy Hanks of Crossville, June (John) Doss of Dundas, Illinois, Mary Ann (Greg) McVey of Carmi; sister Agnes Griswold of Bellflower, California; brother-in-law Lloyd Stills of Carmi; nine step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and first wife.
Visitation is 5-7 pm, Friday. Funeral is at 10 am, Saturday with burial in Stokes Chapel Cemetery with military rites.