James S. Gayer

James S. Gayer,78, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Thursday, February 15, 2018, in University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.

Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory under the direction of Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. A family-directed memorial service will be held at a later date.

James Silas Gayer was born November 12, 1939, in Wichita, Kansas, to Silas and Hattie Reed Gayer. He married Susan Wendell on December 31, 1972, in Fithian, Illinois. He was a member of Operating Engineers Local 150, and worked on many of the major construction projects in the Quad Cities. He loved his job handling heavy equipment, was an avid Hawkeye fan and fisherman, and enjoyed oil painting, hunting, racing ATVs, classic cars, and dogs. He was an accomplished woodworker and designed and built his home and much of its furniture.

Jim is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter and son-in-law, Janelle and James Skvarek of Durham, North Carolina; a son, Bradly Gayer of Coal Valley; a sister, Thelma Crum of Houston, Missouri. He is also survived by three sons from previous marriages, Darin Gillespie of Milan, Pat Gayer of Champaign, Illinois, and Chris Gayer of Andalusia, Illinois.

Condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.