Percy Meredith

Percy L. Meredith, 89, passed away peacefully at home, Friday, March 6, 2015 while surrounded by the love and prayers of his family. He was born August 22, 1925, in Elburn, the son of Leslie and Winnafred Meredith. Percy grew up in Elburn on his family farm and attended local schools. He graduated from Elburn High School with the class of 1943. Percy was a farmer from birth. He, his brothers and a few helping hands, ran the family farm. He drove the cattle to the train and plowed the land with horses. Percy remembered driving the cattle up Route 47 when it was just a gravel road. He even recalled roller skating down it when it was first paved.Percy met the lady of his dreams while at Elburn High School. There in the teaming halls he met Yvonne Newton. Although it wasn’t until after high school that they began dating, their love was meant to be. They were married on January 7, 1951 at Elburn Community Congregational Church. Percy and Yvonne first settled in a home on Route 47, just down the road from the family farm. While there, they were blessed with 2 daughters, Sue and Lynn. Late they moved to a house on the family farm, which they remodeled. There they were blessed with a son, Curt, and their family was complete. Percy would live in this home and continue to make wonderful memories until he went home to be with the Lord. Percy was a farmer his entire life. He started out a cattle farmer, continuing on to become a grain farmer growing corn and soybeans. Retirement was just a word to Percy, and one he would rarely use. You could always find Percy helping out on the farm. Whether it was driving truck, running for parts, welding or fixing anything that was broken, Percy could do it all. Those who knew him knew he could fix anything. Percy was a member of the Batavia Shriners, was a lifetime member of the Blackberry Masonic Temple and served on the Board of Directors of the Elburn Co-Op.Percy was a lover of flight. Growing up, his family had a dirt air strip where he learned to take off and land. He even crashed a plane or two, but that didn’t stop Percy. He always loved a good winter project, designing miniature jeeps, planes, and cars. He loved old tractors, spending hours upon hours meticulously putting them back together and making them not only functional, but beautiful once again. Percy was a true sportsman and loved water skiing, snowmobiling, driving dune buggies, boating, and golfing. Anything that he could race, you just knew that Percy would. Percy and Yvonne loved to travel the world, visiting farms all over. From Germany to Sweden to Australia, they loved seeing how other farmers did things. They also enjoyed their time up at their cottage on Duck Lake in Wisconsin. Percy’s favorite thing was doing things for, and spending time with, his family. He loved his grandkids and great grandkids more than life itself. He made sure his last project was building a mini kitchen for his newest great-granddaughter. Percy may be gone from this Earth, but he will never be forgotten.Percy is survived by his wife of 64 years, Yvonne;Three children:Sue (John) Younker, Lynn Meredith, and Curt (Beth) Meredith;Two granddaughters, Angie Meredith and Madeline (Arturo) Martinez;Two great-grandchildren, Ricky and Priscilla Martinez; His brother Leslie Meredith and a countryside of friends. Percy is preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Winnafred Meredith and his brother Robert. A visitation will be held Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119, from 4-7pm. Private family burial will follow at a later date.In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Percy’s name to benefit the Shriners. Checks may be made to the Batavia Shriners and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes may also forwarded to the same address or on www.conleycare.com

A visitation will be held Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119, from 4-7p.m.