Obituaries: Fred

Posted on January 2, 2017

Ellen “Kay” Fred

Ellen “Kay” Fred, 69, of Pontiac, IL passed away at 7:22 am on Sunday, January 1, 2017 at her home in Pontiac.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Pontiac. According to the family’s wishes, cremation rites will follow visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Kay was born September 4, 1947 in Pontiac, IL a daughter of Burdette Orlo and Ellen Jo (Wolter) Skipton. She married Eugene Earl Fred on September 9, 1981 in Pontiac, IL. He passed away on May 31, 2008.

She is survived by her children: Jeff Lewis (Cris Cool), Shelley Lewis-Barton, Angela (Michael) Huffman, and Daniel Fred all of Pontiac, Illinois; nine grandchildren: Alisha Lewis (Josh Bryant), Alexis Lewis, Brandon and Brock Barton, Jesse, Nathan, and Alison Huffman, Devin and Calvin Fred; and two great grandchildren: Khloe and Kylee. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Kay was raised and educated in the Odell area. She worked for Coils Inc. in Dwight for 17 years and then she worked at Mosaic until she retired in 2013. Kay especially enjoyed her time spent there helping others.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. Kay was an avid TV watcher and wordsearch player.

Kay was a loving mom, grandma, great grandma and friend who will be greatly missed.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to the family at calvertmemorial.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…