James S. Gayer,78, of Coal Valley, Ill., died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.
James Silas Gayer was born Nov. 12, 1939, in Wichita, Kan., to Silas and Hattie Reed Gayer. He married Susan Wendell on Dec. 31, 1972, in Fithian, Ill.
He graduated from Houston High School in 1958.
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 Iowa 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, N.C.; a son, Bradly Gayer of Coal Valley, Iowa; and a sister, Thelma Crum of Houston, Mo. He is also survived by three sons from previous marriages, Darin Gillespie of Milan, Pat Gayer of Champaign, Ill., and Chris Gayer of Andalusia, Ill.
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.
PAID
