William (Bill) T. Harper, Jr.

William (Bill) T. Harper, Jr. was born, April 22, 1935, in East St. Louis, Illinois. He was the son of the late William T Harper, Sr. and the late Julia Anna Strauss. Bill died in his Murphysboro home on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at the age of 77. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Jeanette (Varady) Harper, of Murphysboro; his adored children, William T. Harper, III (Julia), John E. Harper of St. Louis, MO, Thomas P. Harper (Danelle) of Pelham, NH, Kim E. Balsano (Joe), Richard A. Harper, Ronald J. Harper (Debbie), and Jane M. Bryant. He was the adored grandfather to Alison Harper Pelaggi (Matthew), John E. Harper , Jr. (Tonya), Megan Harper, Richard E Holt (Jaime), Brad Harper (Jill), Tom Harper, Jr. (Nina), Bryan Harper, Andrew Harper, Tyler Harper, Mindy Balsano Beisner (Brad), Emily Balsano, Chrissy Harper Chancey (Jacob), Ryan Harper (Sala), Alden Harper, R. J. Harper, Chris Harper, Jennifer Harper, Jessica Harper, Kelly Jo Bryant and Taylor Bryant. He is survived by 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Elinor Metcalf and Doris Sweet and two great grandchildren, Symphony Harper and Logan Rogers. His sister, Marjorie McMurtrey survives and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Bill worked in commercial trucking at J. W. Ward, CW Transport and ABF Trucking, as a rate clerk and finally as a terminal manager. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, in Murphysboro. He was past Grand Knight of the Murphysboro Knights of Columbus #988. He was a lifelong Cardinals baseball fan and rarely missed a game on TV. He loved to paint and work in his wood shop. He made countless items for family and friends and gave them as gifts. He was active in Boy Scouts of America with his five boys. He shared his interest in Indian dancing and creating traditional beaded and eagle feather outfits. He was most proud of his involvement in parish life, especially in the creation of the St. Andrew Parish Festival and many thematic dinner-dances. In retirement he looked forward to his weekly grocery shopping trips and retold the famous tales of shopping bargains. He relished his daily trip to Farm Fresh to talk baseball and politics. He loved his Australian Shepherds, Sheba (I, II and III), Kona and terriers, little Sallie and Critter. Bill was a baseball standout in high school and dreamt of playing professional baseball. He played for the Moose Lodge teams, Murphysboro Red Wings travelling baseball team and fast and slow pitch church league softball teams. He also liked to play corkball. Bill was an avid bowler and competed in many leagues. He coached Little League baseball and loved watching his kids and grandkids compete in all sports. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 17, 2012, at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Father Gary Gummersheimer and Monsignor James Buerster presiding and burial at St. Andrew Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Andrew Church. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Hospice of Southern Illinois or St. Andrew Church. For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

William (Bill) T. Harper, Jr.

April 22, 1935 - May 10, 2012