Jerry Ryan Gross, 44, Bloomington, died at 3:05 p.m. April 29, 2012, at Bloomington Rehabilitation and Health Care,  Bloomington.

His memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday (May 20, 2012) at Forest Park, Bloomington. Chaplain Jeff Leeman will officiate. Cremation rites were accorded.

Memorials may be made to the AIDS Foundation. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Oct. 2, 1967, in Bloomington, son of William Edward and Nancy Louise Powell Gross.

He is survived by his mother, Nancy Gross, Bloomington; three sisters, Julie Renee (Joe) Schrader, Riverton; Jodie Lynn (Todd) Hilton and Janet Louise (Brian) Forrest, both of Bloomington; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father; sister, Jenna Lou Powell; and brother, Jeffrey Allen Gross.

Jerry loved to fish. He was a Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. He also was a fan of NASCAR. He enjoyed watching soap operas, drinking coffee and eating sweets.

He loved his nieces and nephews, and his sister, Janet. He was loved by all who knew him.

Lila E. Endean, 85, Bloomington, passed away at 12:35 a.m. Sunday (May 13, 2012) at Martin Health Center, Bloomington.

Her graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday (May 18, 2012) at Rosemond Grove Cemetery, Rosamond. The Rev. Bert Eickhoff will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday (May 17, 2012) at  Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Lila was born April 9, 1927, in Pana, the daughter of George and Ethel McKee Garnett. She married William “Bill” Endean Jr. in Arizona. He survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Dennis “Mike” (Cathy) Owens, Bloomington, and Mark (Bonnie) Owens, Odessa, Texas; three grandchildren, Kristin (Nathan) Rueter, Albers; Megan Owens, Bloomington; and Kimberly (Timothy) Dillow, Houston, Texas; and one great-grandson, Dawson Rueter, Albers.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Lila had worked for State Farm Insurance Cos., Bloomington. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bloomington.

Lila had a lot of friends, and she enjoyed reading and traveling.

Carol Virginia Fraker, 74, of Bloomington passed away at 10:55 p.m. Friday (May 11, 2012) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday (May 16, 2012) at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. The Rev. Josh Erickson will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday (May 15, 2012) at the memorial home. A private family graveside service will be held.

Surviving family includes her mother, Dorothy V. Green, Bloomington; two sons, Guy (fiancé Tammy Mullins) Fraker and Dr. Matthew (Dr. Sherri Thornton) Fraker, both of Bloomington; and five grandchildren, Patrick Fraker, Bloomington; Taylor (Jennifer) Fraker, Atlanta, Ga.; Meredith Fraker, Monticello; Dixon Fraker, Bloomington; and Hayden Fraker, Bloomington.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Family memorials can be made to “The Washington School PTO (CVF Fund)” and mailed to 1312 E. Washington St, Bloomington, IL 61701.

Carol was born in Streator on Jan. 4, 1938, the daughter of Ephraim J. and Dorothy V. Dixon Green. She was raised in Alton, where she graduated from Alton High School in 1956. She attended the University of Illinois from which she graduated in 1960. At the University, she joined the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She was also selected for Shorter Board, a senior honorary recognizing achievement in activities. She was very active in University Theater throughout her college days, becoming the general manager of The Workshop Theater her senior year.

On July 3, 1960, she married Guy C. Fraker III. After a brief teaching career in Mahomet, she quit working to raise her children. She and her family moved to Bloomington in 1962. Carol became very active in the District 87 school district, serving as president of the Washington School PTO and the District 87 Advisory Council. She was elected to the Bloomington School Board in the mid-1970s and served until 1985, including one term as president. During these somewhat tumultuous times, she provided the leadership necessary to keep Washington School open, successfully blocking the administration’s efforts to close the school. This significant contribution to our community is certainly part of her legacy.

She also served on the Bloomington-Normal Symphony Board, was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, PEO Chapter HP and Bloomington Country Club. She worked for many years as an aide to the Bloomington Congressional Office of Ed Madigan and Tom Ewing.

She loved the annual family camping trips on the Mackinaw River and the annual vacations to the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole, Wyo. An avid Illini fan and St. Louis Cardinals fan, her true passions were her incredible mother, her sons and her grandchildren. Through the end of her days, her home was a favorite destination for all of the grandchildren and for good reason: like all moms out there, she was the best mom there ever was.

Wava V. Hayes, 89, Bloomington, died at 6:46 a.m. Tuesday (May 8, 2012) at Heartland Health Care, Normal.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday (May 10, 2012) at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. William Rhoades will officiate. Memorials may be made to Heyworth Ambulance Service or Randolph Township Fire Department, Heyworth.

Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.

She was born Dec. 20, 1922, in Heyworth, daughter of Othel and Rachel Nelson Swearingen. She married Lloyd W. “Shorty” Hayes on Aug. 17, 1941, at St. Charles, Mo. He died Oct. 1, 2009, after 68 years of marriage.

Surviving are a son, Rod L. (Cheryl) Hayes, Hurst, Texas; grandchildren, Todd L. (Dana) Hayes and Kimberly (Kelly) Schmeits; great-grandchildren, Kaden and Kolten Schmeits; a stepgreat-grandson, James Tyler Godfrey; a brother, Gerald (Shirley) Swearingen, Glenview; a twin sister, Wanda Weinrich, Normal; a sister-in-law, Jenalee Macy, Heyworth; and numerous nieces and nephews she dearly loved.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and one sister.

Mrs. Hayes worked in sales for Roland’s Department Store in downtown Bloomington for many years prior to retirement. She was a member of Heyworth Christian Church, Heyworth.

Ronald John “Ron” Foster, 65, Bloomington, passed away at 7:20 p.m. Sunday (May 6, 2012) at his residence.

His funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday (May 10, 2012) at Calvary Baptist Church, Normal. Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington. Jerry McCorkle will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday (May 9, 2012) at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington. Memorials may be made to his family in care of daughter Christina Foster 404 E. Vernon Ave. Apt. E8, Normal, IL 61761.

Ron was born Feb. 3, 1947, in Fairbury, the son of Frank and Vera Mauer Foster. He married Linda Alexander in Normal.

Surviving are four children, Mark (Sharon) Foster, Antioch, Tenn.; Scott Foster, Normal; Christina Foster, Normal; and Melissa Bliven, Normal; seven grandchildren; one sister, Faye (Dan) Clark, Bloomington; and sister-in-law, Nona Foster, Deerfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Frank Lee Foster.

Ron graduated from Bloomington High School in 1965 and then received his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, Normal. He taught in several Christian schools and was an avid historian of McLean County and the Civil War. He co-authored a book on Mclean County history.