Thomas Lewis Carlile

Tom Carlile passed away in his sleep at his Marion IL home sometime during the early morning hours of Friday June 14th. He joins his wife of forty-six years, Margret Alice (Serviss)Carlile and his eldest son, Bradley Wade. He is survived by four sons; Nathan Todd of Phillips WI, Alan Scott of Carol Stream IL, Jordan Lewis of Carol Stream IL, and Douglas Ryan of Hope Mills NC. Four grandchildren; Taylor James of Minocqua WI, Micaela Marleen of Phoenix AZ, Seth Patrick of Plesant Prairie WI, and Wynter Bella-Alicia of Hope Mills NC. One great grandchild; Ariel Melissa of Phoenix AZ and several nieces and nephews.

Tom was born on October 18, 1938, in Kankakee IL to Willie Ernest and Anna Lucille Carlile. Tom was the third born out of five children. When Tom was a young boy, his father purchased a farm outside of Thompsonville IL where the family then moved to. After graduating from Thompsonville High School, Tom received a scholarship to attend Indiana University where he graduated with a B.S. in Sociology. During his time at college, Tom met a young coed named Margret Serviss, who he would later marry.

Tom served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg NC. During the Cuban Missile Crisis his unit was put on high alert. Had there been a ground invasion of Cuba, they would've been some of the first troops in.

After marrying, Tom and Margret settled in Des Plaines IL, a northern suburb of Chicago, where they raised five boys. Tom worked in the insurance and financial services industries for over thirty years. Tom was an active member of his church, serving on multiple governing boards and he coached his sons' little league team. For fun Tom liked to take his family skiing in Wisconsin and he played a lot of golf, up until the time he bought his first boat. Tom loved sailing on Lake Michigan, out of Waukegan harbor. Tom owned four sailboats over the course of his life. The first being a Coronado 25', that was self-built by the guy he bought it from, two different Schock 35', and finally, an Ericson 40'. Tom sailed for leisure with his family, and competitively, both in short weekly races held by the Waukegan Yacht Club, to eight consecutive entries in the Chicago Yacht Club's annual 333-mile Chicago to Mackinac race that starts at the Chicago lighthouse near Navy Pier and ends at Mackinac Island MI in Lake Huron.

After a thirty year plus successful career, and with all their children grown, Tom and Margret retired to Marion IL, near the area where he grew up, to live out their golden years. Margret passed away in June of 2008. At some point in his early eighties, Tom contracted myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells. After years of fighting the illness, Tom went to sleep on Thursday night June 13th and didn't wake up. He was 85 years old. Tom will missed by several friends, family, and loved ones.

A time of visitation will be held from 5 - 8 pm on Friday, July 12, 2024 at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home; 800 North Market Street; Marion, IL 62959. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church of Marion (1200 South Carbon Street; Marion, IL 62959) with Rev. Dan Whitfield officiating. Military honors will follow funeral services at the church. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Thompsonville.

The family will host a catered luncheon following the service at Tom's Marion home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Marion.