Troy E. Finney

Herrin- TROY E FINNEY, age 98, of Herrin, passed away at 12:48pm on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Troy was born in Herrin on September 21, 1913, the son of Will and Stella Ann (Ward) Finney. Troy attended Herrin City Schools from 1919 thru 1928. In 1929, he started working at the Old Squirrel Mine until it closed in 1931. During the depression, when times were hard, he also worked at a small mine in DeSoto as well as various other mines including Wilson Mine, Old Ben 8, Taylor 5, and Taylor 7. He went to Flint, Michigan where he worked until December of 1941. Troy was called to serve in the Army but did not go at that time. While working at an iron plant in Chicago, he was called back to serve in the United States Army on November 16, 1942 and was sent to boot camp in Beale, California. Troy was a member of the 124 Army Engineers Ballion 13, having served in Europe with General Patton Third Army. He received his honorable discharge on December 7, 1945. Troy married Evelyn Kelly on February 18, 1946. Together, they shared sixty-five years of marriage. She survives in Herrin. Mr. Finney was a life member of the VFW Post 1567, member of the American Legion Post 645, and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 51. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Energy. Mr. Finney served as a volunteer for twenty-five years at the Marion VA Hospital after his retirement from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs where he worked for fourteen years. His VA hours served exceeded 11,300 hours. Survivors include his wife- Evelyn Finney of Herrin Five Grandchildren Eleven Great Grandchildren Ten Great Great Grandchildren He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter- Cheryl Mezo, two sisters- Mae Walker and Edith Loftus, Niece- Janet Loftus, Granddaughter- Amy Lee Green, Great Granddaughter- Alexis Shyann Hopkins-Mezo, and Great Grandson- Jeffrey Scott Price. Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin with Rev. Ralph Brandon officiating. Burial will follow at Herrin City Cemetery with military honors provided by Herrins VFW and American Legion Posts with assistance from the National Guard Unit. Visitation will be held from 10am until noon on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home. For more information, or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com