Rural King Co-Founder Dies

The co-founder of Rural King Supply has died.

Kermit Speer died this week in Mattoon at age 91.

Speer, a native of Ellisville, Illinois, was a farmer in the Bushnell area, but founded Rural King Supply in Mattoon with Keith Beaird in 1960. Many of Speer's nephews later joined him in the business, which has grown to 80 stores in 10 states including one in Effingham.

Speer was a civic leader in Mattoon and elsewhere, serving as a benefactor to a number of endeavors, including the Lake Land College nursing program. 

Funeral services will be Sunday in Bushnell, but a local visitation is planned Friday night from 5 to 7pm at Schiling's Funeral Home in Mattoon. Further details are available here.