Jay Ellis Allred (88) of Shelbyville

Jay Ellis Allred, 88, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 7:28 a.m. Monday, October 19, 2020 in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 26, 2020 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Stake President Jeffrey R. Stowell officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25, 2020 in the funeral home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to Special Olympics Illinois: Region I or the Shelby County Senior Center.

Jay was born on December 23, 1931 in Evanston, Wyoming, the son of Ellis McAllister and Ann Elizabeth Peterson Allred. He graduated from Mackinaw High School and attended Illinois State University. Jay served in the U. S. Navy Reserves for eight years, during the Korean War Era. Jay began working for his father at Allred’s Floor Service and went on to work as a salesman for the Hillyard Chemical Company for 44 years, covering 32 counties in Illinois. He later owned and operated Allred’s Floor Service in Shelbyville and was still actively working along with his son, Jim, and grandson, Jaron, making four generations in the business. Jay was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mattoon, IL. He was very involved in the Shelbyville community. Jay served on the Shelbyville City Council for eight years, where he was Police Commissioner. He also served on the City of Shelbyville Zoning Board and the Greater Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce, where he was Chairman of the Scarecrow Daze for 13 years and helped with the restoration of the Roxy Theatre in Shelbyville. He also enjoyed helping with the Shelbyville Boy Scouts and their trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch, in New Mexico. He married Barbara Joan Scott on May 22, 1954. They enjoyed traveling in and out of the country and spending time with their family.

He is survived by his wife, Barb; daughters, Beverly Woolverton (Rick) of Shelbyville, IL, Becky Smith (Bob) of Springville, UT, and Bonnie Gerkin (Don) of Atwood, IL; son, James Allred (Stefanie) of Effingham, IL; brother, Mark Allred (Brenda) of Orem, UT; 15 grandchildren; and 28 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Marvin, Alan and John Allred (October 18, 2020); and grandson, Kit Woolverton.

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