CENTRALIA — Jack Ray Marks,  70, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

He was born on August 30, 1952, in Carbondale, Illinois, the son of Thomas, Jr. and Wanda Lee (Clark) Marks.  He married Theresa Mercer and they later divorced.

Jack is survived by his loving family, son, James Tyler Marks of Junction City, Illinois; stepdaughters, Beth Morris of Junction City, Illinois, and Julia Morris of Centralia, Illinois; sister, Janet Marks and fiancé Ivan Reynolds of Centralia, Illinois; and one cousin.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Marks and Wanda Marks; uncle, Dean Clark; and aunt, Francis Clark.

Jack was of the Baptist faith and he attended the Central City Baptist Church in Central City, Illinois.  He was a member of the Centralia Moose Family Center # 1219.  He visited the Centralia V.F.W. Post # 2055 and the Centralia Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. # 493 in Centralia, Illinois.  Jack was a Harley rider and enjoyed being out on the open roads.  He was an outdoorsman, who loved to fish on the Kaskaskia River, and camp in the wilderness.  He cherished the time he spent with his family and friends.

Jack retired as a mechanic with Wimberly Bus Service after seventeen years of service.  He then went on as a mechanic for 76 Truck Stop in Mount Vernon, Illinois, for twenty years. He lived his whole life in Centralia, Illinois.

It was the wish of Mr. Jack Ray Marks to leave this world quietly with no public visitation.  A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2023, at Pratt Cemetery in Patoka, Illinois, with Pastor Sam Hester officiating.  Friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery on Friday. Inurnment will follow in Pratt Cemetery in Patoka, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s honor to the Fireside House Activities Department in Centralia, Illinois, and may be received by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois 62801.

Please view the online obituary, send condolences, or share memories with Mr. Marks’ family at moranfuneralhome.net.