MOUNT VERNON — Howard Wayne Staley, 80, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 5:54 a.m. Sunday, March 17, 2024, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born March 11, 1944, in Mt. Vernon, the son of Orie and Edith (Scott) Staley.  On May 26, 1962, in Mt. Vernon, he married Phyllis Aline Scott, and she survives.

He loved farming, and raising his Black Angus cattle.  He also enjoyed crappie fishing and camping, and growing a garden.  He served in the Illinois National Guard, and later worked for many years at Precision, then National Railway Equipment, in Mt. Vernon.

In addition to his wife, Phyllis Staley of Mt. Vernon, he is survived by children, Howard Wayne Staley, Jr., and wife Jill of Mt. Vernon, Tammy Jo Smith and husband Woody of Mt. Vernon, Thaddeus Scott Staley and wife Sarah of Mt. Vernon, Emily Aline Taskoski and husband Ron of Jonesboro, Arkansas; grandchildren, Joshua Smith and wife Jamie of Dix, Kaleb Smith and wife Erika of Glen Carbon, Illinois, Elijah Smith and wife Marlene of Sesser, Illinois, Matthew Staley and wife Jade of Wayne City, Illinois, Melody Gallo and husband Andrew of Dix, Seth Staley of Mt. Vernon, Dagny Taskoski of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Hannah McKinney of Mt. Vernon; great-grandchildren, Rhett, Aubrey, and Jerritt Staley, Kalvin, Elaina, Emilia, Penelope, Oren, and Abram Smith; brother, Ivan Staley and wife Frances of Mt. Vernon; sisters-in-law Pat Staley of Mt. Vernon, and Reva French of Mt. Vernon; brothers-in-law Roger Scott of Mt. Vernon, and Tommy Scott of Mt. Vernon; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Whitney Elizabeth Smith; brothers, Elmer Staley, Harry Staley, and Bob Staley; and sister, Eloise Pakish.

A private graveside service for Mr. Staley will be held, with burial immediately following, at East Salem Cemetery.  Memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and will be accepted by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830.  Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.