Gerald “Ray” Sowers, 84, of Toledo, IL passed away at 4:00 am on February 21, 2013 at Heartland Christian Village in Neoga, IL. Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Sunday February 24th 2013 at the Toledo Christian Church in Toledo, IL. Visitation will be at the church from 1:00 to 3:00 Sunday. Burial with Military Rites will be in the Montrose Cemetery. Barkley Funeral Chapel in Toledo is in charge of arrangements. Ray was born on January 3, 1929 in Jewett, IL the son of Ben & Ruth (Marrs) Sowers. He married Betty Carter Hall on November 12, 1964. Surviving is his wife of 48 years; children Glenn Hall of Toledo, Linda Hall Black (Pat) of Greenup, Nancy Sowers Zytka of Toledo, Angela Sowers Kroeger (Joe) of Teutopolis, Patrick Sowers (Debbie) of Casey; two brothers Bennie (Phyllis) Sowers and Jim Sowers and a sister Lois (Ronnie) Collins all of Toledo; 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Emil, Millard and Johnnie Sowers; sisters Madonna McKinley and Frankie Aleshire. He was a member of the Toledo Christian Church where he served faithfully as an Elder & Deacon for over forty years; He served his country in the US Army. He was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer, he also had been Sumpter Township Supervisor; was on the Cumberland School Board and the Cumberland County Board. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Toledo Christian Church or to Heartland Christian Village or The Gideon’s International. On line condolences can be expressed at www.barkleyfuneralchapels.com