Clyde Choate

ANNA, Ill. -- Clyde Lee Choate, 81, of Anna died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Ill.

He was born June 28, 1920, at West Frankfort, Ill., son of James I and Grace Ellen Brown Choate. He and Madonna Ross were married May 10, 1947, at Carbondale.

Choate was a veteran of World War II, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, life member of the Anna VFW Post 3455, member of the Anna American Legion Post 344, member of the Anna Elks Lodge No. 1641, member of the Anna Masonic Lodge 520, member of the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion. and member of the Illinois Veterans Commission. He was also a member of the Illinois legislature from 1947 to 1977, where he served as minority and majority leader. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Illinois in 1972 and director of external affairs at SIU-Carbondale.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Elizabeth Ellen Wood of Carbondale and Kim Hughey of Anna; three sisters, Creta Yates of Jonesboro, Dortha Ballance of Anna and Ethel Marie Marlow of Bradenton, Fla.; a brother, Thomas E. Adams of Anna; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Ruth Irvin, Florence Craft, Gladys Lawrence, Ivern Fuller and Mary Angelo; and two brothers Melvin and Orean Choate.

Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna after 5 p.m. Wednesday and at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna after 10 a.m. Thursday. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The Rev. John Marlow will officiate, with burial in Anna City Cemetery.