Gordon Conant

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Gordon E. Conant, 55, of Villa Ridge died Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Conant was born July 28, 1954, in Cairo, Ill., son of Roger and Birdie Douglas Conant.

Gordon was a 1972 graduate of Meridian High School in Mounds, Ill. He was a self-employed contractor.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Watson Conant of Villa Ridge; two daughters and a son-in-law, Kimberly Conant of Gray Court, S.C., Rebecca and Neal Pullum of Essex, Mo.; his mother, Birdie Conant of Villa Ridge; a sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Bill Davis of McClure, Ill.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, LeRoy and Marie Watson of Villa Ridge; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bruce and Robin Watson of Paducah, Ky.; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roger Conant, on Feb. 29, 2004.

Gordon became a Mason 23 years ago. He was an active life member of Cairo Lodge 237 AF&AM, was a six-time past master and was currently sitting his seventh term as master at Cairo Lodge. He was a member in good standing with the York Rite Masonic Bodies, Metropolis member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in St. Louis where he rose to 32nd Degree of the craft, was an avid Shriner and belonged to Ainad Shrine Temple in East St. Louis, Ill.

Gordon was a life member and served as treasurer of the Kim Shrine Club in Cairo.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge. Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 by Cairo Lodge 237.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Ralph Kaufman officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to Kim Shrine Club or Cairo Masonic Lodge 237, Cairo, IL 62914.