Thomas Bellamy

Thomas Roger Bellamy, 67, of Morris, Ill., was born in Cape Girardeau, and passed away Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Morris Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Loving husband of 48 years to Ginny Champion Bellamy; father of sons, James Warren Bellamy and wife Therese Marie Musselman, Charles Wesley Bellamy III and wife Benita Ann Shimley; grandfather of Jacob James, Nicholas Robert and Samuel Thomas; brother to Allen Edward Bellamy and wife Brenda Sue Bellamy of Springfield, Mo.; brother-in-law to Alan Champion and wife Donna Bowles of Minneapolis, and Carrie Champion Shiley and husband Kevin Shiley of Rexburg, Idaho. He was loved by many nieces, nephews, close friends and all who met him.

Tom was the beloved son preceded in death by parents Lillian Beatrice Pierce and Charles Wesley Bellamy.

He was a 1960 graduate of Central High School in Cape Girardeau and a 1964 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was a manager with J.C. Penney Co. from 1964 to 1989, and retired from Ryder Logistics in 2005.

Tom loved gardening, bird watching, hiking, bicycling and canoeing. He also enjoyed watching his grandsons' football, baseball and soccer games. He was a master storyteller, volunteer with Morris Area Garden Club and Grundy County Historical Society, and EJ&E Caboose conductor-storyteller.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Morris. Inurnment will be in Cape Girardeau.

Fred C. Dames Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of arrangements.

For more information call 815-942-5040 or e-mail fredcdames.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Community Foundation of Grundy County or the Grundy County Historical Society.