Carol Jean Vilt

BRACEVILLE—Carol Jean Vilt, age 76, of Braceville Township, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 at Morris Hospital.
Born March 2, 1941 in Compton, California, Carol Jean was a daughter of James Fudge and Maida (nee Hobbs) and George Young. She was raised in Santa Ana, California and on June 18, 1958, Carol married Donald George Vilt in San Diego.  They spend the next six years in California before relocating to Illinois, where they soon made their home and raised their family in Braceville Township.
Carol worked as a nurse assistant in the OB Department at Morris Hospital for several years, and later assisted her dear friend Rose Mehochko in the concessions at the Coal City Area Club.
Carol in her early years enjoyed horses, and showed her “Lady Jet”, as well as rode in parades. She was an outdoors enthusiast, who took pleasure in camping, flower gardening and bird watching. Carol was a great Chicago sports fan, and followed the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Blackhawks, as well as the Fighting Illini. She bowled on a senior league in Morris, was always up for bingo, and made many memorable trips to the casino with her friends.
Carol remained the active Vice President of Saddle Back Turkey Ranch in California, and will be most remembered for her love of time spent with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Donald; children: Terry Lynn Dailey of Cookville, Texas, Donald George (Suzanne) Vilt, Jr. of Plainfield, and Frances “Gina” (Bill) Clover of Coal City; son-in-law Dan Kambic of New Port Richey, Florida; grandchildren: Carol Jean Klegman of Canyon, Texas, Shane Elliott Lundberg of College Place, Washington, Jessica Vilt of Antioch, Zachary Vilt of Plainfield, William Ryan Clover of Coal City, Kristina (Mike) Gerrish of Gardner, Ross Clover of Chicago, and Blake Kambic and Max Kambic, both of New Port Richey, Florida; two great grandchildren: Lillian Marie and Finley Faye Gerrish; two brothers: Charles (LaDonne) Young of California and John (Janet) Young of Texas; one sister Jenada Sandlin(the late Sam) of Texas; two sisters-in-law: LaDonna Fudge of Nevada and Mary Young of California; one brother-in-law William (Rena) Vilt of California, and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her dear friends: Rose Mehochko of Coal City and Diane Francois of Braceville.
Carol was preceded in death by her father James Fudge; mother and step-father: Maida and George Young; daughter Jenada Kambic; two brothers: Jim Fudge and Ron Young; father-in-law William Vilt; mothers-in-law: Frances (nee Zelinko) Vilt and Leila Vilt, and her dear friend Bobbie June Montana.
Visitation and video tribute will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2017 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. at 5:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block north of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City. Funeral services will follow Monday morning, August 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in New Hope Presbyterian Church, 80 North Garfield Street (at First Street) in Coal City. Reverend Mark Hughey will officiate.
Burial will be in Braceville-Gardner Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Shane Lundberg, Zachary Vilt, Ryan Clover, Ross Clover, Blake Kambic and Max Kambic. Mike Gerrish will be an honorary pallbearer.
Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Carol’s memory to the Morris Hospital Foundation for the benefit of the Patient Transportation Services, 150 West High Street, Morris, Illinois 60450.
Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Carol’s memorial page online by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com
Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City.