James R. McQuary, 80, of Caseyville, Ill., born June 18, 1933, in Owensboro, Ky., passed away at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014.

Mr. McQuary retired from American Steel after 30 years. For 25 years, he was the fire marshal for Caseyville, and for 37 years was a member of the Caseyville Fire Department and belonged to the Madison County Task Force. He was a former member of Caseyville Auxiliary Police Department. He served in both the U.S. Army and Air Force during the Korean conflict. James was a member of Caseyville First Baptist Church. He leaves behind many friends from Caseyville Fire Department and Caseyville Handi Mart.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janelle, nee Baehr, McQuary, whom he married on Jan. 29, 1953; a daughter, Mary Frances McQuary; parents, James H. and Mary, nee Burks, McQuary; brothers, William and George McQuary; a great-grandson, Brayden James McQuary; and sons-in-law, Mark Hammond, Joe Powell and Ed Godlewski.

Surviving are his sons and daughters, Janice (Dave) Wasser of Caseyville, Ill., Marilyn Godlewski of Slidell, La., Adam (Sherry) Krock of Collinsville, Ill., James (Beth) McQuary of Pearl River, La., George (Brenda) McQuary of Chalmette, La., Charles "Chuck" (Diana) McQuary of Collinsville, Ill., Malinda (Mark) Hammond of Meraux, La., Mary Ann (Frank) Moore of Caseyville, Ill., and Melody (Tom McCrary) McQuary of Caseyville, Ill.; 23 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sisters and brother, Edna Morrow of Ironton, Mo., Florence McQuary of Ironton, Mo., and Hank (Pete) McQuary of Nashville, Tenn.

Memorials may be made to the family. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at Herr Funeral Home in Caseyville, Ill.

Funeral: Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at the funeral home with the Rev. Henry Lewis officiating. Interment in Lake View Gardens of Memory, Fairview Heights, Ill.