James E. Ashworth

Mattoon, IL-James E. Ashworth, age 86, of Mattoon, IL, passed away at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center at 9:10 p.m., Monday, June 17, 2013.\r\n\r\nThe funeral service in his honor will begin at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, June 20, 2013, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938, with Pastor Ken Hutchens officiating. Interment will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the VFW Post 4325 of Mattoon, IL. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m., until the service begins. Masonic rites will be conducted at 9:40 a.m., by the Masonic Lodge #260 of Mattoon, IL. \r\n\r\nBorn October 4, 1926, in Coles County, IL, James was the son of Charles C. and Nina T. (Fleshner) Ashworth. He married Helen R. McConnell on February 22, 1948, in Mattoon, IL. Survivors include his loving wife of 65 years, Helen Ashworth of Mattoon, IL; one son, Ron Ashworth and wife Tami (Weber) of Lerna, IL; one sister, Ann Copeland of Mattoon, IL; two grandchildren, Travis Ashworth and wife Mandy of Mattoon, IL, and Staci Gillis of Lerna, IL; and four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Dakota, Dylan, and Devon. James was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and six sisters.\r\n\r\nA veteran of the United States Army, Mr. Ashworth served our country in the Philippines during World War II. He then provided for his family as a professional truck driver. Before retiring from a career spanning 69 years, he drove over 6 million miles. \r\n\r\nMr. Ashworth was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mattoon, IL. Other memberships included the Masonic Lodge #260 of Mattoon, IL, Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Ansar Shriners of Springfield, IL, Teamsters Local 26 of Urbana, IL, and VFW Post 4325 of Mattoon, IL. He was also a co-founder and member of the Mattoon Camper's Club. \r\n\r\nMr. Ashworth was a man with a strong work ethic evident by the fact that he came out of retirement five times. However, when he wasn't driving a truck or working on the farm, he cherished time spent with his family. \r\n\r\nMemorials in his honor may be made to the Shriner's Children's Hospital, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org, Shriners Hospital for Children'-St. Louis, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131.\r\n\r\nPlease visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with his family. \r\n

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James E. Ashworth

October 4, 2026 - June 17, 2013