Obituary – David L. “Monty” Rea – Whittington

David L. “Monty” Rea, 57, of Whittington, departed this earth to go to his Heavenly Home on Wednesday morning, October 15, 2014 at his home.

He was born in Benton, IL on April 5, 1957, the son of David R. & Carole (Taylor) Rea.

He married Marsha (Whittington) on August 4, 1979 in Benton and she survives.

Monty was on the original group that organized the Ewing-Northern Fire Protection District and served as the only chief from 1992 until present.  He started coal mining in 1979, most recently working at Nighthawk Coal Co.  Monty was an 18-year member of the Ewing-Northern Grade School board and also served on the Ewing Township board from 1992 to the present.

He attended Whittington Church.

Monty loved to hunt, fish and farm but above all was his family, especially his three grandbabies, Bentley, Blakely and Sawyer, then his dedication to the fire department.

He is survived by his wife, Marsha, of Whittington, , two daughters, Whitney Winstead and husband Johnny, of Benton, and Haley Smith and husband Cory, of Benton and three grandchildren, Bentley Rea Smith, Blakely Pavin Smith and Sawyer Michael Winstead.

Also surviving are his parents, David and Carole Rea, of West City, a sister, Diana Ing, and husband Keith, of Benton, mother-in-law J. Irene Whittington, formerly of Whittington, grandmother, Edith Taylor, of Benton, brother-in-law Mike Whittington and wife Donna, of Marion and nieces and nephews Marci, Eric, Lindsay and Nathaniel.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Noel Whittington and by his grandparents, Verbal and Anna Belle Rea and Kenneth and Viola Taylor.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October, 18 at the Whittington Church with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. A fireman’s walk-through will be Friday at the church.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton.  Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Rea’s memory to the Ewing-Northern Fire Protection District and will be accepted at Whittington Church or at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, Benton.

For more information or to sign the guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.