EAST PEORIA - Richard Eugene "Dick" Gaunt Sr., 66, of East Peoria passed away at 9:52 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. He was born July 16, 1942, in Peoria to Louis E. and Marjorie G. (Waddle) Gaunt. He first married Annamae Burchell on Nov. 11, 1962, in East Peoria. He later married Patricia French on Aug. 12, 1991, in Lake Tahoe, Nev. She survives. Also surviving are three sons, Richard Bird (Shannon) Gaunt Jr. of Morton, Ill., John L. Gaunt of Oak Park, Ill., and Thomas D. "Buzz" Gaunt of Mackinaw, Ill.; two stepchildren, Mary Ann (fiance Jeremy) Daily of McLeansboro, Ill., and Kevin L. Daily of East Peoria, Ill.; two brothers, Tom (Wanda) Gaunt and David (Dawn) Gaunt, both of Macon, Mo.; one sister, Margaret (Paul) Robbins of Carlsbad, Calif.; two grandchildren, Shane O. Gaunt and Ross E. Gaunt; one great-granddaughter, Sterling L. Gaunt; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Dick was a member of Midwest Truckers Association. He was the owner/operator of Dick Gaunt Trucking and Excavating Inc. in Washington, Ill., as well as being a farmer for many years. He had a passion for the outdoors, John Deere tractors, truck and tractor pulls, and NASCAR. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2009, at Hutton and McElwain Funeral Home in Macon, Mo., with a visitation one hour prior to services. An additional visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2009, at Remmert Funeral Home in East Peoria, Ill. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Macon, Mo. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.mem.com.