Arvel Owen Burgess, 92, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois passed away at 3:33 A.M. on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at White Oak Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He was born on Tuesday, January 29, 1918 in Wayne County, Illinois the son of the late Tom and Lizzie (Coil) Burgess. He married Reba P. Keen on April 15, 1938 in Henderson, Kentucky and she preceded him in death on January 23, 2005. Surviving family members include his 2 daughters: Shirley LaVielle of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Beverly Gaines and husband Jim of Opdyke, Illinois; 5 grandchildren: Michelle Stevens and husband Will of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Stephanie Morgan and husband Eric of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Eric Gaines and wife Amanda of Opdyke, Illinois, Steven Fox and wife Janine of Laguna Niguel, California and Suzette Clark of Laguna Niguel, California; 11 great grandchildren: Jordan, Sydney, Adam, Makena, Kyle, Trevor, Devon, Collin, Cooper, Kage and Emerson; special friend: Florence Casey of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; one great great grandchild; several nieces and nephews also survive. His parents, wife, one son: Gary Burgess, one brother and four sisters. Arvel was a maintenance worker for Vernois Stove Company in Mt. Vernon for 40 years until retiring and he was a member of East Salem Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. VISITATION: will be held from 5 to 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. FUNERAL SERVICES: will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Reverend Richard McCormick and Reverend Gene Auxier will officiate. INTERMENT: Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. For those who wish, memorials may be given to the East Salem Baptist Church Building Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864.