Bill passed away Sept. 25, 2014, at home, surrounded by his family after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was born in Decatur, Ill., to Leo and Helen (Marsh) Loveless and was the eldest of three children. He was raised on a farm on Wyckles Road, west of Decatur, where he attended Warrensburg High School (1944). He had planned on attending Millikin University and then the seminary, but decided to enter farming which became a 40-year experience. He met and married a Blue Mound girl, Rose (Sheppard), the love of his life, through 4-H and Rural Youth activities. That relationship lasted for almost 66 years.Bill was a pioneer in many agriculture activities. He promoted the use of fertilizer by selling and spreading for Perkinson Fertilizer in the early '60s. He was an active participant of the Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District, utilizing many soil conservation practices in his farming. Bill was also a seed corn dealer for Bear Hybrids Corn for 20 years. He received the Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year award for Macon County (1959) and helped establish and was the first president of the Macon County 4-H Foundation, the first 4-H foundation to be established in the state of Illinois. Bill loved people in general and was always sensitive to other people's concerns, often setting their needs ahead of his own. If ever there was a need for "fairness" on a social or community concern, Bill would champion the cause to find a positive solution. In addition to being a member and administrative leader at Sharon United Methodist Church in Decatur, he was also a school board member and one-time board president of the Warrensburg-Latham Consolidated School District. Bill was involved with the Macon County Farm Bureau and a member of the Warrensburg and Hillsboro Lions Clubs. He was a Worthy Patron of the Illini Chapter of Eastern Star and a 50-year Mason of the Summit Lodge. Bill had many roles in life, but his favorite was being a loving husband, father and grandfather. Having lived 75 years in Illinois, he and his wife moved to Oregon to be with his children and new baby granddaughter in 2001. He was happiest when he had his family around him.He is survived and ever in the hearts of his wife, Rose; daughter, Peggy; son, Howard; granddaughter, Annelise Loveless; sister, Nancy of Illinois; and brother, Robert of Oklahoma. A service for Bill's celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at the Hillsboro, Oregon United Methodist Church and at a later service at Sharon United Methodist Church in Decatur. Bill will be buried in Macon County Memorial Park alongside his father, mother and stepmother, Madeline.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to Hillsboro United Methodist Church or Providence Hospice. Published in Hillsboro Argus/Forest Grove Leader/Beaverton Leader on Oct. 1, 2