Emory Sylvester Hall

Emory Sylvester Hall of Oakdale, Illinois,  passed away at Pinckneyville Community Hospital on October 27, 2019.  Emory was born January 15, 1940 to Josephine (née Spencer) and Harral A. Hall in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Emory was united in marriage to Sarah Pool Pruitt on June 21, 1963. From the first time he said it, he made sure to tell Sarah that he loved her every day.

Emory is survived by his wife; two sons Richard (Marsha) Hall and Matthew (Emily) Hall; grandchildren Megan Hall and special friend Troy Miller, Abigail Hall and special friend Marcus Bean, and Madeline, Thomas, and Daniel Johnson; aunt Wanda Carrick; brother-in-law Sam Pruitt; Dylan and Kyle Conekin, Deanna Thies, Kevin Lewis, and Rebecca Mines, all of whom he loved and embraced as family; nieces and nephews Melissa (Tom) Johnson, Sarah (Trent) Koplinski and their children Sydney and Jonah, Andrew Pruitt and special friend Tasia Karoutsos, and Ashley Pruitt; some of the vast number of pets that captured his heart; and many other cherished family members, friends, and neighbors.

Emory was preceded in death by his parents Harral A. and Jospehine Hall; parents-in-law Elbert and Wilma Pruitt; and brothers Harral E. and Richard E. Hall.

Emory, a veteran of the US Navy, completed a degree in Business Administration at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and was also a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Over the years, he worked as a computer programmer and as a carpenter, as well as serving as a Baptist minister at Graham Baptist Church in San Jacinto, Indiana, and First Baptist Church, Nashville, Illinois among others.  He also worked as an EMT and volunteer fireman for the Coulterville Fire Department. For the greater part of his career, Emory was a surveyor at Zeigler Mine and at API, Nashville, helping to create many roads and the Metrolink expansion into Illinois.  After retirement, he loved substitute teaching in several area school districts.

Emory was an avid squirrel hunter, fisherman, and target shooter, a great lover of nature and a supporter of nature conservation.  He was a member of Les Couriers DuBois de Fort de Chartres, where he enjoyed many years of Rendezvous and captured many children’s imaginations with his 18th century historical demonstrations.  He was also a skilled woodworker, crafting uncountable custom pieces for his home and for his family and friends.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at Styninger Funeral Home in Nashville on Thursday, October 31, 2019, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., costumes optional.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy or Heifer International.  Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.styningerfuneralhomes.com or on the funeral home Facebook page.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Emory Sylvester Hall, please visit our floral store.