Irvin L. Kearns, 87, of Fairbury passed away at 11:30 pm on Friday, April 6, 2012 at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac.

Cremation rites have been accorded with a graveside inurnment at 3pm, Wednesday, April 18, 2012 in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury with Rev. Gene Mace officiating. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury has charge of arrangements.

Irvin Lee Kearns was born October 29, 1924 in Americus, GA the son of Council Leroy and Lucille (Hays) Kearns. He married Ava Atwell on June 20, 1948 in Oak Park, IL. She passed away on September 9, 2009.

Survivors include one son, Thomas L. Kearns of Chicago; one daughter, Linda J. Kearns of Pontiac; one sister, Luvenia Peters, three nieces and two nephews, all of Georgia.

The Reverend Kearns has been a United Methodist minister since 1950. He graduated from Americus High School, Americas, GA; received a Bachelor of Sacred Literature from Vennard, IA; a Bachelor of Arts from Greenville College, Greenville, IL; attended Seattle Pacific College, Seattle, WA; and received a Bachelor of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary of Indianapolis, IN. Irvin served the following churches, all in Illinois; Coffeen-Fillmore-Vanburensburg, Fairmount-Jamaica, Brocton-Redmon-Isabel, Zion Chapel, Arcola, Forrest, and Trinity Protestant Parish (now Kempton-Cabery-Cullom-Saunemin). He retired from the ministry in 1988 and moved to Fairbury.

Reverend Kearns was a past member of the Board of Martin Luther Homes of Illinois (now Mosaic). He served on the quality Assurance Committee of Futures Unlimited in Pontiac, and was a member of the State Board Relating to Alcohol Abuse. He also attended one year of training in Clinical Pastoral Education at Methodist Hospital in Peoria.

Memorials may be directed to The Preachers Aid Society of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church in Decatur or Mosaic Homes of Pontiac.