Bloomington - Leverett Leroy "Chris" Chrisman, age 100, Bloomington, IL, died peacefully July 9, 2024, at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, IL.  He was born on January 5,1924 in Brownstown, IL to Henry and Ivah Pearl Chrisman.   He married June Maxine McMichael on February 5,1944 in Washington, DC.  At the time of his death, he resided at Westminster Village.

The funeral will be at 1:00 pm Saturday,  July 20, 2024, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Chenoa. Visitation will be from 12 Noon – 1 pm on Saturday, also at the funeral home.  The burial will follow directly afterward at Chenoa Township Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate to the American Diabetes Association or Westminster Village Foundation.

Chris was preceded in death by his parents, his wife June, sisters Lelah Thorne and Gladys Fulton and brother Harold Chrisman.

He is survived by his and June's  four children: Gerry (Carol) Chrisman, Normal, IL; Alan Chrisman, Ottawa, Canada; Kaye Chrisman, Bloomington, IL;  and Richard Chrisman, Mesa, AZ;   their seven grandchildren: Paul (Andrea Tracy) Chrisman, Grinnell, IA; Diane (Steve) Speed, Dekalb, IL;  David (Miranda) McCuistion, Scottsdale, AZ; John (Caroline) McCuistion, San Diego, CA; Josh (Karen) Chrisman, Oak Park, IL; Jolie (Reid Locklin) Chrisman, Toronto, Canada; and Jeremy  (Mary) Chrisman, Charles Town, WV; and their fourteen great-grandchildren: Cody, Isaac, Charlie, Duke, Nellie, and Josie Speed; Jamie and Megan Chrisman; Skylar, Gabriella and Gwendolyn Chrisman, Desmond Ford; Anna McCuistion; and Noa Locklin.

Leverett graduated from Brownstown, IL, High School in 1942, captain of the basketball team as a senior.  In 1943 he joined the US Army and was stationed in the Washington DC area, where he met and married his future wife June McMichael. Their first son Gerry was born in 1945.  By this time, Leverett was "Chris" to June, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and any future acquaintances and eventually Grandpa Chris to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After Chris was discharged in 1946, they spent 6 years in Harvey, IL. Three more children were born there: Alan, Kaye, and Richard.   The family moved in 1952 to June's hometown of Arlington, IN, living in a house built by June's Dad for them. Chris worked in tool stores and inventory control in Indianapolis primarily for the Chrysler and Ford assembly plants. He was always a very conscientious, reliable, and organized employee throughout his working life.  It was in Arlington that the children got most of their elementary and secondary schooling, in the same school that their mother June had graduated from.  In the late 1950s, June started working to enable them to save money for sending their children to college. All four children received a college education.

In 1965, the family moved to Belvidere, IL, where Chris started work at the new Chrysler assembly plant there. June worked as a secretary at a small company.  As their children grew older, June and Chris started traveling all over the US and Canada.  Chris bought a van, had a "turtle top" put on it, and then did a complete camping van conversion himself.

June and Chris also took up square dancing and served as training partners for new dancers.

Chris retired from Chrysler in 1980. He worked a few years as a handyman in a Belvidere hospital until he and June finally retired in 1984, sold their house and bought a 23 ft motor home (pulling a small car). They spent the next 8 years full time on the road living in the motor home.    Winters were spent in a combo of Florida, Texas, and Arizona.  Summers were spent visiting the rest of the US and Canada. They usually spent midday out of the camper, normally eating out for lunch. This lunch habit continued most of the rest of their life together, even when they weren't travelling around. They kept in touch with their children and now grandchildren by stopping in Illinois both spring and fall for a month. They also drove back to help any time the children and grandchildren needed them.

In 1992, they bought a house in Chenoa, IL, and sold the motor home.  Chris then did two more camping van conversions, which were used for further travel.   They got back into square dancing with some Chenoa neighbors. Their home became a favorite spot for the children and grandchildren to visit, hosting all who could come at Thanksgiving and Christmas and other times.  In 2001 they took their only overseas trip, 4 weeks visiting 7 countries in Europe with Gerry and Carol as part of a tour.

In 2008, June's health problems led to their move to the west side of Normal, IL, nearer to family and emergency response.   When June became wheelchair bound, Chris took over all household duties, devoting himself to June, and they continued to enjoy visiting their favorite restaurants.  When June had to go into a nursing home, Chris spent most of his daytime with her, from mid-morning to after dinner.  June passed away in February 2018, 2 days short of 74 years of marriage.   Chris sold his house in spring 2019 and moved into Bickford Place Retirement Living, then in September 2021 to Westminster Village in Bloomington, living in Independent Living there until his death.

Chris enjoyed maintaining his houses and their grounds, improving their appearance and landscaping improvements year by year, which made them very attractive and welcoming.  Chris enjoyed conversing with everybody he encountered, whether in a campground, in restaurants or anywhere.  Chris and June were devoted to their family and friends and set an example of honesty to all who came into contact with them. Chris and June's rewards were the successes and affections of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.