Cecil Elijah Spain

	Cecil Elijah Spain, 97, of 311 Wilcox Avenue, Zeigler, died at 5:15 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2001 at the Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin.
	Mr. Spain was born January 7, 1904 in Absher, Ill. to Winfield Scott and Mary (Fiveash) Spain.  When he was a year old, his family moved to Marion where he lived until the year 1924.
	Mr. Spain was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for the city of Marion from 1917 to 1924.  He joined the National Association of Letter Carriers in 1920, then moved to Zeigler in 1925 and became the towns first mail carrier from February 1, 1926 until his retirement on July 31, 1964.  He was known as the whistling mailman for the tunes that preceded him along his route.
	When Cecil moved to Zeigler he married his childhood sweetheart, Miss Clara D. Simpson on September 19, 1926 in Granite City.  She survives in Zeigler.
	Other survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Reba Jo Spain of Cody, Wyoming; a granddaughter and her husband, Joanna and Tim Lara of Parker, Colorado; a grandson, Jason Winfield Spain of San Francisco, California and a great granddaughter, Shana Spain lara of Parker, Colorado.
	Cecil was a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1917 and attended the First Baptist Church in Zeigler.  He was a member and Past Patron of the Zeigler Easter Star 841 and Past Master of  Zeigler Lodge AF&AM 1048 and received his 32nd degree Scottish Rite in the Masons in 1958.  He was an over 50-year member in both organizations and a member of the East St. Louis Ainad Masonic Shrine.
	Mr. Spain was a member of the former Zeigler Rotary Club for 50 years, serving as presidnent twice and secretary for 11 years.  He received the Paul Harris Rotary Award on July 5, 1990.  The Harris award is the highest honor in Rotary International and Cecil was the first person from Franklin County to receive it.
	He served as Finance Commissioner for the city of Zeigler from 1967 ti 1971 and was the past president of the Zeigler Improvement Incorporated.
	 As per Mr. Spains request, his remains were gifted to Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine.  A memorial service for Mr. Spain will be held at a later date.  Vantrease Funeral Home in Zeigler is in charge of arrangements.
	 Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Spain may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. at 1110 North Johnson, Marion, IL 62959-1665 or to the Zeigler Public Library which may be mailed to Vantrease Funeral Home, P.O. Box 111, Zeigler, IL 62999.
	 This obituary may also be seen on the internet at arrangeonline.com.  Just type Spain under the obituary search heading.
