Henry Downer "Hank" Piper, 95, of Mt. Vernon died 2:25 p.m. April 25, 2005, at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. He was a farmer and owner of Piper Farms.

Mr. Piper was born Dec. 1, 1909, in Jefferson County to Henry R. and Sara Agnes (Collins) Piper.

He married Dorothy Louise (McLaughlin) Piper Sept. 28, 1929, in Mt. Vernon; she preceded him in death Aug. 20, 1991.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Jason Newell will officiate. Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Piper is survived by three sons, William H. Piper and wife Marguerite of Mt. Vernon, Thomas T. Piper and wife Cuma of Mt. Vernon and Michael H. "Mike" Piper and wife Barbara of Mt. Vernon; two daughters, Mary Ann Linn and husband Jim of Beech Grove, Ind., and Nancy Sue Phillips and husband Joe of Gatlin, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a great-grandson, Chris Piper; a daughter, Nita Jane "Janie' Shurtz; two brothers, Harold and Edwin Piper; and three sisters, Myrtus Piper Brehm, Leila Piper Legg and Pauline Piper Glazebrook.

Mr. Piper was a pioneer in the sport and was known as the "Grandfather of Tractor Pulling". He was a grand national champion tractor puller, a member of the National Tractor Pullers Association and a member of the state conferences in Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia and Ohio, traveling all over the U.S. and Canada in pursuit of the sport. He also raced boats as a hobby, was a private pilot and lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, a board member of McClellan School, a Soil and Water Conservation director and a member of the National Farmers Association.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call 242-3348 for further information.

Source: Register-News
Date: April 27, 2005
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman