Samuel Junior Draper

Samuel Junior Draper, 75, of Fairmount, Illinois, passed away in his home on the morning of Sunday, March 24, 2024. Junior was born to Samuel and Inez (Johnston) Draper on March 4, 1949 in Salem, Illinois. He married Alice Bailey on August 6, 2004. She survives.

Junior is survived by his children, Bruce (Nisa) Draper, Mark (Shannon) Draper, Brian (Tasha) Draper, Penny Gnaden, Amanda (David) Bradford, and Debbie Gnaden; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.

Preceding him in death are his parents and sisters, Iris Graham and Donna May Draper.

Junior grew up in Salem, IL and East St. Louis where he attended Cohokia Public Schools. He later moved to Fairmount, IL in 1968. Junior worked at General Motors for 26 years and retired in May of 1993. He worked as clean-up crew in the basement scooping sand with a bobcat. He valued hard work, having never missed a day, always telling his sons that they could miss school when he missed work. His favorite holiday was Christmas and he enjoyed growing out his beard to look like Santa Claus. Junior was an avid hunter and trapper until his health declined and wouldn’t allow him to hunt anymore. His favorite hobbies were fishing, camping, mushroom hunting, and playing chess and cards. He loved sitting by the campfire telling his life stories, and most of all Junior loved spending time with his family.

A service in honor of Junior will be held at 12:00 on Friday, March 29 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N Vermilion St, Danville, IL 61834. Pastor Mike Roberts of Fairmount, Illinois will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00-12:00 on Friday March 29, also at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Cremation will follow. Please join us in remembering Junior’s life by posting pictures, videos, and memories to his tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.

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