Thanks to member Heaven bound for creating his original memorial. Her memorial place at Monmouth was merged with mine 12/10/19. The bio below is from the original memorial. Thanks to Jan #48965389 for Veteran Designation 2/24/24.

Raymond A. Chewning, 92, of Monmouth, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2015 at the Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth. He was born on March 25, 1923 in Monmouth, the son of Spencer L. and Mary (Tupes) Chewning. Ray attended school in Monmouth. He served as a Fireman in the United States Navy during WWII on the Destroyer Minesweeper USS Hovey. The unsung hero's of the Philippine invasion were the little minesweepers that went to work three days before the "Big Show" to make the heavily mined water of Leyte Gulf safe for warships, troop transports, and a vast number of landing craft. The first American surface craft to enter Philippine waters since the Fall of Corregidor was the Hovey. The Hovey was sunk by Japanese bombers. Only a few members of her crew survived. Ray spent 18 hours in the waters doing his best to help his fallen friends before he was rescued. The Hovey was a proud little ship. She started her war career at Pearl Harbor, was at Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands and on to the Philippines. She swept more Japanese mines than any other ship. Ray received our Country's Purple Heart. After the war, Ray returned home and worked on the M&StL railroad, for his dad in his blacksmith shop, and retired from Butler's in Galesburg as a welder and crane operator. Ray married his high school sweetheart, Jean Smith, on April 29, 1941. After 29 years of marriage, she preceded him on August 13, 1970. He married Geri Morris in December, 1971. She preceded him on December 24, 2012. He was also preceded by his parents, on infant daughter, Jerry Faye Chewning, on June 21, 1966, one grandson, Patrick J. Adams, son of his daughter Janna LaFrance and Jack Adams, his son-in-law who passed away in 1993. Five brothers and one sister also preceded him. He is survived by two sons; John E. of Dwight, Joe (Crystal) Spring Valley, CA, two daughters; Janna (Greg) LaFrance of Downers Grove, Judy (Terry) McGinnes of Monmouth, three grandsons, two granddaughters, three great-grandsons, four great-granddaughters, on great-great granddaughter, and one great-great grandson. Several nieces and nephews also survive, including Patricia Thompson, "Butch" Chewning, and Jim Cokel. Ray love to fish, garden, and travel.

Services: Services are currently pending and will be announced at a later date. In honor of Ray's wishes, cremation was accorded.