Kenneth "Ken" Leroy Gearhart, 88, of Waverly, Illinois, died Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Ken was born Jan. 17, 1932, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Arthur W. and Beatrice R. Johnson Gearhart. He married Joyce J. Beeler. He later married Betty J. Allen on Jan. 16, 2005, at the New Hope Baptist Church in Waverly. He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Marchelle and Diana; three stepdaughters, Connie Forren, Cathy Gray and Colleen Pierce; and three sisters, Wilma, Joyce, and Lorraine. Ken was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church. He was a class of 1952 graduate of Haslett High School in Haslett, Michigan. Ken served in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a member of the Air Force choir. He was a truck driver and member of Teamster Local #406 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as a lifelong supporter of Boys Town. Ken is survived by his wife, Betty (Allen) Gearhart, of Waverly; two sons, Quinn Gearhart of Lansing, Michigan and Kenny (wife, Ophelia) Beeler of Jacksonville, North Carolina; three daughters, Reva Hienzie of Grayling, Michigan, Norine (husband, Bill) Beeler-Hollemans of Wyoming, Michigan, and Sandy (husband, Don) Huffman of Mancelona, Michigan; two stepsons, Ken (wife, Rachael) Forren of Farmingdale, Illinois, Gary Gray of Hallsville, Missouri; three stepdaughters, Candee (husband, Mike) Carman of Blanchard, Louisiana, Carol (husband, Russ) Turner of Chatham and Christine (spouse, Nancy) Allen of Springfield; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A celebration of life service will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2020, at the Waverly Senior Center, 161 N. Pearl St., Waverly, IL 62692. Burial will be held at a later date at Fairview Cemetery in Mancelona, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Waverly Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, 160 S. Prospect St., Waverly, IL 62692. Curry Funeral Home is serving the family of Ken Gearhart. Online condolences may be expressed at www.curryfh.com.