Imo Jean McGill, 88, of Fairfield, died on Saturday, January 2, 2021, at Aperion Care in Fairfield.
Imo was born on August 2, 1932, in Dundas, IL, to Berton Vaughn and Laura (Ray) Henshaw. On August 23, 1951, she married James Leslie McGill.
Imo was a licensed cosmetologist and was the co-owner of a few beauty salons and barber shops. She co-owned a Beauty and Barber Supply Company in Decatur, IL in 1954, co-owned and operated The Patio, a beauty salon in Fairfield, and was the owner and operator of Merle Norman Studios in the 70’s. Later, she co-owned a chain of My Fair Lady beauty salons in Southern Illinois, with locations in Fairfield, Mt. Carmel, Flora, Salem, Robinson, Mt. Vernon, and Carbondale. She also co-owned a barber shop in Robinson, IL. Along with beauty salons, Imo also was the co-owner of McGill Construction Company, building homes in the Oakwood Acres subdivision, north of Fairfield. She, along with her daughter, Kristi Hornung, co-owned Carnaby Square and later, co-owned Carnaby II in Fairfield.
Imo was a lifetime member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha and served as the Illinois State President and several other officer positions in the local chapter Beta Eta. She was also an author, publishing three books: Carry Patch, Double Identity, and Papa Was a Preacher Man. In 1997, she received the President’s Award for Literary Excellence from the National Authors Registry for her poem “Where the Roses Never Fade”. Many in the community called upon her to write poems for special occasions.
Imo was raised attending the Holiness Rescue Mission Church and was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, both in Fairfield.
Survivors include two daughters Kristi (George) Hornung and Lori (Chris) Robson, both of Fairfield, two sons Jim (Julie) McGill, Jr. of Fairfield and Marc (Terry) McGill of Houston, TX, thirteen grandchildren Taylor (Ray) Aguilar, Karissa (Erik) Jones, Zach (Emily) Robson, Natalie (Tony) Wheatley, Britany (Andy) Pope, Michelle McGill, Jamie Pruitt, Janel (Chuck) Tate, Laura (Kim) McGill, Dakota Withrow, Tori Withrow, Alyssa (Derek) Tucker, and Rachel McGill, nineteen great grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim McGill, two sisters Opal Scott and Norma Donnay, and three brothers Lowell Art Ray, Van Crawford, and Bert Vaughn, Jr.
A public graveside service for Imo McGill will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, January 6th, at Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield. All those attending are asked to wear masks. Memorial donations can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Elk’s Children’s Care Corporation and will be accepted at the graveside or the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be made to the family at www.facebook.com/johnsonvaughnfuneralhome.