Dr. Joan Ferrell

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Dr. Joan Ferrell, 63, of Raleigh, Ill., died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at her home.

She was born Jan. 19, 1941, in West Frankfort, Ill., daughter of John and Dorothy McCloud Sinks. She and Donald V. Ferrell were married June 6, 1969.

Ferrell received master's degrees in English and French, and a Ph.D. in English from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1998. She was an English/French instructor 31 years at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.

Her accomplishments include: 2002 State of Illinois Community College Trustees Association, outstanding faculty member of the year, SIC outstanding faculty member and recipient of Loren P. and Velma Dallas Award in 2002. She received NISOD Medal of Excellence, was past president of SIC Education Association, Southeastern's ICISP representative and statewide faculty/administration international exchange coordinator and coordinator of International Education and International Trips.

She edited and published the high school and college editions of SIC's literary magazine "Across the Miles" for several years. She was instrumental in establishing the first men's golf team, which she coached.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Steven and Jonathan Fricks Sr. of Raleigh; her mother, Dorothy Fricks; two sisters, Nancy Watkins and Lana Watkins; a brother, Robert Fricks, all of Jonesboro; and two grandsons.

Friends may call at Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado, Ill., from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery.