Joni Lynn Peairs

Joni “Gussie” Peairs, 64, of Marion, IL passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023, at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Joni was born on September 11, 1959, in Ashland, Kentucky to the late Charlie and Clara (Cawvey) Peairs.

Although she was born in Kentucky she didn’t stay there long. She and her sister Jackie grew up all over the world while their father worked for the Federal Prison System. They finally settled their roots in Southern Illinois. That nomadic bug bit Joni, and she wanted to explore. She walked across the country, hitchhiking to Florida to go visit her father when she was just 16 years of age. She moved to California to discover the world but found out with everything they had to offer, they didn’t have her family, so she moved back to Illinois. Joni finally settled down in the late 80s and had her two boys, they were her pride and joy. She worked hard to provide a good life for her children. Joni was an amazing person and truly one of a kind. She had a beautiful soul. She would do anything she could for you and give you the shirt off her back. The world will truly never be the same without that ornery old hippie and anyone that knew her knows how true that is. All the people she left behind knew she loved them very much because she made it known.

Joni is survived by her oldest son Adam Peairs and her youngest son, Benjamin Peairs; her fur babies, Journey and Queen Push Elizabeth; her grandchildren, Amaya Peairs, Kilea Peairs, Zavannah Peairs, Tucker Peairs, Jenson Peairs and Loralei Peairs; baby nephew, Curtis (Tina) Richardson and their children, Curtis Jr, Montana, Kristopher, Autumn and Charles; her aunts, Velda Copeland and Janet Kuntz; her cousins, Homer “Shadrach” Mattison, Dennis “Puddin” Mattison, Marie Copeland, Geneva “Ralph” Mattison, Daryl “Bingie” Mattison, Glenda Brown, Michelle Vaeth, Rick Mattison and John Mattison; and many relatives, friends and “Street Orphans” as she would say.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Jacqueline, many of her close friends and many fur babies.

For anyone that’s missing Gussie, you know that she loved you but more important than that, “Jesus loves you!”

In accordance to the wishes of Joni L. Peairs cremation rites have been accorded. There will be no services scheduled at this time.

Memorial donations can be made out to the family.

Professional Services were Entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services.