Ardis LaVerne Lovell, age 85 of LaHarpe, Illinois died at 2:45 a.m. Tuesday February 22, 2011 at his home.

He was born July 10, 1925 near Blandinsville, IL., the son of Charlie and Lena Moore Lovell. On May 29, 1947, he married Arline Owsley in Atchison, Kansas.

Ardis was a 1942 graduate of LaHarpe High School and a 1947 graduate of the Peoria Barber College. He served in the Pacific Theater with the United States Navy during World War II. He owned and operated a barber shop in LaHarpe for many years, and also drove a school bus and worked for the LaHarpe School District. He worked in the janitorial services at Western Illinois University for many years, retiring in 1986. During the 1990's, He and his wife hosted two foreign exchange students, Ayako Ishida and Hikmet Aliev. He was a member of the LaHarpe American Legion and the LaHarpe Christian Church. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an avid do-it yourselfer and handyman, continuing to fulfill this hobby in retirement by refinishing furniture.

Survivors include his wife of sixty three years, one daughter - Marcia (Dallas) Neff of LaHarpe, three sons - LaVerne (Peggy) Lovell of Memphis, TN., Brian (Joyce) Lovell of LaHarpe, Layne (Mary) Lovell of Peoria, IL., eleven grandchildren - Jacob Neff, Stacie (Nathan) Wisehart, Josiah (Erin) Neff, Lacie (Bart) Thompson, Hunter (Aimee) Lovell, Conrad (Jenny) Lovell, Natalie (Willis) Young, Alex (Laurie) Lovell, Hollie (Zach) Callanan, Jolequyn (Cody) Abby, Meredyth (Curtis) Schroyer, sixteen great grandchildren- Benjamin, Samuel, and Rebekah Young, Mackenzie and Adriana Jerabek, Julia Rose and Rachel Lovell, Cooper and Myles Neff, Cyrus, Daphne, and Phoenix Lovell, Carson and Kylie Lovell, Tessa Abby and Charlotte Thompson, one sister - Arleen (Gene) Gard of LaHarpe, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers- Keith, Jess and Cheryl, and one granddaughter - Kelly Lovell Jerabek.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday February 25, 2011 in the Banks & Beals Funeral Home in LaHarpe. Burial with military rites will be in the LaHarpe Cemetery. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Banks & Beals where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Memorials have been established for MDH Hospice and the LaHarpe Christian Church.