Wayne Lee Wakefield, age 69
September 17, 1953 – April 16, 2023
Wayne Lee Wakefield, age 69, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, passed away at 12:16 PM – Sunday, April 16,
2023, in Lawrence County, Illinois.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 PM – Sunday, April 23, 2023, at the
Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. A service of remembrance will follow the visitation. In loving
memory of Wayne, memorials may be made to Wayne’s grandchildren’s education fund c/o Amber
Wakefield and Ashley Hooten. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left at
www.meyerfh.com.
Wayne Lee Wakefield was born on September 17th, 1953, in Effingham County, Illinois, the son of
Leroy and Marjorie (Kerner) Wakefield. He grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton
Community High School with the class of 1971. Following high school, he went on to earn a college
degree as a diesel mechanic.
Wayne started working at Norris Electric and later became a Snap-on Tool Dealer and traveled the
area for many years. Most proudly, he was the founder, owner, and operator of Wayne’s Tree
Service, which he recently sold and retired from.
Not to be out bested or have any fear of missing out on fun, Wayne was the first to rise and last to
shut down whether it be work or play. Making moonshine, playing euchre, spending time on the
river, and teaching his grandsons what he knew while spoiling them rotten were some of his favorite
pastimes.
Wayne was a member of the Flat Rock Masonic Lodge #348. He provided countless humble acts of
service to friends and community members, and always had a big smile and a kind word.
Wayne is survived by:
Daughters – Amber Wakefield (partner Brock Sears) of Lawrenceville, Illinois; and Ashley (Wakefield)
Hooten (husband Michael) of Tallahassee, Florida
Grandchildren – Woodrow Sears, Maximus Hooten, Hootlet II (due May 1st, 2023), Anna Bickers and
Bebe Sears
Sister – Sandra (Wakefield) Ward (husband Victor) of Mt Carmel, Illinois
Nephews – Jeffrey (wife Teresa) and Eric (wife Lynn) Ward
Aunt – Geneva Barber
Uncle – Larry (Delores) Kerner
As well as many cousins and countless friends
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and several dear
friends.
