Lloyd Jesse Ater, age 81, of Blue Mound, died 5:30 a.m. Thur., Jan. 11 at Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Sat., Jan. 13 at the 1st Christian Church of Blue Mound with visitation an hour prior to service time. Rev. Ellen Rechenbach officiating. Masonic Rites at the service will be by Blue Mound Masonic Lodge No. 682. Burial will be in the South Macon Cemetery, Macon. Military Rites will be accorded at the cemetery. Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ater was born in rural Macon, the son of Jesse and Mabel Stombaugh Ater. He married Clara Mae Ater on Nov. 17, 1949 in Sullivan. She preceded him in death on Dec. 20, 1998.

He is survived by a daughter, Jannette R. (Eric) Maxwell of Stonington, a son, Stephen M. (Sandra) Ater of Urbana, a brother, Lyle Keith (Carol) Ater of Decatur. Grandchildren, Sara and Sean Ater, LeAnne (Daniel) Durbin, Brandon Rice, Charlene and Paul Maxwell. Great-grandchildren, Jordan and Alyssa Durbin, Kaylee and Kadin Fleming. He is preceded in death by 2 brothers. Mr. Ater attended Eastern IL University, Charleston and a graduate of the College of Mortuary Science, St. Louis. He was owner and operator of Ater Memorial Homes in Blue Mound, Macon, Moweaqua and Decatur from 1949 until retirement in 1998. He also provided ambulance service to the southern Macon County communities until 1968. He was a member of First Christian Church of Blue Mound, the IL Funeral Director's Assoc., Natl. Funeral Directors Assoc., Federated Funeral Directors of American, Blue Mound Masonic Lodge No. 682, Blue Mound Chapter of Eastern Star, honorary member of Vivian Chapter Eastern Star, Macon, Past Commander of Blue Mound American Legion.. He Served in the Navy as a Pharmacist Mate during World War II in the Philippine Islands.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mound Memorial Library.