James Junior Heard

James Junior Heard, 80, of Miller, passed away at 4:11 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1945, in Miller, the son of James Henry and Gladys Fern (Elkins).
 
Heard was a 1964 graduate of Miller High School and was a United States Army veteran serving during the Vietnam era. He worked as a laborer for Midwest Window and Door Company in Springfield, and was a member of the Miller First Baptist Church.
On May 2, 1970, he married Fern May Corwin, in Miller. She preceded him in death on Oct. 22, 2017.
 
He is survived by one son, David and his wife, Jeannette, of Miller; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Maxine (Melvin) Jung of Aurora, and Helen Latham of Union; two brothers-in-law, Harold (Doris) Corwin of Mt. Vernon and Raymond (Nilajo) Corwin of Willard, and one sister-in-law, Sharon Corwin, of Aurora.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Gladys; his wife, Fern; one daughter, Sara Heard; three brothers-in-law, Donnie Latham, Vincel (Sugg) Corwin and Donnie Corwin and one sister-in-law, Faye (Harold) Morris.
 
A graveside service, under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon, was at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at Miller Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Miller.
 
Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.