Marilyn Joy Sproat

Marilyn “Biff” Joy Sproat, age 92, of the Lutheran Care Center, Altamont, Illinois, formerly of St. Elmo, passed away at 12:06 p.m. on Wednesday February 25, 2026, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Effingham, Illinois, surrounded by her loving family.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.pagelfuneralhome.com

Marilyn was born June 29, 1923, in Vandalia, Illinois, the daughter of Lawrence Adam Abbott and Minnie Elizabeth Abbott nee Heather. She married Jack Sproat on November 10th, 1951, in Vandalia, Illinois. She spent many years self-employed as a tax preparer. She enjoyed reading books, visiting with friends and family, and loved to walk through graveyards, looking at different stones. Over the years, she served the St. Elmo community and the Lord in many ways. She was a Sunday School teacher, on the Board of the St. Elmo Library and the First United Methodist Church of St. Elmo.

She is survived by two sons, Mark Sproat (wife Lisa) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois and DaveSproat of Lisle, Illinois; two daughters, Beth Feezel of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Sally Sproat of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mardeanna Meadows-Sproat beloved former daughter in law of Effingham; grandchildren, Bennett and Tim Sproat, Paige and Logan Meltabarger, Reagan (husband, Matthew) Hanson, Payton (finance, Garrett Hoene) Sproat, Mike (wife, Tina) Feezel, Matt (wife, Tracy) Feezel, Jennifer (husband, Josh)Malwick, Julie (husband, Johnny) Bradam, numerous great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents, Lawrence and Minnie, and sisters and brothers in law Fern and Ralph Sperry, Madelyn and Charlie Metzger, Marjorie “Marky” and Willard Grubaugh, Opal and Charles McNeely and Oral and Lester Forbes.