John E. Price III

John E. Price III, 66, of Thebes, died at 1:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born on Jan. 29, 1956, in Cairo, the son of John E. and Zelma Bowles Price Jr.

Mr. Price was the retired Local 773 business agent and secretary-treasurer. He dedicated his life to the working men and women of the Union and The Laborers Charitable Foundation of Local 773. 

He was a lifelong resident of Southern Illinois and began working construction through Local 773 in the summer of 1976. 

In 1998 he was appointed business manager of Local 773 in Cairo, representing construction, industrial, public employees and health care workers. 

He later became a representative for railroad construction and maintenance, environmental clean-up and derailment members. 

In 2002 he was appointed to the board of trustees for the Railroad Maintenance & Industrial Health and Welfare Fund. 

After the 2003 merger he was elected to the office of secretary-treasurer for Local 773 in Marion, vice president of 12th District AFL/CIO C.O.P.E. (Community on Political Education), sergeant at arms for the Southern and Central Illinois Laborers’ District Council and a delegate to the LiUNA National Convention until his retirement in 2017. 

After his retirement, Mr. Price served the local union by remaining on the Local 773 Retiree board and later serving as president.

He was a member and trustee of the Olive Branch United Methodist Church.

He was a former deputy for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department from 1980 until 1987. 

Mr. Price served on numerous boards, including: board member and chairman of Shawnee Community College Foundation, T.L.C (The Laborers Care), Alexander County Housing Authority, Alexander County Port Authority Board, Horseshoe Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Local 773 Credit Union, Railcet, Railroad Training Board; commissioner of Alexander County Building Commission, Local 773 Southern Illinois Laborers Health & Welfare and Delta Development.

He loved his family deeply and cherished every friendship he made. He loved to fish, ride his side-by-side with his grandson and working in the yard. 

When anyone needed help, he was ever ready, usually the first one there and the last to leave. He will truly be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Price; three sons, John E. Price IV, Zachary Cache Price and Trenton Chase Price (Sara Kuehl); one brother, Ronald (Martha) Price; one sister, Pamela (Mike) Malone; one grandson, Lincoln Everette Price and one soon-to-arrive, John Price; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Olive Branch United Methodist Church. 

A bereavement dinner will follow the services at The Gathering Place in Thebes.

Memorials can be made to Olive Branch United Methodist Church, the Ed Smith Scholarship Fund or T.L.C (the Laborers Care) of Local 773 in Marion.

To sign the online guestbook, visit www.jones-funeral.com.

Jones Funeral Home Villa Ridge was in charge of arrangements.