James Larry Boyd, 68, of Villa Ridge, Ill., passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 in Ballard County, Ky. from a boating accident on the Ohio River.

He was born on September 3, 1943 in Quincy, Ill., the son of Wayne and Thelma (Crabill) Boyd.

He married Karen Lambert on October 13, 1998 in Winchester, Va.

James was a member of the Christian Community Church in Villa Ridge, Ill. He retired from Amax Coal after 33 years. In his early years, he was a farmer in Schuyler County, Ill. He was an avid outdoorsman and especially loved fishing.

He is survived by his mother, Thelma Boyd; wife, Karen Boyd; children, Todd (Elaine) Boyd of Rushville, Ill., David Boyd  of Rushville, Ill., Gina (Jeff) Billingsley of Rushville, Ill., Bill Ellis of Mt. Carmel, IL, Jackie Ellis of Mt. Carmel, Ill., Norman (Sarah) Ellis of Mt. Carmel, Ill., Mark (Stephanie) Boyd of Owensville, Jeff Greentree of Villa Ridge, Ill., and Chad (Mary) Wissel of Albion, Ill.; 24 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister Jeannie (Norm) Thompson of Tyler, Texas.

Preceding him in death were his fathers, Wayne Boyd and Leland Wheeler; three brothers-in-law, Tom Lambert, Butch Lambert and Jim Morgan; a sister-in-law, Laura Morgan; and three grandchildren, Derick Birkla, Brandon Harms and Dakota Ellis.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Short Funeral Home, Mt. Carmel, Ill.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 23, 2012 at the chapel of Short Funeral Home with burial following the service at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Carmel, IL.