Joe Thomas Pettie, 85, of Rock Island, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 - 7th Ave., Rock Island, with visitation 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to services Friday.  Burial will be at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the family.

Joe was born December 23, 1931 in Winston County, Mississippi, a son of Joe and Beatrice (Waller) Pettie. He married Fay L. Bleuer on October 8, 1966 in Rock Island.

Joe was a Southern Baptist preacher for 60 years, preaching in Mississippi, Illinois, and Iowa. He also worked for many years and retired in 1976 from International Harvester, East Moline.

Joe enjoyed fishing, gardening, and growing flowers at his home. Most importantly, he loved his family and the Lord.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Fay, of Rock Island; daughters (and spouses), Pat (Ronnie) Hemphill, Mississippi, Phyllis (Robert) Johnson, Tennessee; stepdaughters, Judy (Roger) Chandler, Moline, and  Sandra Dzekunskas, Andover; nine grandchildren; several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; brother, Charles Pettie, Mississippi; sister, Mary (Larry) Murphy, Mississippi; sister-in-law, Florence Pettie, Mississippi; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lanny; brothers, James, Clyde and Robert Pettie; and sisters, Helen Thompson and Leo Adcock.