James Lee "Red" Gregory, Sr., age 82, of O'Fallon, Ill., born November 1, 1931 in East St. Louis, Ill., passed away Thursday, December 19, 2013, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

Jim graduated from Central Catholic High School in East St. Louis, class of 1949, where he was a stand-out athlete, lettering in baseball, basketball, football, and track. He was awarded multiple athletic scholarships to Quincy College in Quincy, Ill., and he also earned his AA from Belleville Jr. College, and attended SIU, East St. Louis Extension.

Jim spent two years in the Army, stationed at Ft. Gordon, Ga. He was an industrial engineer working for Krey Meat Packing Co., in St. Louis, Mo. for many years. He also worked at Rexall Drugs and Civil Defense Mapping, both in St. Louis, Mo. He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and was a lifetime member of O'Fallon Sportsman's Club.

A parishioner of St. Clare Catholic Church since 1956, Jim was instrumental in forming the church's first men's softball and volleyball teams, where he coached and played for many years in the 1960s and 70s. He coached the women's softball team for two years, and started St. Clare School's first boys' intramural basketball program for fifth through eighth graders, and supervised and refereed many games. He was also very active in youth sports in O'Fallon through the Jaycees and Boosters, sharing his passion and enthusiasm as a coach and his expertise as a referee. Giving of his talent to teach area children the fundamentals of sports was very important to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Anne, nee Juracek, Gregory; an infant daughter Mary; and his brother-in-law Ronald Switzer.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Jean, nee Traiteur, Gregory whom he married June 14, 1954; his daughters Denise (Chuck) Currier and Debra (Scott) Johnston; his sons, James (Cathy) Gregory, Jr., and John (partner Eddie Tawil) Gregory; two grandchildren Leann (Casey) McHugh and Chris Currier; four great-grandchildren, Brogan, Neala, and Kian McHugh, and Mason Currier; his sister Carolyn Switzer; one niece, two nephews, great nephews, and many cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Clare Catholic Church, St. Clare Catholic School, or as masses.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 27, 2013 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral: Procession will depart the funeral home at 9:40 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 28, 2013, at St. Clare Catholic Church, with Rev. James Deiters, presiding. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery.