The Journal-News (Hillsboro, IL.)

Earl Walter Oyler, 81, of Decatur died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur.

He was born July 27, 1930, in Taylorville. He lived in Morrisonville on the family farm, the son of Walter and Ethel (Irwin) Oyler. On Sept. 15, 1973 in Taylorville, he married Janet Clifton.

Oyler was a member of First Baptist Church, Decatur. He was a graduate of Millikin University and began his music teaching career in Nokomis, Taylorville and later substituted for the Decatur Public Schools and Macon County as a K-12 music teacher. He and his wife operated a music studio in Taylorville and later taught piano and voice in Decatur.

He was a featured soloist with the Taylorville and Springfield Muny Bands and performed with the Springfield Muny Opera and Theatre 7 in Decatur as well as the Decatur Chorale. He was a regular soloist for the Illinois State Fair at the grandstand and sang for several Illinois governors at various events.

He wrote several patriotic songs and the official Illinois State Fair song, "Our Illinois, Our Land of Lincoln." He also composed Christmas, religious and secular music as well as a musical "Tempo of the Times", performed in Nokomis as a fundraiser for the schools.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Korean War, an amateur radio operator and technical enthusiast. He participated with the Veterans' Association and Soyland Access to Independent Living (SAIL) organization as Legally Blind.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Janet of Decatur; daughter Leiann Oyler Milison, son-in-law Ben Milison and grandson Maxwell Milison; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Wanita Oyler, Marcella Hunt, Loren Oyler, and Gale Oyler.