NEW CANTON, IL - John Duncan Tait, 86, of New Canton, IL  passed away at his residence in New Canton Wednesday September 23, 2009.  Mr Tait was born March 18, 1923 in Detroit MI to Tisdale and Sara Campbell Tait.  He married Joan Weathers in Las Vegas, NV April 15, 1988 and she survives.

Mr and Mrs Tait moved to New Canton in January, 1996 after having left the Las Vegas area, where John was Director of Southern Nevada Sightless Inc., an organization to promote independence for blind people.  He had given up a promising career for GM in Detroit to earn his certificate for rehabilitation teaching of the blind.  John worked for the states of Massachusetts and Nevada as a Rehabiliatation Counselor before his Directorship of Southern Nevada Sightless Center in 1970.  Mr Tait was a past Lions Club member in Nevada, and a member of the West Pike Community Center and the New Canton Historical Society.  He also spent 8 years as a New Canton town board member.  H liked carpentry and plumbing work, and enjoyed traveling along with being an avid reader.

Survivors include his wife Joan, a daughter Joan Saunders of Las Vegas, NV, and 3 stepdaughters; Yvonne Bruce and Renee Para, both of New Canton, and Marlene Lipson of New York City, NY.  Five grandchildren survive; Michael Saunders, Michael and Matthew Bruce, Jeremy Para and Miriam Lipson, along with two great-grandchldren, Jordan and Hope Para.  John is also survived by a brother and a sister, George Tait of Oscoda MI, and Emma Crawford of Detroit, MI and many belived nieces and nephews.  John was preceded in death by three sisters.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry, with Bert Sapp officiating.  Family will meet with friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday evening before the service.  Memorials my be left to the Pike County Hospice or the New Canton Historical Society.  On-line condolences may be left at www.nieburfh.com.  Niebur Funeral Chapel in Barry is handling the arrangements.