Michael G. Lord, 57 of  Pittsfield, IL, former Pike County Sheriff and Pike County Board Member passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at Barnes Hospital-Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Mo.  He was born October 2, 1952 in Oceanside, CA a son of Vernon L. and Jean S. Langdon Lord.  He married Phyllis Pearson on October 6, 1973 at the First Baptist Church in Pittsfield and she survives.

Mike was a graduate of the Pittsfield High School Class of 1970 and upon graduation joined the Navy.  From 1970-1974 Mike served in the U.S. Navy exclusively with the United  States Navy Ceremonial Guard. The historic Ceremonial Guard is the official ceremonial unit of the Navy.  Based at the Naval Support Facility Anacostia, Washington DC, the Guard’s primary mission is to represent the service in Presidential, Joint Armed Forces, Navy and public ceremonies in and around the nation’s capitol.

Mike’s duties included prestigious service and support to the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, Presidential Inaugurals and Presidential Funerals.

While with the Ceremonial Guard, Mike demonstrated superior close-order rifle skills and was assigned to the Silent Drill Team, performing spectacular exhibitions throughout the Washington DC region.

Mike’s shipmates will always have the best memories of having a comrade who could be trusted, depended on and would always have the ability to perform at the highest level expected of a Guardsman, even under the most extreme circumstances.

Mike will be sorely missed.

Upon returning to his home town of Pittsfield, Mike served as a deacon and taught the Junior High Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Pittsfield.  He joined the Pittsfield City Police Department and later served as a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Charlie Cheek. He was elected as the Pike County Sheriff and Pike County Coroner and served for three terms from December 1986 to November 1998 and then was elected and served on the Pike County Board from December 1998 to April 2007.  Mike joined the State of Illinois Secretary of State Police as an investigator March 4, 2002 and was currently employed by the State of Illinois Secretary of State Police.  He was a member of the Pittsfield American Legion Post #152, Pittsfield Fire Department, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Fraternal Order of Police and was active in the Pike County Democrat Party.  His passion was his family and greatly enjoyed the people he worked with along with enjoying the outdoors and golfing.  He greatly loved his black Labrador retriever “Molly”.

Surviving is his wife Phyllis, daughter, Sarah Anne Lord of St. Louis, Mo and son, Micah Lord of Pittsfield.  His mother, Jean Lord and brother, Mark Lord both of Pittsfield survive along with three nephews and one niece, Doug and Brock Lord, Dean Pearson, Carrie Bradshaw, several cousins and in laws, Russell and Phyla Pearson of Pittsfield.

His father Vernon Lord preceded Mike in death in 2006.

Services are being held at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 21 at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with Rev. Roy Ferguson and Rev. Mike Pierce officiating.  Burial will be in the Goodin Cemetery at Pittsfield with military rites accorded by the Pittsfield American Legion Post #152 and the Illinois State Police Honor Guard.  A lunch will be held after interment for family and friends at the Pittsfield American Legion Post #152.

Visitation will be open to the public starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 20 at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with the family meeting with family and friends after

6 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church of Pittsfield or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Condolences may be sent to the family at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.