Mr. Ross Andrew Somerville

May 10, 1924 - August 09, 2010

Ross Andrew Somerville, 86, of Belvidere, IL, passed away Monday, August 9, in his home. Mr. Somerville was born May 10, 1924, in Belvidere, to Fred and Alice (Davis) Somerville. He was a resident of Peoria 1952-1979, and had also lived in Bloomington, IL, Las Vegas, NV, and Champaign, IL. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother Earl, and sister Ada Grimes. Surviving family members are his wife of 61 years Alma (Alexander), of Belvidere, son Scott (Bev) of Creve Coeur, IL, son Mike (Mary) of Irma, WI, and daughter Susan (Charles) Brown of West Peoria. Also surviving are his sisters, Alma Cummings of California and Charlene Daniels of Belvidere; grandchildren Brittony of Sacramento, CA, Brandon of Rock Island, IL, Reneé (Jeff) Lee of East Peoria, Ross of Creve Coeur, Kayce Brown of Las Vegas; and great-grand-daughter Arabella. Mr. Somerville was president of the Belvidere High School class of 1942 all four years he attended. He had a passion for sports and excelled as a pitcher. His greatest passion was his music, playing sax and clarinet during the Big Band Era. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps Jazz Band of the European 20th Division of Special Services. His sax was replaced by a rifle during the Battle of the Bulge, where he fought in the 7th Army, 106th Infantry Division. He was in the first jazz band at Illinois Wesleyan University where he was a student from 1948-1951. Mr. Somerville travelled with the big bands of Tony Di Pardo, Ray Robbins, Clyde McCoy, and Tex Beneke, among others. He settled in Peoria where he played with such band leaders as Billy Hill, Bill Hardesty, and Svata Ciza, while working at Sears & Roebuck, then Caterpillar, and finally at Byerly Music and Kidder Music as an instrument repairman and private teacher. During his retirement he lived in Las Vegas, NV, where he did instrument repair at Moe’s Music and played with many bands and top musicians, and also in Champaign, IL, where he played with the Mellow Tones. In 1999 he and Alma retired to Belvidere.

Funeral Information

Visitation will be at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home in Belvidere, IL, on Saturday, August 14, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. A memorial jam session will be held in Peoria, IL, at University United Methodist Church, 2818 N. University St., on Sunday, August 29,
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Any and all musicians who worked with Ross are invited to bring their instruments and play.

Donations Information

Donations may be given in his memory to The Salvation Army.