Gregory Joseph Halliday, 60, of Bethalto, Illinois, unexpectedly passed away on St. Patrick’s Day 2023, losing his glasses and shoes in the process. He was born on August 13, 1962 (which he liked to claim was a Friday - it was, in fact, a Monday) in Alton, Illinois to Mary Ann (Gruenenfelder) Halliday and Norman Joseph Halliday. He was the oldest of 5 children and grew up in Busch Wildlife Reserve in Defiance, Missouri which certainly contributed to some of his wildness. He graduated from Francis Howell High School in Defiance and went on to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville like his mother, uncle, and, later, his elder daughter. Greg married his wife, Anne, on September 14, 1985 at Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, MO. He spent his entire career in the roofing industry and was well known by many, because he loved to BS with everyone. Greg loved racing motocross bikes and cars as well as fixing them. He had a lifelong love affair with motorcycles, which tried to kill him more than once. Greg was well-known by his family for being the cat with FAR more than 9 lives, which may have contributed to his love of cats. Greg also loved guns and shooting and had an impressive collection, which he would happily tell you about with almost no prompting at all. Despite living about 55 years of his life with type 1 diabetes, he refused to let it slow him down - no matter what.
Greg was preceded in death by his mother, Mary, in 2006, his brother Daren and sister-in-law Rhonda, in 2000, and father-in-law Paul, in 2020. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Anne, his daughter Amanda (Josh) Halliday-Rizzo of Cedar Rapids, IA, his daughter Victoria (Wes) Wilkinson of Bryant, AR, his grandchildren, Lyla Wilkinson and Elijah Rizzo, his mother-in-law Joan, his remaining siblings, several brothers and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. His cat, Ella, will also miss their conversations and time spent together - she was his little buddy, and he was the only person she’d “talk” to.
In keeping with his wishes, cremation rites were accorded. There will be no services. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date during which his ashes will be ceremoniously slapped on a rock in the big creek on the family farm in southern Missouri, which is also in accordance with his wishes. Memorials may be made to the family in care of Elias, Kallal, and Schaaf in Bethalto, IL.
Greg’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, techs, respiratory therapists, EMS, and staff of Alton Memorial Hospital’s ER, ICU, and ambulance for the excellent care they provided during his recent visits.
