Fairbury, IL — The Fairbury community is remembering Rebecca “Becky” Bounds, 59, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community. Her death comes just three months after the loss of her husband, Brian Thomas Bounds, deepening the grief for a family long cherished in the region.
A private family gathering will be held Saturday, September 6, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Fairbury. Friends and neighbors are invited to a public Celebration of Life on Sunday, September 7, at Emancipation Brewery, a venue that reflects Becky and Brian’s shared love of craft breweries. The family has requested memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society, highlighting Becky’s lifelong compassion for others.
Born September 29, 1965, in Fairbury to Gene Lyle and Jeanne Ellen Noye Weber, Becky’s life was rooted in family, faith, and education. A 1983 graduate of Chatsworth High School and later of Illinois State University, where she earned a degree in Education, she dedicated three decades to shaping young minds. From her early career in Willow Springs to her 30-year tenure in the Prairie Central School District, Becky’s impact as a teacher was profound. Students and colleagues remember her ability to make classrooms feel welcoming, challenging, and full of joy.
“Mrs. Bounds believed every child had potential,” said a former student. “She encouraged us not just to learn but to love learning.”
Outside the classroom, Becky embraced her creative side. She was an avid woodworker, often crafting furniture and keepsakes for her grandchildren — Trip, Vivienne, Beau, and Callahan — who were the center of her world. Her love of travel with her late husband Brian and their passion for exploring breweries added color and adventure to her life story.
Becky is survived by her children, Trent (Kylie) Bounds of Fairbury, Addison (Chloe) Bounds of Denver, and Maddie Bounds of Nashville, along with her parents, siblings, and extended family.
As Fairbury comes together to honor her memory, Becky’s legacy lives on in the students she taught, the family she cherished, and the countless lives touched by her generosity, laughter, and devotion.
