Supplements

archive ISSUE

Father harry thomas stout jr., dies suddenly sept. 18 at residence in du quoin

Story by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Father Harry Thomas Stout Jr., 58, died Sept. 18 at his residence in Du Quoin.

Father Stout had been pastor at Sacred Heart in Du Quoin since July when he was transferred from St. John the Baptist in Red Bud where he was pastor for 13 years.

Moving to Du Quoin brought him closer to his family in Cairo where he had been born and raised.
While Father Stout had been diagnosed with heart problems four to five years ago, his sister, Peggy Berryhill, said “the doctor said he was doing fine.”

The family was shocked at his sudden death, his sister, Mary Helen Wissinger said. “He was so full of life and so happy to be in Du Quoin. He was looking forward to what he could do for the parish.”

The family not only mourns their brother but their priest. “I thought he would be here for our funerals,” Berryhill said, “but instead, we were here for his.”

Wissinger described him as “the family priest. He’s missed already for those sacraments he will not (administer or) witness.”

Father Stout was also known as someone who related well to the youth of his parish. He was involved in the TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreat movement and was a spiritual director of the CYO (now Youth Ministry).
He always supported young people in the parish, and he also attended diocesan youth conferences when his young parishioners were present.

“He was devoted to the priesthood, to the youth of the diocese and to every parish he ever served,” Wissinger said.
Father Stout was born to Harry Thomas and Sarah Ann Baudino Stout in Cairo. He was the oldest of six children.
He attended St. Henry Seminary in Belleville, Quincy College and St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.
Father Stout was ordained a priest May 28, 1977 by Bishop William M. Cosgrove.

He served as an associate at St. Peter Cathedral in Belleville, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Herrin and SS. Peter and Paul in Waterloo.

During two of the four years he was assigned in Waterloo, he also taught religion at Gibault Catholic High School.
He became full time vocation director with residence at St. Clare of Assisi in O’Fallon for four years after leaving Waterloo.

In 1989, he received his first pastorate at St. Joseph Parish in Ridgway.

In 1990 he was also appointed temporary administrator at St. Joseph’s in Equality and then pastor that same year.

In 1996, he was assigned pastor at St. John’s in Red Bud. During that time, he was appointed dean of the West Deanery and parochial administrator at St. Patrick’ in Tipton. For a short time he was appointed canonical pastor at the same parish.

In July 2006, he added St. Patrick’s in Ruma and St. Leo’s in Modoc to his pastorates.

In July 2009, he was appointed to Sacred Heart in Du Quoin.

During his time as a diocesan priest, Father Stout also served on a number of committees, including the diocesan personnel board, the presbyteral council and the liturgical commission.
Father Stout was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by five brothers and sisters: Mary Helen (Jeff) Wissinger of Cairo, Nan (Tom) Hall of Centralia, John (Carol) Stout of Mounds, Bill (Sheila) Stout of Olmsted and Peggy Berryhill of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; two aunts, Elizabeth (Don) Turner of Cairo and Mary Eileen (Dick) Karcher of Cairo; one uncle, Brother John Stout, CSC of Notre Dame, Ind., and nieces and nephews among others.

A memorial liturgy was celebrated Sept. 20 at Sacred Heart in Du Quoin with Father Bob Flannery celebrant and Father George Mauck homilist.

Sept. 21 a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Patrick’s in Cairo with Bishop Stanley Schlarman celebrant and homilist with Bishop Edward K. Braxton praying the final commendation.

Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge.