Levi Maclin Byrnes Gale, 17, of Murphysboro, passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. He was found at 12:15 p.m. near Murphysboro. Levi was born Nov. 1, 2000, in Murphysboro, and his parents are Rashon Byrnes and Kenneth Lee Gale.

He was a Junior at the Murphysboro High School in Murphysboro. He enjoyed playing football, baseball, and had participated in Little League Baseball and in wrestling.

Levi was an avid hunter and fisherman and anything else in the outdoors, including going mudding.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Rashon Byrnes and Allen Smith, his father, Kenneth Gale; and one sister, Mariah Smith, all of Murphysboro; three stepbrothers and two step sisters; grandparents, Judi and Larry Hamilton of Vergennes, Richard Byrnes of Carterville, and Gordon and Billie Ruth Gale of Gorham; aunts and uncles, Tonya Byrnes-Baker of Murphysboro, Rick Byrnes of Tamoroa, Monica and Dr. Terrance Lau of Sherwood Forest, California, Nancy and Jim Koelker of Granite City, Gregg and Katherine Gale of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Patricia Natvig of O’Fallon, and Jennifer Vo of Ava; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by one stepsister; his step grandmother, Lynn Byrnes; and three uncles, George Baker, Jr., Larry Travis Hamilton and Matthew Natvig.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, in Elm Street Baptist Church, with the Rev. Charles Allen officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Memorials may be made to the family.

For more information, please visit www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

Please feel free to wear camouflage and jeans in memory of Levi.

In times like these, nobody knows what to say, but your presence speaks volumes to the family. We never know what to do either, but think of something to do in memory of Levi. It might take you one month, one year or ten years, but when you have it completed, let his family know what you have done and then Levi lives on through what you have accomplished.