89, of Macomb
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Sally Gray Egler on April 19th, 2026, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL, aged 89. Sally was the very definition of a life well-lived. She was a force for good in the world and an inspiration to those who knew her. Born November 26, 1936, in Elgin, IL to Harold and Margaret (Gray) Thurnau, Sally lost her mother at a young age. In her mother’s place, several strong and well-educated women - some family members; others, friends of her mother - stepped in to guide and support her. Those women created a template of strength, support, duty, and kindness that Sally would follow for the rest of her life. Sally was incredibly quick-witted and loved a good discussion or a friendly argument of national policies, current events, local politics, and worthy books. Sally honed her debating skills at Elgin High School (class of 1955) and at Northwestern University.
At Elgin, she was a National Speech and Debate Champion in the categories of Extemporaneous Speaking and Policy Debate. At Northwestern, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in speech (’59) and master’s degree in communication (’65), Sally was part of Northwestern’s nationally recognized debate team.
Sally was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and kept in touch with many of her sorority sisters throughout her life. Sally married David Egler February 20, 1965, in Elgin.
After having sons Eric and Jordan, Sally and David embarked on the adventure of a lifetime when they moved to Japan for two years. While David taught at the university, Sally gamely raised her children, fell in love with sumo wrestling, explored Tokyo on her bicycle – often with Eric and Jordan on the back, and made lifelong friends despite not being fluent in Japanese.
Returning to Japan for another teaching stint for David when Sally was 61, the couple loved to travel widely and often. In fact, they crossed the country only last month to visit friends on the West Coast. After returning to the United States in 1972, David taught Asian history at Western Illinois University and Sally taught English and speech at Macomb High School. During her 20-year tenure at MHS, Sally continued to coach debate, directed plays, and became beloved among her students for the wit and sparkle she brought to her job as well as her genuine care and unwavering support of her students.
Many of those students would become friends later in life.
Todd S. Purdham, a former student and journalist for The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times, remembers Sally as, “… an extraordinary teacher and a wonderful, warm person. … she was one of the handful of people who changed my life. Mrs. Egler was the kind of teacher whose own excitement made you want not only to please her, but to do your best work for its own sake. She was a gem.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral in Macomb is in charge of arrangements.
You may leave condolences and sign the guest book at clugston-tibbitts.com.
