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Recent Obituaries: James L. Myers

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James L. Myers, 87, of Dundee Florida, passed away at 9:11 a.m. Friday June 6, 2025 in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday June 14, 2025 at Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Justin Cullen officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Sullivan American Legion Post # 68. Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida or to The Giving Place that supports family needs in Sullivan and surrounding area. Arrangements by Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Jim was born May 7, 1938 in Decatur, the son of Jean W. Myers, Sr. and Cynthia B. Dunham. Jim’s professional life was the James Myers and Associates in Dundee, Florida with areas of marketing expertise including Life Insurance, Fixed Equity Annuities, Pre-Paid Legal Services and Air and Water Purification. Jim professional background also spans many years of experience including that of a Graduate Engineer, supervising workers at a General Electric plant, teaching college courses, designing and implementing specially custom made programs for people that included Estate Planning. Jim married Nancy Baker on September 19, 1965. He then married Helen Meyer on December 14, 1985 in Champaign.

Surviving are his wife Helen of Dundee, Florida, daughter Elizabeth Houser of Sullivan; brother Jean W. Myers, Jr. and his wife Lois of Arnold, Missouri; sister Margaret (Maggie) Myers of San Antonio, Texas; grandsons Kedrick (Keeley) Houser and Kyler (Tatum) Houser both of Sullivan and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Tommy Houser.

In memory of Jim please do something kind for someone else, as he would do.

SFD local response

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Photo by DM Williamee On Friday, June 6th, at 12:21 p.m., the Sullivan Fire Department was called to a vehicle fire that was contained to the engine compartment. The bulk appeared to have been knocked down by an ABC fire extinguisher just prior to the Department’s arrival. Fire Department personnel also deployed additional extinguishers to complete the extinguishment. An Engine, Tanker, and Ambulance responded. The incident was cleared at 12:41 p.m.

Sullivan’s Community-wide Yard Sales draw crowds

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•June 11, 2025•

Last weekend’s community-wide yard sales resulted in both locals and non-locals descending on Sullivan, looking for deals and ready to dicker. On offer ranged from high-ticket items (vehicles) to T-shirts for a quarter, comics for a nickel, and there were even some free bins. The best-attended were those with clear signage, balloons, and other markers, making them easy to find. Friday’s rain did not deter the bargain hunters nor the sellers. Sales were set up in driveways, garages, front yards, inside homes, and even churches. Said one Bethany resident on Saturday, “ I really did not intend to come both days, but a deal’s a deal- now I have to have my own yard sale!”

Arthur-Atwood Lions Club Tractor and Truck Pull

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•June 11, 2025•

The Arthur-Atwood Lions Club is partnering with the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair to present tractor and truck pulling on Friday, August 1st at 6:00 p.m. in Arthur. The dates for the fair have moved to July 24th to August 2nd. The Fair Board agreed to partner with the Lions Club to present the Tractor and Truck Pull during the 2025 fair.  

The event will feature six ITPA classes and two local truck classes. The ITPA classes are Classics, 6,850 Pro Farm, 2-wheel drive trucks, 9,500 Limited Pro Stock, Pro Stock, and 11,000 Pro Farm.  

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Boy Scouts annual cookout during town wide rummage

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Photo by DM Williamee On Friday, June 6th, Sullivan Boy Scouts Troop #39 was in the Kirby’s parking lot serving tasty items including ribeye and pork chop sandwiches, brats and dogs, chips, and beverages. Pictured L-R: Aidan Coil, Evan Young, Gideon Walk, Charlie Conlin, David Ryherd, Will Flexser, Josh Bailey, Liam Coil, Eric Bettinger, Boaz Heywood, and James Conlin.

Sullivan Fast Stop donates to Sarah Bush Lincoln Regional Cancer Center

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•June 11, 2025•

Photo submitted Natasha Deters, SBL Regional Cancer Center Director, accepts the donation from Sullivan Fast Stop Manager Cheryl Coddington.

The Sarah Bush Lincoln Regional Cancer Center recently received a donation from Sullivan Fast Stop, a division of South Central FS. 

Cheryl Coddington, the manager of Sullivan Fast Stop, said that during October, the gas station donated a penny for every gallon of gas bought. “A lot of our customers rely on the Regional Cancer Center, so we want to be able to give back to the community and help in any way,” Coddington said. 

The donation will support people who receive care at the SBL Regional Cancer Center. Since opening in 2016, the center has operated at above capacity and is expected to serve twice the number of people it did when it first opened.

For more information about donating to the SBL Health Foundation to support the SBL Regional Cancer Center, call 217-258-2511.

Windsor Honor Roll, Perfect attendance

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•June 11, 2025•

4th Quarter Honor Roll-5th grade: Brady Ault, MaiCallie Austin, Kourtney Baker, Brantley Ballinger, Alayna Brown, Abby Doss, Hadley Downs, Adelyn Hensley, Ari Hite, Wesley Kline, Jace Lewis, Kinsley Little, Olivia McKinney, Braxton Montgomery, Mason Montgomery, Keegan Musgraves, Reese O’Dell, Rayne Reed, Branch Rincker, Cobie Roberts, Rowen Seirzinger, and Nora Varney.

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Marrowbone: New to the library

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Reads for June and beyond


•June 11, 2025•

Fiction: The Children of Eve (Charlie Parker series #22) by John Connolly; Cliffs, Clues, & Conspiracies (Camper & Criminals series #40) by Tonya Kappes; Cold Dead Cash (Shotgun Johnny series #3) by William W. Johnstone & J. A. Johnstone; Dismal Trail by Ron Schwab; Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen; Going Home in the Dark by Dean Koontz; Heartwood by Amity Gaige; Never Lie by Freida McFadden; Last Supper (Chase Adams FBI series #18) by Patrick Logan; Locked Door by Freida McFadden ; The Marriage Pact (Amish of Marigold series #3) by Kathleen Fuller; Of Bats and Belfried (Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm series #13) by Shirley Raye Redmond; One By One by Freida McFadden; Oro City (Quest Chronicles series #5) by B. N. Rundell; Perfect Son by Freida McFadden; The Pharaoh’s Tomb (Turner & Mosely Files series #4) by Lyndee Walker & Bruce Robert Coffin; Shadow of the Solstice (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelita series #10) by Anne Hillerman; The Silversmith’s Puzzle (Captain Jim and Lady Diana series #4) by Nev March; South of Nowhere (Colter Shaw series #5) by Jeffery Deaver; Taking Stock (Kate Fox series #10) by Shannon Baker; The Tenant by Freida McFadden; and Tough Choices (Stepping Stones series #3) by Linda Byler.

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Sullivan High School Spring Honor Roll

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•June 11, 2025•

Straight A Honor Roll, Seniors: Addison Brush, Zoe Conlin, Olivia Cordes, Hannah Creek, Anderson Crouse, Elise Fleming, Kaitlyn Kirby, Rhett Lehman, Taylar Mercer, Angel Miller, Ivan Moxley, Simon Parri, Hayden Righter, Addison Stollard, Alyssa Taylor, Sarina Voegel, Tabitha Webb, Claire Welch, and Kenadi Wyrozumski.

Straight A Honor Roll, Juniors: Riane Bear, Danica Bell, Emily Crosier, Mae Dawkins, James Feldkamp, Logan Fleener, Mikaela Guest, Josie Herschberger, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Wilma Plank, Eiley Poe, Devon Richardson, Madilyn Shonkwiler, Jnai Webb, and Kolton Wiley.

Straight A Honor Roll, Sophomores: Olivia Hullum, Grant Martin, Julia Moody, Emerson Risley, Kaylee Smith, and Gavin Wade.

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Local students excel in 2025 Americanism Essay Contest

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•June 11, 2025•

L to R: Marty Jones, Arthur Legion Auxiliary #479, Bentley Parsons, Kyndall Crist, Kelsey Lust, Beth Jones, Atwood Legion Auxiliary #770 (all Atwood Jr. High).

Students from Arthur Christian School, ALAH High School, and Atwood-Hammond Grade School recently showcased their patriotism and writing skills in the 2025 Americanism Essay Contest. Sponsored by the Arthur Legion Auxiliary #479, the Atwood Legion Auxiliary #770, and the Lovington Legion Auxiliary #429, the contest encouraged students to reflect on the thought-provoking question: “What is My Favorite National Memorial or Monument?”

119 essays were submitted across three grade-level divisions. To ensure a fair and impartial selection process, a panel of judges from Arthur, Atwood, and Lovington evaluated each essay anonymously—without knowledge of the students’ names, schools, or hometowns.

The contest was divided into three classes:

• Class I: 7th and 8th graders

• Class II: 9th and 10th graders

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