Category Archives: Obituaries

Obituaries 6-22-2016: James W. Williams

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Williams, JamesJames W. Williams

James W. Williams, 87, of Monticello passed away at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2016 surrounded by his family.

Celebration of Life services with military rites will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at Sullivan American Legion at 8 E. Strain St. Arrangements are by McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan.

He was born June 18, 1928, a son of Royal C. and Marie Rentfro Williams, on his grandparents’ farm near Stewardson. During his lifetime he lived in Decatur, Bement, Sullivan, Atwood and Monticello. He joined the Army at the end of World War II and passed through Hiroshima and Nagasaki on his way to battle in Korea.  Read More

Obituaries 6-22-2016: James Lane

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Lane, James 2016-06-19 001James Lane

James A. Lane, 89, of Sullivan passed away at 6 a.m., Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Mason Point in Sullivan.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) in First Christian Church in Sullivan. Burial with military rites by Sullivan American Legion Post #68 was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan. Arrangements were by McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan.  Read More

Obituaries 6-22-2016: Cheryl Ellison

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Cheryl Ellison

Cheryl Lynn Ellison, 61, of Fort Pierce, Fla. died June 12, 2016 in VNA Hospice House.

A funeral service was held June 16 in the First Baptist Church in Vero Beach, Fla., and a memorial service June 18 in the Watertown Elementary School in Watertown, Tenn. Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach assisted with arrangements.

She was born Feb. 20, 1955 in Shelbyville, a daughter of Charles and Oma Bartscht.  Read More

Obituaries: Ralph Arthur

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Ralph Arthur Obit PicRalph Arthur

Ralph “Cap” Owen Arthur, age 73, of Allenville passed away at 12:19 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2016 in Carle Foundation Hospital.

Funeral services for family and friends were held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon with Pastor Rickey Ferguson officiating. Burial followed in Windsor Cemetery.

Ralph was born May 18, 1943 in Chicago, a son of Ralph Aaron and Irene Block Arthur. He married Vera Lavone Nolen July 24, 1976. Read More

Obituaries 6-22-2016: David Smith

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SmithDavidDavid Smith

David Eugene Smith, 73, of Oreana passed away at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, June 16, 2016 in his home.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial was in Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany.

David was born September 13, 1942 in Moweaqua, the son of Guy F. and Viola Blanche Ward Smith. He married Connie L. Miller September 26, 1965 in Bethany. He was a Marine Corps veteran. David was retired from A. E. Staley Company in Decatur, worked at P.C. Limited in Argenta and was a cabinetmaker. He was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. Read More

Obituaries 6-15-2016: Juanita Handford

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Handford photoJuanita Handford

Juanita D. Handford, 82, of Las Vegas, Nevada died April 20, 2016 in Las Vegas.

Private family services were held at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Bethany. Arrangements were by Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan.

Juanita was born April 27, 1933 in Plainfield, Illinois, a daughter of John LeRoy and Nora F. Buck Lofland. She married George Handford, and he preceded her in death.  Read More

Obituaries 6-15-2016: Richard St. John

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Richard St. John Obit PicRichard St. John

Richard I. St. John, age 72, of Sullivan passed away at 7 a.m. May 26, 2016 at home with his wife and family by his side.

Funeral services for family and friends were held in Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 1 with Pastor Dennis Strawn officiating. Burial followed in Janesville Cemetery. Richard was born June 14, 1943 in Cumberland County, Ill., a son of Alvin and Edna Pickering St. John. He married Donna Driskell June 15, 1963. Read More

Obituaries 6-15-2016: Helen Vanskike

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Helen Vanskike

Helen M. Vanskike, 96, of Decatur died at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday June 7, 2015 in Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth.

A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Decatur with burial in Mt. Zion Township Cemetery. Tanzyus-Logan Funeral Service and Care in Decatur handled arrangements. Read More

Obituaries 6-8-2016: Dick Winings

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Winings RichardDick Winings

Richard “Dick” Franklin Winings, 78, formerly of Findlay, passed away to be with his Lord Jesus Christ Saturday, June 4, 2016 in his son’s home in Vonore, Tenn.

Born July 18, 1938 in Findlay, he was a son of Virgil and Dollie Johnson Winings. Richard was a faithful Christian man and witness. Devoted to family and friends, he was a faithful provider to family, working at Caterpillar Tractor Co. for 33 years and helping rural farmers planting and harvesting crops. He was a man of great integrity that you could bank on his word. He would give the shirt off his back and then some. He loved the outdoors in God’s creation and was a lover of animals. He served God in singing, witnessing and doing mission trips. Richard was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Shelbyville and served in the Illinois National Guard. He married the love of his life Jean Pearl Byrley August 14, 1960 in Findlay.   Read More