Ruth Neal Cooper

Ruth Neal Cooper, our beautiful 100-year-old matriarch, of Broken Arrow, Okla., formerly of Windsor, was welcomed into the arms of the Father on September 1, 2015.

Born May 29, 1915, Ruth was the only daughter born to her beloved parents, Gertrude Fleming Neal and Charles Butler Neal, in their home in rural Windsor.  She joined big brothers Bruce Munson, and Rush and Ralph Neal.

Ruth was raised in Windsor where she graduated from high school and attended Eastern Illinois College where she met her lifelong sweetheart, Carl Burton Cooper.   Read More

Ernie Simmons

Ernest “Ernie” Simmons, 89, of Mishawaka, Ind., formerly of Decatur and Sullivan, died at 4 p.m. Monday in Sprenger Health Care in Mishawaka. Read More

Thomas Polk, Sr.

Services for Thomas E. Polk Sr., 84, of Mt. Pulaski were held at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday) in Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mt. Pulaski. Burial will be in Mt. Pulaski Cemetery at a later date.

He died at 3:28 p.m. Saturday Aug. 22, 2015 in Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Read More

Jerry Dycus

A Celebration of Life service for Jerry R. Dycus, 78, of Sullivan with military rites by Sullivan American legion Post #68 was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial will be at a later date.

He passed away at 8:55 a.m. Friday August 21, 2015, in his home in Sullivan.

Jerry was born March 23, 1937 in Mt. Vernon, a son of Orval John and Beulah May Fagan Dycus.  Jerry married Carol Ann Maris June 19, 1960 in Urbana, and she survives. Carol’s brother Ron was the minister for their wedding. Jerry graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School in 1955 and went on to the University of Illinois where he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1960. He spent 30 years in the military; for 10 years he was in the United States Marine Corps where he received the rank of captain and 20 years in the Illinois Army National Guard with the rank of sergeant first class. Jerry was the owner and operator of Wood-N-Bit in Sullivan from 1979 to 2015. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Sullivan, the Sigma Chi Fraternity at the U of I, U. S. Jaycees, Sullivan Kiwanis and was a Mason with the George A. Sentel Lodge #764. He was involved with Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity and the Prairie Winds in Sullivan. Jerry was also a very valued and cherished employee with McMullin-Young Funeral Homes for 14 years. Read More

Bill Renner

Funeral services for William S. “Bill” Renner, 68, of Springfield were held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the First Church of the Nazarene in Springfield with burial in Camp Butler National Cemetery. Bisch Funeral Home in Springfield handled arrangements.

He died just before 4 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 11, 2015 in his residence. Read More