David James Smith

David James (DJ) Smith of rural Lovington passed away at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Lovington United Methodist Church, with Pastor Larry Bricker officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Lovington United Methodist Church. Burial will be at a later date. The family requests that any memorials be made to the Lovington United Methodist Church, the Gideons International, or the Lovington Alumni Association. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

DJ was born January 21, 1944, at Decatur and Macon County Hospital to James T. and Mildred Durchholz Smith. He had two younger sisters, Mary Beth Van Pelt of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and Martha (Robert) Taylor of Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Carol Rickey Smith in 1962. DJ cherished his three children: James Eric (Michele) Smith, Tracy Ann (Dennis) Garmon, and Terry Lynn (Tim) Phelps; his seven grandchildren: Blake Garmon, Alexandria (Trevor) Poe, Kyle (Courtney) Phelps, Kelsey (Jason) Bjork, Matthew Smith, Cole Garmon, and Lauren Smith; and his five great grandchildren: Makenna Poe, Easton Poe, Brock Phelps, Mackenzie Bjork, and Emmersyn Poe.

DJ farmed his family’s farm for over fifty years. He also drove a semi for fourteen years. He served on the Lovington School Board, the ambulance board, the LHS Alumni Association, and the administrative council and choir director at the Lovington United Methodist Church. DJ also has served as a certified lay servant at the Kenney United Methodist Church. He was very active in the Douglas-Moultrie Gideon Camp.

DJ enjoyed singing and he blessed us with his voice. He began singing in the UMC choir, and continued singing with the Alleluia Singers, Evenglow Singers, and the Singing Men of WGNN. He has also directed the community cantata for many years. Recently, he has enjoyed working with his church’s newly-formed youth group. DJ spent much of the summer boating with his family and friends on Lake Shelbyville, pulling them on skis, tubes, wave-runners and any other vehicle he could dump them from laughing all the way.

DJ will be remembered as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and as a faithful friend. He is known for his leadership and guidance ability, warm heart, devotion to helping others and his bright smile. He will be missed.

He is survived by his wife, mother, sisters, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who all loved him deeply. He was preceded in death by his father.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Chester Betzer

Chester R. Betzer, 82, of Sullivan, passed away 3:16 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2019 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Celebration of Life Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Marge Overlot officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Monday. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Sullivan Weekend Food Bag Program, c/o Sullivan Elementary School. Online condolences can be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Mr. Betzer was born February 26, 1937 in Bethany, the son of Chester and Gussie Ray Betzer. He was raised by Arthur ‘Doc’ and Olive Miller. Chet had been an over the road truck driver and since retiring provided transportation for the Amish. He had served in the Illinois National Guard and the Army Reserves. Chet enjoyed golfing, model trains and spending time with his grandchildren. He married Roni Jean Corzine on November 14, 1987 in Maroa, Illinois.

Survivors include his wife Roni of Sullivan, children Arthur Betzer of Clinton, IA, Robert (Jeannie) Betzer of Moseley, VA and Clayton (Heidi) Brush of Sullivan; grandchildren Devereux and Dylan Betzer and Addison and Owen Brush.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Hal R. Harshman

Hal R. Harshman, 85, of Sullivan, passed away at 1:44 p.m Monday March 4, 2019 in Aspen Creek in Sullivan.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Sunday in the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity, the Moultrie County Food Pantry or to the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Hal was born July 29, 1933 in Decatur the son of Romaine M. and Margaret M. Howell Harshman. He was a life long member of the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ and had been a board member for the Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity. He had worked for George Tractor for two years and then he purchased Hagerman Company in 1960 and the continued to own what became Harshman, Plumbing, Heating and Electrical in Sullivan for over forty years and during that time he also did research for Alcoa on refrigerated grain bins. He married Phyllis G. Hord on May 9, 1953 in Sullivan.
Surviving are his wife Phyllis; daughters Linda (Lindsey) Parrish, Amy (Jim) Galligan and son Keith (Cindy) Harshman all of Sullivan; brother Ron Harshman of Sullivan, eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, three bonus great grandchilden and a great grandson on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents and son in law John Hagerman.

Denny Hutchings

Denny Hutchings, 73, of Sullivan, passed away 6:38 p.m. Wednesday, February 13, 2019 in his residence.

Celebration of Life services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church with Pastors Paul McGhghy and Glenn Strohschein officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Ambucs or the Moultrie County Relay for Life or the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Mr. Hutchings was born October 31, 1945 in Mattoon, Illinois, the son of Edward C. and Velma Wetzel Hutchings. Denny had been a Sullivan High School counselor for 30 years. He was a member of the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church where he was a church elder, member of the Sullivan Ambucs and Big Hat Club and was Ambuc of the Year in 2018, member of the Sullivan Country Club, involved with Sullivan SPARK, sang with the Prairie Winds, member of the Moultrie County Retired Teachers Association, was Mr. Redskin in 2014 and was a Friend of Basketball for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for outstanding acheivement in Illinois basketball. Denny married Mary Stevens on March 5, 1967 in Mattoon and she survives.

Also surviving are his sons Kris (Misha) Hutchings of O’Fallon, MO and Nathan (Jen) Hutchings of Shreveport, LA; grandchildren Alex Hutchings, George Hutchings and Konner Hutchings; step-mother Audrey Hutchings of Mattoon; brother Gary (Pat) Hutchings of Mattoon and a sister Donna Kelley of Mattoon.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Donna M. Whitaker

Donna M. Whitaker, 80, of Sullivan, passed away 3:08 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Henderson and Pastor Al Rennert officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Ambulance Service or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Mrs. Whitaker was born July 25, 1938 in Shelbyville, IL, the daughter of Edgar B. and Eula F. Fry Eversole. Donna was a homemaker and helped her husband on the farm. She also worked at area grain elevators during harvest. Donna was an accomplished pianist and organist and had played the piano at the Allenville Christian Church and Jonathan Creek Christian Church. Donna had been active in Home Extension and her and Joe enjoyed going on the U of I Extension farm bus trips. Donna was a member of the Home Extension, Allenville Christian Church, Sullivan First United Methodist Church and Jonathan Creek Christian Church. Donna married Joseph A. Whitaker on June 7, 1959 in Westervelt, IL and he survives.

Also surviving are her sons David W. (Sharon) Whitaker of Narvon, PA and Keith A. (Laura) Whitaker of Sullivan; grandchildren Kirk (Sherelle) Whitaker of Charleston, Parker Whitaker of Sullivan, Cansas Buckalew and Jack Buckalew, both of Monticello; great-granddaughter Amelia Whitaker of Charleston and a son-in-law Brent Buckalew of Monticello.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Pamela Buckalew and brother James Eversole.

Donna’s family would like to thank Dr. Bukhari, Mason Point, Courtyard Estates, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Sullivan Ambulance Service for their compassionate care.