Thomas Houser

Thomas M. ‘Tommy’ Houser, 52, passed away 6:37 a.m. Thursday, February 27, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. There will be a law enforcement only walk through at 4:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Law Enforcement Scholarship in honor of Tommy Houser at the Sullivan First Community Bank. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Tom was born March 3, 1967 in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Thomas R. and Nona Bodine Houser. Tom married Elizabeth Myers on June 18, 1988 in Decatur, Illinois. He was a member of the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church, F.O.P. Lodge #41, Teamsters Local 700, the Moultrie County Dive Team and had been a Moultrie County Dare Officer.

Tom’s career spanned more than 31 years of dedicated Law Enforcement service to the citizens of Illinois, starting with the Sullivan Police Department, then with the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department and retired from the Illinois State Police on October 1, 2019. Upon graduating from Cadet Class 100, Tom was assigned to District 10 Patrol. In 2002 Tom transferred to Zone 5 Investigations where he served in the capacity of the Methamphetamine Response Team. In 2007 Tom became a Hostage Negotiator for the Illinois State Police. In 2009 he took command of the East Central Illinois Task Force (ECITF). In 2015 he became the Zone 5 Lieutenant and transitioned with the Department to the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) where he proudly remained for the duration of his career. Through his career, he was awarded a Life Saving Award, a Department Commendation, multiple Letters of Appreciation and a Certificate of Recognition. Tom’s hard work and knowledge did not go unnoticed and earned his promotion to Sergeant in 2006, Master Sergeant in 2009, and Lieutenant in 2018. In 2015 he served as the Chief of Staff for Colonel Jill Rizzs. Tom supervised General Criminal Investigations, the East Central Illinois Task Force and the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Throughout these years, he consistently performed his duties to the highest standards and personally epitomized the tenets of Integrity, Service, and Pride.

Survivors include his wife Elizabeth, sons Kyler T. Houser and Kedrick H. Houser and his fiancé Keeley Benning all of Sullivan; mother Nona Houser of Decatur; father-in-law James Myers (Helen) of Dundee, Florida; brother Richard L. (Justi) Houser of Decatur; sister Michele (Chris) Brownlow of Decatur; step-brother James (Karen) Hancock of Fairfax, Virginia; niece Raeshel (Stephen) Duncan of Decatur; nephews Dominick (Tabatha) Braden, Austin Cory (Robin) and Dalton Brownlow, all of Decatur; great niece Layne Cory and a great niece expected in June; great nephews Cannon and Talon Bradon, special aunt Maggie Myers, several other beloved aunts and uncles and our friends that are family and our LEO families.

He was preceded in death by his father Thomas R. Houser; mother-in-law Nancy Myers and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Jordan Turney

Jordan Evan Turney, 21, of Vancleave, Miss. passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at his home in Vancleave.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 26, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan.
Jordan was born May 25, 1998, in Springfield, the son of Edward John and Melinda Mae (Elder) Turney. He enjoyed country music, Star Wars, Harry Potter and scary movies with his brothers and Gus. He also enjoyed crawfish boils with his Southern Family and Condoing with his grandparents Tim and Cathy. Jordan loved spending time with his friends at the Dream Program where he and others with special needs were able to be themselves and have lots of fun together.
He is survived by his mother Melinda (Gus Hunter) of Vancleave, Miss.; great-grandparents Don and Janet Young of Sullivan; grandparents Cathy and Tim Floyd of Sullivan and Jim and Cindy Turney; brothers Gus Hunter, Jr., Daniel Hunter, and Tyler Hunter all of Pascagoula, Miss.; sister Adrianna Marie Stull of Sullivan; special friend Shelby Lee; uncles Andy (Shannon) Elder and their son Gavin of Decatur, Danny Turney of Bremerton, Wash., and John Stull of Shelbyville; aunts Candy Crawford of Vandalia and Kim Elder of Ramsey and many cousins.
Jordan was preceded in death by his father Edward and great-great- Granny Ruth.
Memorials may be made in care of the family.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Alice Jones

Alice V. Calhoun Jones, 84, of Bethany, passed away 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2020 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Faith Lutheran Church, Sullivan, with Pastor Glenn Strohschein officiating assisted by Jerry Jones. Burial will be in Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the Reed Funeral Home and one hour before the services Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Lutheran Church, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net

Mrs. Jones was born September 9, 1935 in Altamont, IL, the daughter of Edward Wilhelm and Edna Anna Koss Campe. Alice was a homemaker. She was a member of the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church, where she was involved in the Ladies Friendship Guild. She also attended the First General Baptist Church in Decatur. Alice married John W. Calhoun on March 3, 1954 at Altamont, and he preceded her in death on August 7, 2001. She married Vernie Jones on May 15, 2004 at Decatur, and he preceded her in death on July 1, 2019.

Survivors include her sons Rick Calhoun of Decatur, Monte Calhoun of Decatur, James (Kona) Jones of Argenta and Jerry (LaWanda) Jones of Qingdao, China; daughters Donna Gerber of Lewisville, TX, Leann (Randy) Tolan of Springfield, IL, and Joanna (Tom) Price of Hendersonville, TN; twenty-one grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren; sisters Esther Magnus of St. Peter, IL, Lorene Schroeder of Altamont, Belva Shafer of St. Peter, IL, and Norma Campe of Altamont.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, daughter Teri Calhoun, great- granddaughter Karis Glass, brothers Harold, Delbert and Eldon Campe.

Richard Casteel, Jr.

Richard “Rick” Casteel, Jr., 69, of Lovington got his angel wings at 5:21 p.m. December 23, 2019 at home.
Minister Steve Ingram will be doing the Celebration of Life services at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 28th, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan; visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home in Sullivan. Burial will follow at Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to SIU Alumni Association or Cancer Care Specialist of Decatur; 210 W. McKinley Ave Suite 1, Decatur, IL 62526.
Rick was born May 19, 1950, son of Richard T. and Ruenell Casteel. He married Connie Patrick, his high school sweetheart, on July 23, 1970. He loved his LHS Class of ’68 and graduated from SIUC in ’72. He worked at Firestone over 27 years and farmed all of his life with his Dad; when his Dad retired, he took over the farm. He was a member of the Hammond Church of Christ and a faithful attendee over 7.5 years at South Shore Christian Church. He loved God, family, country, and SIU Salukis Athletics and school.
He is survived by his wife Connie; children, Tonya (Ed) Irvin of Ellsworth, Carrie (Jason) Maretti of Pawnee, and Shaun Casteel of Lafayette; sisters, Nina Casteel of Lovington, Carolyn Casteel of Westerville, OH, and Nancy (Doug) Wildman of Sullivan; grandchildren, Lauren (Kip) Reckard, Jonathan Irvin, Haley and Emily Maretti, Elaina, Maya and his namesake Dean Richard Casteel; honorary grandson, Ranger 2 Lt. Reid Sealby.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents.
His family would like to thank Dr. Tarter, Dr. Yoon and his caring staff, Dr. Wade, DMH 5th floor staff and DMH Hospice.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Sondra Daily

Sondra J. Daily, 87, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 21, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Sullivan.
Sondra was born June 7, 1932, in Sullivan; the daughter of Carter and Olive (Taylor) Stonecipher. She married Lowell Daily on August 1, 1949, in Champaign; he preceded her in death in 1978. She later married Dan Taylor on April 5, 1980, in Sullivan; he preceded her in death in 1994. She married Robert Daily on January 15, 2000, in Arizona; he preceded her in death in 2015. Sondra was a member of the First Christian Church in Sullivan and the Moultrie County Home Extension. She enjoyed playing cards in the numerous Card Clubs she belonged too. Sondra loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends.
Sondra is survived by her sons, Timothy (Janet) Daily and John Daily both of Sullivan; daughters, Pam (Mike) Bone of Sullivan, Paula (Jim) Perkins of Sullivan and Jane Seaman of Arcola; grandchildren, Bobbi Bone, Melissa Demkov, Tiffany Bone, Dallas Bone, Kayli Olvera, Kollin Seaman and Daniele Daily; great-grandchildren, Waylon Demkov and Aliyah Moran.
Sondra was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, 3 brothers, Floyd, Bill and Charlie.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com