Danny Miller

Danny L. Miller, 68, of Bethany, passed away 2:50 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2019, at Mason Point, Sullivan.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Bethany. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Bethany. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Bethany.
Danny was born September 26, 1951, in Decatur; the son of Raymond C. and Hillis M. (Wilkinson) Miller. He married Karen J. Phillippo on March 19, 1971, in Bethany; she survives. He was a long-time member of the NRA. Danny loved spending time with his grandchildren and canine sidekick Torii. He enjoyed fishing and his coin collection. Danny was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears and the Fighting Illini sports teams.
He is survived by his wife, Karen of Bethany; son, Tony (Heather) Miller of Bethany; daughter, Kasey (Rob) Mowry of Bethany; brother, Chuck (Peggy) Miller of Oroville, CA; sisters, Connie Smith of Sullivan, Trinka Miller of Sullivan, Tam Stinson of Bethany and Jill (Roger) Bragg of Sullivan; brother-in-law, Larry (Barb) Phillippo of Fishers, IN; sister-in-law, Brenda (Mike) Woolridge of Sullivan; grandchildren, Kyler Culter, Nichael Mowry, Maci Mowry, Jaxon Mowry and Kadan Miller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ansell and Nadine Phillippo, 2 brothers-in-law, David Smith and Denny Stinson.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Megan M. Thompson
Megan M. Thompson, 32, of Monticello, peacefully entered the Lord’s presence on November 19, 2019 at home surrounded by her family.
Megan was born July 8th, 1987 in Decatur, IL the daughter of Steve and Paula Buxton. Megan graduated from Sullivan High School in 2005. She then went on to graduate from Lincoln Christian University with a B.S. in Intercultural Studies and Business Administration where she also was a 4-year member of the LCU basketball team.
Megan married Charlie Thompson on May 19th, 2012.
Megan utilized her talents in graphic design, marketing and event planning during her career at CHI overhead doors (2010-11), Christ in Youth (2011-12), The City of Champaign (2012-14) and the ASPCA APCC (2014-17). She had started her own home décor business in 2018 specializing in custom wreaths that have beautified countless homes around the world. Megan touched so many along way.
Her passions included serving the youth of Monticello, homeless ministry through CU at Home, and planning retreats for local women to grow their faith. She also found joy in spending time with family, traveling with her husband, hiking, kayaking and taking photographs.
Megan’s inspiring faith and strength were most evident in her journey with breast cancer, documented at: noonefightsalonemt.blogspot.com. Megan’s story is not finished - “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Megan is survived by her husband Charlie Thompson and dog Ruger of Monticello; her parents Steve and Paula Buxton of Sullivan and Mark and Karen Thompson of Buffalo; her siblings Jenny Rau (Brad Rau) of Mattoon, Emily Buxton of Chicago, and Abbey Sherwood (Caynan Sherwood, niece Cassidy Sherwood) of Sullivan, Blake Scroggins (Whitney Scroggins) of Mattoon; Ben Thompson (nephew Jack LaPorte) of Charleston, SC; and her maternal grandparents Cliff and Connie Dobbs of Sullivan. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to CU Church with “1 for One” in the memo, or to Metavivor – Metatstatic Breast Cancer Research, Support and Awareness – at https://secure.metavivor.org/page/contribute/megan-thompson.
Visitation will be on Sunday, November 24th 2019 from 1-6pm at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, Illinois 61820. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, November 25 at 12pm at the funeral home.
Please join her family in sharing photos, videos and memories on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com

Marie Payne

E. Marie (Ray) Payne, 94, of Bethany, passed away 7:10 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2019, at Mason Point, Sullivan.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Bethany, with Rev. Ron Newman officiating. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Free Methodist Church.

Marie was born August 31, 1925, in Lovington; the daughter of James and Oda (Selby) Ray. She married Harold C. Payne on January 3, 1944, in Greenwood, MS; he preceded her in death on October 9, 2003. She worked at DMH as an LPN for 10 years and was a member of the Bethany Free Methodist Church.

Marie is survived by her children, Phyllis (Marvin) Skidmore of Bonnie, Oda (Jim) McMahan of Bethany, Harold C. Payne, Jr. of Spokane Valley, WA, Jo Ellen Kilzer of Charleston, Linda Payne of Sullivan, and Rita (David) Rochelle of Anderson, SC; grandsons, Andrew, Timothy, Mike, Scottie, Nathan, Andrew, Steven, Allen and Nickolas; granddaughters, Joanna, Becky, Jackie, Leilani and Destiny. She is also survived by 41 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 6 brothers, 5 sisters, one grandson and one great-grandson.

The family would like to give a special thank you to all the employees on 2^nd Collins for the loving care they gave to their mom; also thanks to Lincolnland Hospice for their special care.

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

Edwin Taylor

Edwin James “Jim” Taylor, 89, of Sullivan, passed away 8:35 a.m. Thursday, October 24, 2019, at Mason Point, Sullivan. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 27, 2019, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Jim was born April 14, 1930, in Seattle, WA; the son of Raymond and Ruth E. (Gilbert) Taylor. He served in the United States Navy Reserves. He married Sharon K. Brown on September 12, 1981 in Shelbyville; she preceded him in death on April 2, 2016. He liked electronics, C.B. Radios, rummage sales, boating and camping. His favorite sports teams were the CUBs, Chicago Bears and the Illini. He is survived by his son, James Ray (Debra) Taylor, Jr. of Cerro Gordo; daughter, Ricki (Dave) Ware of Mountain Home, ID; step-sons, Jim (Tami) Brown of Sullivan, Jack (Kelly) Brown of Sullivan and Jan (Linda) Brown of Kirksville. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and 1 brother.

Jim Wheeler

Jim Wheeler, 85, Sullivan, IL, died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Jim was born April 11, 1934, in Decatur, the son of James E. and Nona (Sanders) Wheeler. While living in Greenville, Il., his mother died and Jim moved to Bethany to live with his grandparents, Otis and Clara Wheeler. He married Donna Shank in 1956 and had three sons, Brad, Kris and Derk. Donna died in 1991, after a long illness. Jim married Ann Poland in June 1994.
While a young man, Jim, like his father and grandfather, started a commercial and residential construction company. He, along with his friend attorney Robert M. White, was responsible for the first retail IGA complex and the Quick Plastics commercial building in Sullivan. He also built the education building for the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
In 1963 Jim joined his father-in-law, Owen Shank, in the road maintenance business in Mattoon. Later he and his sons operated Earl Walker, Inc., a road maintenance business in Sullivan.
Jim was a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission for 33 years and served on many First United Methodist Church boards. He was appointed to the Sullivan City Council and served as a member of the Vocational Board at the Sullivan High School. He also served on the board of the Sullivan Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Brad (Tammie), Kris (Shelly), and Derk (Nicole Atchison) and grandchildren Ben, Hannah, Jed and Gus. Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and George Stall of Summerville, SC, and their daughters Jennifer (Harold) Albo and Janene (Cliff) Keefe; sister-in-law Georgia (Rex) Ashbrook and niece Missa (Michael) Cook. Jim shared a close relationship with Gene Compton of Mattoon.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m.,Sunday, October 27, 2019, in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church sanctuary followed by a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sullivan Food Bank, Mary’s Weekend Food Bags, or to the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.