Betty J. Wiseley Betty J. Wiseley, 82, of Mattoon, formerly of Sullivan, passed away 9:02 a.m. Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Mattoon Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made in care of the family. Betty was born February 20, 1935, in Bruce, the daughter of Francis and Mildred (DeHart) Chapman. She worked as a house keeper at Eastview Terrace for twenty-three years. She married Joe Phillips on June 13, 1953; she later married O. J. Wiseley on December 29, 1979, in Sullivan; he preceded her in death on February 18, 2000. Betty enjoyed fishing and crocheting. She also was an avid collector of light houses. She is survived by her son, Terry Joe (Terry Joanne) Phillips of Mattoon; niece, Theresa (Brad) Miller of Dix, and Kathy Smith of Charleston; nephew, John Chapman of Springfield. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Kenneth Dale Chapman and nephew Dale Chapman. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Category Archives: Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries: Roger W. Punches, Sr.
Roger W. Punches, Sr.
Roger W. Punches, Sr., 87, of Sullivan passed away at 6:10 p.m. Thursday June 15, 2017 in his residence surrounded by his family.
Celebration of Life services will be 5:00 p.m. Monday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Bob Vail officiating. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan with military honors by the Sullivan American Legion Post # 68. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan American Legion or to the Sullivan VFW. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Roger was born August 19, 1929 in Lovington the son of Floyd and Marie Kinney Punches. He graduated from Sullivan High School. Roger retired from the B & O, CSX Railroad and was the owner of the Shamrock Pub in Dalton City. Roger was a US Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Sullivan American Legion Post # 68 , the Sullivan VFW Post # 6410, the Land Owners Association and was an avid Cardinal fan. He married Mary Lou Bevil on March 30, 1955 and she preceded him in death on January 16, 1991.
Surviving are his daughters Terrie Punches, Christina (Tia) Punches and Bevila Punches (Kevin Coon) all of Sullivan; son Roger Punches, Jr. (Butch) of Sullivan; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, two grandsons, brother Jack Punches, Sr. and nephew Jack Punches, Jr.
Recent Obituaries: Grace J. Gibbons
Grace J. Gibbons
Grace J. Gibbons, 84, of Bethany, died at 3:06 p.m. Thursday May 25, 2017 in her residence.
Celebration of Life services will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 2017 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Ted Hartley officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. View complete obit at reedfuneralhome.net
Grace was born January 24, 1933 in Pickaway Township in Shelby County the daughter of Edmund and Martha Margaret Kaetzel Schmahl. Grace graduated from Findlay High School. She had been a housewife and homemaker, owned and operated The Village Boutique in the 1970's, was a cake decorator and seamstress and had worked as a floral designer at Dean’s Greenhouse, My Garden, Elzy’s Florist and the Flower Pot all in Sullivan. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bethany, the Bethany American Legion Auxiliary # 507 and the Order of the Eastern Star, Sullivan. Grace married Donald E. Gibbons on March 10, 1951 in Moweaqua and he preceded her in death on May 10, 2013. Grace enjoyed reading and puzzles. She raised five amazing and awesome children.
Surviving are her son Donnie (Joann) Gibbons; daughters, Cindy (Dick) Roe, Pam (Ray) Hays all of Bethany and Sonja Gibbons of Taylorville; brother Jesse Schmahl of Decatur ; nine grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Brenda R. Gibbons, infant sister, three brothers and four sisters.
Recent Obituaries: Lorraine Edna Gilmore
Lorraine Edna Gilmore
Lorraine Edna Gilmore, 93, of Lake City, passed away 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017 at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Visitation will be held one hour before the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the Weekend Food Ministry, to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to the donor’s choice.
Lorraine was born August 19, 1923, in Ramsey, the daughter of Henry, Jr. and Edna C. (Farber) Miller. She married Robert D. Gilmore on September 17, 1943, in Shelby County; he preceded her in death on June 11, 1986. Lorraine was a member of the Reeds Chapel Methodist Church in Ramsey. She collected salt and pepper shakers. She loved having all of her family over for Sunday dinners and no one ever left hungry. Lorraine enjoyed babies and her grandchildren, doing jig saw puzzles, word searches and she embroidered hundreds of tea towels throughout the years.
She is survived by her sons, Darrell W. (Dorothy Ilene) Gilmore of Decatur, and Roger D. (Stella) Gilmore of Sullivan; daughters, Linda L. (Byron) Lambdin of Sullivan, and Joyce (Mark) Trower of Lake City; sister, Dorothy (Clyde) Hicks of Bethany. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers, one sister and one grandson.
The family would like to give special thanks to her caregivers and the nurses at Eastview Terrace in Sullivan, who cared for mom with dignity, grace and humor. Also special thanks to her doctor and nurses in the E.R. and comfort caregivers on the 4th floor of St. Mary’s Hospital.
Alzheimer’s stole our mother from us; we grieved while she lingered here; only to grieve again now that she is gone. We love you Mom and we will see you later.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com
Recent Obituaries: Roger Chris Uphoff
Roger Chris Uphoff
Roger Chris Uphoff, 71, of Lovington, died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on May 17, 2017.
He was born January 18, 1946 in Shelbyville, Illinois to his loving parents Lois Aileen (Gordon) and Gilbert Franklin Uphoff (deceased). He joined his three siblings Connie Yantis (deceased), Duane (Marjorie) Uphoff and Stanley (Pat) Uphoff. He was raised on the family farm and even though he worked for thirty-nine years as a computer room supervisor at Wagner Castings, he was always a farmer at heart. His parents raised him with a strong devotion to God, family, community, the Findlay Falcons, and the Chicago Cubs.
He met his loving wife Judy Lee Lewis in 1962. They were married for forty-eight years and went steady for fifty-five years. They had three children Thad Lewis Uphoff (deceased), Chad Bixler Uphoff (Katy) and Jenny Aileen Uphoff Moore. He loved his five perfect grandchildren Abby, Cole, and Caden Uphoff and Brady and Brynlee Moore. He also leaves his loving mother-in-law Lydia Bixler Lewis (William deceased), sister-in-law Lana (Tom) Miller, sister-in-law Phyllis Allen, and brother-in-law Randy (Devin) Lewis.
He graduated from Findlay H.S. in 1964 and leaves dear classmates. He also graduated from the St. Louis School of Automation, Lakeland College and attended Eastern Illinois University. He served in the National Guard and on the Lovington Ambulance Board. He was a member of the Kiwanis, the American Legion and the Christian Men’s Fellowship. He was baptized in the Findlay Church of Christ and actively attended and served the Lovington Christian Church for forty-four years.
He enjoyed his family and his friends and always had a good story to tell. He loved all things outdoors especially camping, boating and skiing. He did most of the construction on his home and could make or fix almost anything. He loved all things pertaining to his children and grandchildren including their ballgames, school activities, camping, boating, and special trips.
Funeral services will be held at the Lovington Christian Church on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of a visitation the family would casually welcome family and friends to his home at 998 Legion Rd, Lovington Illinois on Sunday, May 21st from 1 to 6 PM. Donations may be made to the Lovington Christian Church, the American Cancer Society or donor’s charity. After a drive through Findlay, burial will take place at Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville.
The family of Roger Chris Uphoff is being served by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
Recent Obituaries: Margaret Mary (Tueth) Livergood
Margaret Mary (Tueth) Livergood
Mary Livergood lived a full, wonderful life that ended on this earth Friday evening, May 12, 2017. However, the real story is her incredible journey that began the day she was born on May 6, 1921, to John & Mary (Brown) Tueth of rural Bethany, IL. The Tueth Family was one of the Original 16 settlers as they were called, having founded St. Isidore’s Catholic Church just north of Bethany, IL. Mary often rode her horse, Joker to White School before attending and graduating from St. Theresa High School in Decatur, IL. She graduated from Brown’s Business College and went onto work at Tabor Grain Company in Sullivan, IL. While at Tabor Grain, she was Purvis Tabor’s secretary.
She met her husband, Ober Livergood, while roller skating. They later were engaged, after Ober enlisted in the Navy and was eventually assigned to a tour of duty in the South Pacific. They married on May 27, 1944 at St. Isidore Catholic Church. Ober concluded his military service at Glenview Naval Air Station and they moved back to Bethany to join the O.W. Livergood Grain and Coal Company. He preceded her in death on July 19, 1994 shortly after 50th wedding anniversary.
Surviving are her children: Bill Livergood of Glen Ellyn, IL, Jim Livergood and his wife Irene of Naranjo, Costa Rica, Sue Johnson of Decatur, IL and Tom Livergood and his wife Debbie of Winfield, IL; grandchildren: Julie (Craig) Gwaltney, Ryan (Meagan) Livergood, Valeria (Jorge Varela) Livergood, Sophia (Jimmie Castillo) Livergood, Melissa (Blake) Chadick, Eric (Chrissy) Livergood, Katie (Dan) Piston, and Brad Livergood; great-grandchildren: Connor, Olivia, Kyle, Noah, Samantha, Margaret “Meg”, Grace, and Jonathan; brother-in-law Bob Livergood of Sullivan, IL.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, brothers: Paul, Dan, Ed (Helen), Bill, Russ (Mary) and Charlie, sister: Irene, and daughter Sue’s husband: Dave Johnson.
Mary was a very active person, as she enjoyed golf, bowling, dancing, and extensive travel including many winters in Sarasota, FL. She was a wonderful baker and was well known for her pies. She was very well liked and admired as her warm and genuine smile lit up the room, as did her red hair and brown Irish eyes. She will be missed by all of her family and all those she touched. She is now in Heaven, with the legacy of her incredible life to be richly remembered for decades to come.
The family will receive friends for visitation Monday evening, May 22, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion, IL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at St. Isidore Catholic Church near Bethany, IL with Rev. Steven Arisman celebrant. Burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Isidore Catholic Church. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.
The family sincerely appreciates the compassionate and wonderful care from Harbor Chase Living Center and from Angel’s Grace Hospice, Plainfield, IL.
Recent Obituaries: Vera L. Arthur
Vera L. Arthur
Vera L. Arthur, 71, of Allenville, died Thursday, May 11, 2017 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Celebration of Life services 10:30 a.m. Monday at Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
Burial in Windsor Cemetery. Visitation 4 - 6 p.m. Sunday. Memorials to the Sullivan Food Pantry. Complete obituary and online condolences at www.reedfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Arthur was born April 9, 1946 in Shelby County, the daughter of Roy F. and Bessie M. Hanson Nolen. Vera was a cook and waitress at The Spot restaurant and a cook at the Sullivan Health Care Center. She married Clyde Gregory in 1964. She then married Ralph ‘Cap’ Arthur on July 24, 1976 and he preceded her in death on June 15, 2016.
Survivors include her children Larry Gregory of Lerna, Julie Grygiel of Mahomet, James M. Arthur of Mattoon, Allen Arthur of Charleston and Raymond Arthur of Windsor; ten grandchildren; one granddaughter; sisters Marie Adams of Mattoon, Roylene Jones of Mundelin, Bruce Nolen of Laurium, MI, Zane Nolen of Lebanon, OH, Michael Nolen of Ransom Canyon, TX
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one sister.
Recent Obituaries: Alice M. Miller
Alice M. Miller
Alice M. Miller, 92 of Sullivan, died 1:06 a.m. Thursday, May 11, 2017 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.
Celebration of Life services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Charliam Renner officiating. Burial will be in the Moultrie County Memorial Park, Bethany. Visitation will be one hour before the services. Memorials are suggested the Mason Point Activity Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Miller was born January 13, 1925 in Bethany, IL, the daughter of Cayrel and Effie Pearl Standerfer Hilliard. Alice retired as a billing clerk at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur. Alice and her husband Joe owned and operated the Moultrie County Memorial Park, Bethany for many years. She had been a member of the Eastern Star Crystal Chapter #39 and the Sullivan First Baptist Church. Alice married Joseph A. Miller on September 9, 1969 in Decatur and he preceded her in death on September 9, 1992.
Survivors include her son Ronald Holmes of Knoxville, TN; stepdaughter Dee (Donald) Simerl of Mooresville, IN; son-in-law Ray Loy of Sullivan; sister Camellia Zimmerman of Sullivan; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Paula Loy, one great-grandson, three sisters and one brother.
Recent Obituaries: Alice N. Durbin
Alice N. Durbin
Alice N. Durbin, 103, of Altamont died at 11:34 a.m., Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 8, 2017 at Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont with Rev. Marek Kasperczuck officiating. Burial will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, rural St. Elmo. There will be a Rosary at 3:30 p.m., with visitation beginning at 4:00 p.m. and concluding at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.
Alice was born on Tuesday, November 4, 1913 in Altamont to George and Grace (Bailey) Dowds. She was a member of St. Clare Catholic Church, Altamont. She was a cook for Altamont Community Unit School District #10 for 19 years and at Lutheran Care Center for 6 years.
She is survived by: her sister, Avanelle Hooks of Altamont; 7 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 35 great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Alice was preceded in death by her 4 children; Ross E. Durbin, Jay F. Durbin, Mary Catherine Apke and Annetta McCoy; sister, Annabelle Shelton, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.giesekingfh.com
Recent Obituaries: Dorothy Woods Schwartz
Dorothy Woods Schwartz
Dorothy Woods Schwartz was born on November 18, 1919 in Hays County near Buda, Texas to William and Mattie Woods. She attended Seton Hospital School of Nursing in Austin, Texas and graduated in September 1940, and continued her nursing career as an RN until her retirement in 1976. She married V.E. “Gene” Schwartz in September 9, 1944, and enjoyed 55 years of marriage until his death in March 2000. They raised three children, Joe, Mary, and Jack.
After retirement, she turned to her love of history and began researching the history of both Hays and Johnson County, Texas. Over the years, she has written numerous history articles for various newspapers, assisted in the research and writing of two published books, one of which was made into a TV movie “True Women” about the Woods family, where Angelina Jolie played her great-grandmother Georgia Woods, and is accredited in the researching, writing, and placement of 22 Texas State Historical Markers between the two counties. She served for many years with the Johnson County Historical Commission and was also the local historian for Alvarado, Texas. On August 9, 2010, she was named Johnson County Historian Emeritus by Judge Roger Harmon and the Johnson County Commissioners Court.
Mrs. Schwartz passed away on May 1, 2017 at age 97. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Schwartz and son Jack Schwartz. She is survived by her son, Joe Schwartz and wife, Roberta of Cleburne, TX; daughter, Mary Percifield and husband, John of Alvarado, TX; grandchildren: Shannon Schwartz of Ft. Worth, TX; Sonja Schwartz of Dallas, TX; Michelle Collins of Southern CA, Marianne Mansour and husband, Dr. Craig Mansour of Southern CA; Michael Percifield of Alvarado, TX; Paul Percifield and wife, Jennifer of Alvarado, TX; Jason Schwartz and wife, Lorelei of Jefferson City, MO; Joshua Schwartz and wife, Autumn of Kyle, TX; Claire Schwartz of San Marcos, TX; great-grandchildren: Emilie Percifield, Paul Percifield, Camden Percifield, Everett Percifield, and Chloe Percifield of Alvarado, TX.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made to the First United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 364, Alvarado, TX 76009 or the Alvarado Heritage & Preservation Foundation at 509 Doris Court, Alvarado, TX 76009.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Vaughan Funeral Home at 200 E. Patton Ave. in Alvarado from 6-8pm.
Funeral services will take place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church at 301 S. Spears St. in Alvarado at 1pm. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Alvarado, TX.