Benjamin Franklin Harris, 90, of Bethany went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 6:43 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Shelbyville Manor, Shelbyville, after living with Alzheimer’s Dementia for several years with courage and resilience.

A celebration of life service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, with Rev. Douglas Harris officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Following the service, burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Benjamin was born August 25, 1934, in Detroit, MI, the son of Elbert and Annella (Baldwin) Harris. He was a graduate of Benton High School, Benton, and Central Bible College, Springfield, MO. Benjamin served in the United States National Guard.

Ben was an Assemblies of God pastor and was recently recognized for 50 years of ordained ministry. He pastored churches across Illinois including Ottawa, Bunker Hill, Vandalia, Olive Branch, Bethany and Paris. He also filled many pulpits in various churches in his later years.

On May 25, 1963, he married Sandra Hollister in Decatur, she survives. Also surviving are their children, Terry (Jodi) Harris of Altamont, Lisa (John) Fett of Tennessee, and Ron (Lori) Harris of Pennsylvania; also, seven grandchildren, Steffen Harris, Kirstie Burry, Kaela Cuzzone, John-Michael Fett, Chris Harris, Mike Harris, and Zachary Harris, and ten great-grandchildren.

Ben has three living siblings, sisters, Evelyn (Charles) Bayless and Roselyn Wingo; brother, Michael (Sharon) Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, William, Robert, Joanne and Wendell.

Ben enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping, bowling, and fast-pitch softball. He and Sandra traveled to 46 of the 50 states. Ben also went on Mission trips to Honduras and Denmark.

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

Morris D. Luck, 87, of Bethany, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Adam McReynolds officiating. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bethany. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Morris was born on May 23, 1938 in Farmer City, Illinois, the son of Cleo M. and Dorthea B. Dolberts Luck. He married Marjorie A. McReynolds on September 11, 1960 in Bethany and she preceded him in death on December 24, 2020.

Survivors include his children Cynthia ‘Cindy’ (Tom) Burch of Westervelt, Illinois, David (Diolil) Luck of Bethany and Daniel ‘Danny’ (Marissa) Luck of Sullivan; grandchildren Wade Burch, Sarah Burch (fiancé Matt Harford), Kinley Luck (fiancé Drew Heffley), Madison (Trevor) Blackburn, Hallie (Bryce) Burks-Chavira, Landyn (Preston) Richardson and Mason Luck; great grandchildren Brenna Howell, Annie Harford, Cora Blackburn, Thea Heffley, Levi Richardson and another great granddaughter to be born in September.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter Jeanne Luck, one brother and one sister.

Morris had a love for animals especially Angus cattle. This passion was evident early in his life when he participated in the cattle show at the Illinois State Fair at the age of 8. As an adult, visiting the Illinois State Fair to watch the Angus show was a highlight of his summer. Morris was a University of Illinois graduate where he was a member of the 1959 U of I Livestock Judging team. He was the Moultrie County 4-H summer assistant during his college years. During that time he met the love of his life Marjorie McReynolds. Morris managed several Angus cattle farms during his working career including farms in Brewster, New York, Ontario, Canada, Appleton City, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas In his latter years he found employment with Moorman Feeds, as a truck driver for Agri-Fab and a school bus driver. Morris was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany. In his retirement years, Morris could be seen sitting on his front porch watching his grandkids or visiting with friends and neighbors, sharing a story or laugh. Morris touched many lives and will be missed and remembered by those who knew him.

James L. Myers, 87, of Dundee Florida, passed away at 9:11 a.m. Friday June 6, 2025 in Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, Florida.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday June 14, 2025 at Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church with Pastor Justin Cullen officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Sullivan American Legion Post # 68. Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida or to The Giving Place that supports family needs in Sullivan and surrounding area. Arrangements by Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Jim was born May 7, 1938 in Decatur, the son of Jean W. Myers, Sr. and Cynthia B. Dunham. Jim’s professional life was the James Myers and Associates in Dundee, Florida with areas of marketing expertise including Life Insurance, Fixed Equity Annuities, Pre-Paid Legal Services and Air and Water Purification. Jim professional background also spans many years of experience including that of a Graduate Engineer, supervising workers at a General Electric plant, teaching college courses, designing and implementing specially custom made programs for people that included Estate Planning. Jim married Nancy Baker on September 19, 1965. He then married Helen Meyer on December 14, 1985 in Champaign.

Surviving are his wife Helen of Dundee, Florida, daughter Elizabeth Houser of Sullivan; brother Jean W. Myers, Jr. and his wife Lois of Arnold, Missouri; sister Margaret (Maggie) Myers of San Antonio, Texas; grandsons Kedrick (Keeley) Houser and Kyler (Tatum) Houser both of Sullivan and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Tommy Houser.

In memory of Jim please do something kind for someone else, as he would do.

Barbara J. Johnson, 93, of Bethany, passed away 12:02 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Arthur Home in Arthur. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services Wednesday, at the funeral home in Sullivan. Burial will take place in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Mt. Zion. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Food Bank or to the Sullivan High School Football Program.

Barb was born September 11, 1931, in Newman; the daughter of Frances Marion “Pat” and Leone (Trulock) Fonner. She married Donald A. Johnson on May 11, 1952, in Dalton City; he preceded her in death on March 30, 2005. Barb accomplished one of her goals in life when she graduated from Lake Land College in 1974 with her LPN degree. She was one of the first EMTs in Bethany. Barb was a member of the Dalton City Christian Church. Her next love in life was watching football. Barb always enjoyed going to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events where she would passionately cheer them on.

She is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Bell of Hammond and Sue (Dave) Price of Atwood. Barbara is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 4 brothers and 1 sister.

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

Dennis ‘Denny’ Ferguson

Dennis M. ‘Denny’ Ferguson, 76 of Bethany, passed away at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025 in his home.
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Tom Hoskins officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Memorials are suggested to the Moultrie - Douglas 4-H or the Bethany Peace Meal. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Denny was born on January 26, 1949 in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Warren G. and Luzetta J. Gaston Ferguson. Denny graduated from Bethany High School in the class of 1967. He took agricultural courses through Lake Land College. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1969.  Denny was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer his entire life in the Bethany area.  He spent a lot of hours on the road hauling livestock for Two Mile Commission company. He was a member of the Lincolnland Carriage Club and the Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association.
Denny showed mules along side of his father which became a family highlight for his kids and grandchildren. He appreciated a good team of mules. He raised, handled and showed several grand champion mules in state and county fairs. He also judged several state and county mule shows over the years. He enjoyed driving mules in parades and taking rides throughout the countryside.
He looked forward in going to the livestock sales at Shelbyville Sale Barn and Two Mile Commission each week. It was a highlight to eat at the Bethany Diner visiting the guys at the liar’s table. He also enjoyed spending time with his high school friends eating lunch out monthly.
Survivors include his children Michael ‘Mick” Ferguson of Findlay, Dawn Redfern of Bethany and Alison Freeland of Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandchildren Janette (Canon) West of Japan and Garrett Ferguson of Bethany; brother in law Dean Craig of Sullivan and a niece and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet and a son-in-law T.G. Redfern.