Ralph Arthur

Ralph “Cap” Owen Arthur, age 73, of Allenville, IL passed away at 12:19 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at Carle Foundation Hospital.

Funeral services for family and friends will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Schilling Funeral Home with Pastor Ricky Ferguson officiating. Burial will follow at Windsor Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the funeral home.

Ralph was born on May 18, 1943 in Chicago, IL the son of Ralph Aaron and Irene (Block) Arthur. He married Vera Lavone Nolen on July 24, 1976.

Survivors include his loving wife of 39 years, Vera Arthur of Allenville, IL; sons, James Arthur of Mattoon, IL, Allen Arthur of Charleston, IL and Raymond Paul Arthur (fiancé, Candace Carr) of Windsor, IL; step son, Lawrence Roy (Darla) Gregory of Montezuma, IN step-daughter, Julie Denise (John) Gregory-Grygiel of Mohamet, IL; eleven grandchildren; one great grandchild; sisters, Betty Diedrich of Calumet City, IL and Nancy Gardner of Springfield, IL; brother, Raymond Arthur of Jacksonville, FL; numerous nieces and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Bertha Riccio and brother-in-law, John Riccio.

Ralph served honorably in the United States Army from 1960-1963. He worked at Twin Oaks Wrecking Company in Chicago, IL, Ford Motor Company and USI (formerly known as Quantum Chemical). Ralph retired from Meats Plus where he worked as a truck driver. He enjoyed watching westerns particularly John Wayne’s and Gunsmoke.

Memorial donations in his honor are suggested to the American Lung Association.

Virginia R. Smith

Virginia R. Smith, 89, of Sullivan, formerly of Arcola, passed away at 4:05 a.m. Friday (May 20, 2016) in Mason Point, Sullivan.

Celebration of Life services will be 3:00 p.m. Monday in the Mason Point Chapel, Sullivan with John Plummer officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until service time in the chapel. Burial will be in Moultrie County Memorial Park, Bethany. Memorial are suggested to the Mason Point Activity Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

Virginia was born April 1, 1927 in Robinson, the daughter of Vaughn Olin and Gladys Coulter McCord. She had been a cook for the Arcola Schools and then worked as a seamstress for Collegiate Cap and Gown in Arcola. She was a member of the Arcola First Baptist Church and Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary. Virginia attended Mason Point Chapel and also assisted with their services. She married William ‘Bill’ Smith on December 31, 1945 in Oblong and he preceded her in death on November 4, 2004.

Surviving is her daughter Donna Lee (Charles) McLaughlin of Champaign and son Jim (Sheila) Smith of Sullivan; grandchildren, Barton (Olivia) McLaughlin of Troy, Michigan, Allison (Abe) Sit of Bartlett, Illinois, Brooklyn (Daniel) Webner of Bethany, Melanie (Cody) Brands of Bethany and great grandchildren, Addison, Seth, Autumn, Lydia, Hannah, Laila, Joseph and Emerson.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, brother Bob and sisters Betty and Dorothy and a granddaughter.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Mason Point for their excellent care for their mother.

Beverly Booker

Beverly Grace Booker, 85, of Sullivan, passed away peacefully at 9:35 p.m. Tuesday (May 10, 2016) in her residence.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Senior Center. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Mrs. Booker was born April 29, 1931 in Sullivan, IL, the daughter of John and Louise Mercer Gramblin. Bev had worked at Brown Shoe Co. and had been a sales clerk for several area businesses. She volunteered at nursing homes, was a pencil pal and crocheted afghans and sent them to service members overseas, was a member of the Sullivan Women’s Civic Club and the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church. She married Richard Booker and he preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter Jeannie (Bob) Ashley of Bethany; son Steven (Sue) Booker of Sullivan; grandchildren Jennifer (Stuart) Landreth of Toledo, Jonathon (Jennifer) Ashley of Bethany, Melissa Ashley (Nina Page) of Bethany, Corey (Sarah) Booker of Findlay, Logan Booker of Sullivan; great grandchildren Austin Landreth, Evelyn Ashley, Alexander Ashley, Maddy Atteberry, Ashley Page, Payton Booker; brother Donald (Loretta) Gramblin of Michigan; sister Carolyn Rozanski of Michigan; daughter-in-law Vicky (Darrell) Williams and her beloved dog Scruffy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and step-father.

Brian P. Hart

Brian P. Hart, 56, of Sullivan, passed away 1:55 p.m. Tuesday (April 19, 2016) in Decatur Memorial Hospital following a courageous battle with cancer.

Celebration of Life services will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with the Pastor Marge Overlot officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday. Memorials are suggested to the Moultrie County Food Pantry, the Decatur Cancer Care Specialist Scholarship.

Brian was born May 28, 1959 in Shelbyville, the son of James and Nancy Wakefield Hart. He married Kathleen Ann Freese on October 23, 1991. Brian retired from the phone company (GTE, Verizon, Frontier) with thirty five years of service on November 1, 2015. He had been a member of the Sullivan Sports Boosters, George A. Sentel Masonic Lodge # 764 and the Sullivan Country Club. His favorite pastimes were playing golf and poker, but his greatest joy was watching his kids play sports. Brian knew no stranger. He loved people and always had kind words to say about everyone.

Surviving are his wife Kathy, daughter Brittany Hart of Sullivan; son Dylan Hart of Sullivan; sister Brenda (David) Winskill of Sullivan; niece, Hillary Winskill; nephew Clay Winskill; mother-in-law Pat Larkin of Sullivan; sister-in-law Nikki (Dan) Hodge of Arthur; niece Andalyn Hodge; nephew Dustin Hodge and grandmother-in-law Helen Gustin.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents Jim and Nancy.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. James Wade, III, LeAnn Rhinehart, NP and Lynette his primary nurse at the Cancer Care Specialists of Decatur, along with his nurse Sami at Decatur Memorial Hospital. They are incredible people and should be admired for their dedication to their professions.

Roy C. Barker

Roy C. Barker, 56, of Mattoon, formerly of Sullivan passed away 9:54 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2015 in his home, Mattoon.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2015 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. before the services Saturday. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center.

Roy was born November 7, 1958 in Decatur, the son of Cecil and Lillian (England) Barker. He married Barbara S. Fugate on August 3, 1997 in Allenville. Roy worked for Kull Lumber in Mattoon for 32 years. Roy’s family meant the world to him. He enjoyed cookouts, sitting around the yard, his grandchildren and playing golf.

Roy is survived by his wife, Barbara of Mattoon; father, Cecil Barker of Decatur; mother, Lillian Bathe of Sullivan; step-son, David J “DJ” (DJ) Arthur of Mattoon; step-daughter, Beth (Justin) Click of Bethany; sisters, Marsha (Roy) Brumleve of Teutopolis; Debbie Bathe of Sullivan; Lisa (Rodger) Mortez of Mattoon; Terri Bectel of Peoria; grandchildren, Sierra Arthur, Shania Arthur, Shayla Arthur, David Arthur, Peyton Purcell, Dakota Arthur, Destyne Arthur, Dominque Voegel, Delaney Click, and Devon Click. He is also survived by several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Burrell and Margret Barker and Harold and Edith England and his step-Father David Bathe.

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