Lynnette Hermann

Lynnette Hermann, 80, of Sullivan, passed away at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in her home surrounded by family.
Visitation will be Monday, March 17, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Reed Funeral Home Sullivan, IL. followed by a Celebration of Life from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Sullivan VFW (1132 Illinois Rt. 32 South). Casual attire is requested. Graveside services will be Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, IL.  
Lynnette was born on October 31, 1944 in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Roy McLaughlin and Helen ‘Jerry’ Lewis. Lynnette married Ronald H. Hermann on October 2, 1965 in Decatur, Illinois. She was an LPN, a wholesale manager for Emel’s Bait Shop in rural Sullivan and was also a licensed realtor/broker and owner of Hermann Construction Company. She was a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Illinois Realtors Association, the Central Illinois Board of Realtors and the Decatur Landlord Association.  
Lynn loved to travel and socialize, she loved drives in her Corvette around the lake, watching home improvement and cooking shows, she enjoyed supporting her grandchildren during their extracurricular activities, and enjoyed taking drives around her property in her golf cart.
Survivors include her husband, Ronald; sons Douglas Hermann (Missy Mines) of Decatur, IL and Michael Hermann (Kimberly) of Warrensburg, IL ; daughter in law Mindy Hermann of Lusby, Maryland; grandchildren Christoper Hermann, Alexus Mines, Caleb Hermann, Orion Brown, Delaney Hermann, Haley Hermann, and several nieces and nephews, as well as her favorite companion Morgan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son Robert Hermann, grandson Austin Hermann, sister Victoria Devereaux and brothers Jack Lewis and Jeff Lewis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Moultrie County PAWS, 10 Leisure Acres, Sullivan, Illinois 61951 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Ted G. King

Ted G. King, 91, of Sullivan, passed away 3:35 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Mattoon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. 
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. No visitation will be held. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.
Ted was born on May 31, 1933, in Sullivan; the son of Paul J. and Velma Fern (Messmore) King. He attended Smyser Schools. Ted worked on the farm with his father and brother. He later went to work at the Moultrie County Beacon.
He is survived by his brother, Gary King of Mattoon. Ted is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Ted was proceeded in death by his parents and 1 sister Retha Bauer.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Ronald James Fortner

Ronald James Fortner, 85, of Tower Hill, formerly of Sullivan, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home in Shelbyville, surrounded by his loved ones.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the Southern Baptist Church in Sullivan, with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. The family requests casual attire. Memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Beacon.

Ronald and Donald were born November 19, 1939, to Archie and Luella (Ramseyer) Fortner of Decatur. They later moved to Kirksville where Ron graduated from Sullivan High School in the Class of 1958. He married Sondra Hunter in 1959 in Sullivan. Ron was a mechanic at a few places before going to work at Caterpillar in Decatur. They had 3 children, Jim, Lori and Debbie. They moved to Tower Hill in 1974 where they raised their family for 50 years. He was a mechanic part time, teaching his son to work on cars. Ron retired from Caterpillar after 30 years. He and Sandy worked for the Corp. of Engineers as gate attendants at campgrounds on Lake Shelbyville. He loved camping, fishing, family and mushroom hunting. They also volunteered for the disaster relief crew at their church; Sullivan Southern Baptist Church. They became winter Texans until his health stopped them from going. They traveled and enjoyed life visiting 48 of the 50 States. Ron had a great life, helped anyone and everyone loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; daughter, Lori Steers of Shelbyville, Debbie Lape and friend Kent of Pana; daughter-in-law, Haydie Fortner and friend Ryan of Tower Hill; grandchildren, Erika Oktayana and friend John of Shelbyville, Amber Erwin of Boody, Brett Smith and friend Holley of Indianapolis, IN, Sara Kirkpatrick and friend Brad of Mattoon, Sadie Fortner of Shelbyville, Braxton Lape of Mattoon, Xander Strohl of Shelbyville, and Andrea Fortner and friend Chase of Tower Hill; great-grandchildren, Reyna, Ronnie, Elliote Grace, Sawyer Ann, Evelyn, Teddy, Carson, Brantlee and Charlotte; sister, Janet Becker of Moweaqua; very special friends, Randy Smith and Jimmy Strohl.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers 1 being his twin brother, his son James Fortner, son-in-law Gene Steers and great-grandson Owen Sims.

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

Mary Grooms, 102, of Sullivan, died at 10:25 p.m. Monday, February 3, 2025 at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon.
Mary was born June 25, 1922 in Humboldt, the daughter of Oliver and Bessie Seeley Starwalt. She married John W. “Jack” Grooms in Humboldt on June 7, 1941; he preceded her in death on May 11, 2001.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary Ann Sphar of Phoenix, AZ; son, John R. (Debbie) Grooms of Sullivan; grandchildren, Leigh Anne Sphar of Phoenix, AZ; Angie (Steven) Avila of Mesa, Arizona; Kristen (Brad) Hubble of Leroy, IL; Nick (Dr. Heidi) Grooms of Sullivan; Tyson (Kasey) Grooms of Sullivan; great grandchildren, Haegan Baumann and Brooklyn Sphar; Kailey, Brayden, and Brock Hubble; Gabby, Grace, and Jack Grooms; Tucker and Kiley Grooms.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; brothers, Willard and Rex Starwalt; sisters, Esther Clark, Mona Von Behren, Opal Borror, Charlene Young, Hettie Reece, and Alice Speck.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Humboldt Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Shrader Funeral Home, 204 N. Locust Street, Arcola.
Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Sports Boosters or American Heart Association.
Online condolences to the family may be shared at www.hilligosssshraderfh.com

Sheri DeAnn Williams, 57, of Dover, Tennessee passed away at 4:30 p.m. Sunday December 15, 2024 in the Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Kentucky surrounded by her family.
Celebration of Life services will be at 12 Noon Saturday December 21, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Grant Wade officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Sheri was born April 22, 1967 in Decatur, the daughter of David and Connie Miller Smith. She married the love of her life, Robert ‘Rob’ Williams on May 17, 1986 in Decatur. Sheri had been a bus driver for public schools for over twenty-five years.
Surviving are her husband Rob Williams of Dover, Tennessee; daughter Tiffany Williams of Decatur; son Scott (Kyleigh) Williams of Decatur; mother Connie Smith of Sullivan; brothers Bryan (Dana) Smith of Kankakee and Tighe (Donna) Smith of Buchanan, Tennessee and grandchildren Brianna, Brilee, S. J., Jameson and Ryder.  Being a Grammy was one of the greatest treasures of her life.
She was preceded in death by her father David Smith and granddaughter Addilynn Williams.