Category Archives: Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Dan J. Sentel

News Progress Posted on by

Dan J. Sentel

Dan J. Sentel, 55, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:30 p.m. Friday November 22, 2024 in his residence.Celebration of Life services will be 11 :00 a.m. Tuesday November 26, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in the Camfield Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Police Department Equipment Fund. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.Dan was born August 9, 1969 in Decatur, the son of Frank J. and Lois Valentine Sentel. He was  a service technician for Sloan Implement and originally Schilling Brothers John Deere in Mattoon. Dan was a member of the Windsor Christian Church. Dan dedicated his life to John Deere and farming. He married Denise Naab on August 1, 1992 in Windsor.Surviving are his wife Denise of Sullivan, son Wyatt Sentel of Sullivan; brother David Sentel of Sullivan; mother-in-law Rosetta Naab of Sullivan, a nephew and three nieces and their families.He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Roger Naab.

Recent Obituaries: Robert Arthur “Bob” Childers

News Progress Posted on by

Robert Arthur “Bob” Childers

Robert Arthur “Bob” Childers, 87, of Gays, passed away 10:56 a.m. Monday, September 2, 2024, at his home in Gays.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2024, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in French Cemetery, rural Allenville. Memorials may be made to the Moultrie County PAWs: 10 Leisure Acres, Sullivan, IL 61951
Bob was born on April 2, 1937, in Bethany; the son of William Robert and Margie (Buckley) Childers. He married Barbara N. Nichols on June 5, 1959, in Charleston. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on cars. He loved all music, but he especially enjoyed Elvis and Johnny Cash.
Bob is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Steve Childers of Mattoon; daughter, Sheila (Lyle Schoonover) Childers; brothers, Rick Childers of Allenville and Jeff Baker of Michigan; sister, Linda (Gilbert) Burns of Mt. Morris, MI, and Cherie Polk of Windsor; grandchildren, Michael Childers, Greg Childers, Heidi Childers and Alex Carter; sister-in-law, Betty Crites of Mattoon. He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Alan Lynn, sister, Eula and brother, Randy.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Recent Obituaries: Edwin R. Righter

News Progress Posted on by

Edwin R. Righter

Edwin R. Righter, 67, of Sullivan passed away at 3:43 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2024 in his residence.

Celebration of Life services will be 3:00 p.m. Monday, August 26, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home with Doug Fultz officiating. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Solid Rock Chapel in Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Righter was born on February 17, 1957 in Morris, Illinois, the son of Roy and Betty (Hahn) Righter. Edwin had worked as the maintenance supervisor at the Sullivan School District, he then retired from the City of Sullivan as the Electric Plant Manager and also worked at Wiley Brothers Farms. Edwin attended the Solid Rock Chapel in Sullivan and had been past president of the Christian County Tractor Pulling Association. He married Cheryl Johnson on September 6, 1981 in Arthur, Illinois.
Survivors include his wife Cheryl; children Jared (Melissa) Righter of Naperville, Illinois and Kelsey Righter of Texas; grandchildren Ella Righter, Inara Welty, Callum Welty and Isabel Elliott; mother Betty Righter of Sullivan and a brother Mark (Amber) Righter of Sullivan.
He was preceded in death by his father.

Recent Obituaries: Byron F. Abrams

News Progress Posted on by

Byron F. Abrams

Byron F. Abrams, 87, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday August 6, 2024 in the Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday August 24, 2024 in the Sullivan Highway Church of Christ with Wayne Miller and Robert Hemingway officiating. Memorials are requested to the Sullivan Highway Church of Christ. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
Byron was born January 16, 1937 in Sullivan Township the son of Homer Edmon and Edith Lillian Sager Abrams. He had been a truck driver for Bekins Transport. Byron was a member of the Sullivan Highway Church of Christ. He was an avid photographer, ham radio operator and was a published author. He married Susan Perry on December 26, 1958 in Sullivan.
Surviving are his wife Susan of Sullivan; daughter Paula (David) Evans of  Lovington; son Kevin Abrams (Frances Smith) of Rantoul; sister Barbara (Tom) Dean of Sullivan; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Charles H. Abrams.

Recent Obituaries: Sharon K. Sibigtroth

News Progress Posted on by

Sharon K. Sibigtroth

Sharon K. Sibigtroth, 74, of Sullivan, passed away at 1:39 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024 at St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ, rural Sullivan with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mrs. Sibigtroth was born on July 17, 1950 at Bloomington, Illinois, the daughter of William and Vera (Lee) Lishka. Sharon was a nurse and a member of the Elim Springs Church of Christ and the American Nursing Association. She married Daniel Sibigtroth on September 1, 1973 at LaSalle, Illinois and he preceded her in death on September 7, 2005.
Grams as she was affectionaly called by her grandchildren is survived by her children Andrea Sibigtroth-Harshman and her husband Daniel Harshman of Sullivan and Joseph Sibigtroth and his wife Jennifer of Granville, Illinois; grandchildren Ulrich Harshman, Frederick Harshman and Michelle Cox; great grandson Christopher Kaufman; brothers Bobby Lishka of Parma, Ohio and William (Carol) Lishka of Bloomington; sisters Joyce Helen (Cecil) Harris of Highland, Illinois, Darlina (Dillard) Wright of Antioch, Tennessee and Lorina (Scott) Purdum of Wickliffe, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother William Medley and sisters Mary Margaret Poston, Sherry Duley and Nancy Searl.

Recent Obituaries: Jim ‘Sonny’ Andrews

News Progress Posted on by

Jim ‘Sonny’ Andrews, 86, of Decatur, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 5:25 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2024 in his residence.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 18, 2024 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Scott Hall officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Faith Baptist Church Snuggies For The Soul program. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Andrews was born July 8, 1938 in Thomasville, Missouri, the son of Edward Leslie and Mary Louise (Fisher) Andrews. Jim retired from Caterpillar in Decatur after 35 years and was a member of the Faith Baptist Church in Decatur. He married Sue Shoemaker on August 28, 1959 in Tuscola, Illinois and she survives.
Also surviving are his children Tanya (George) Bone of Bethany and Mike (Cindy) Andrews of Seneca, South Carolina; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren and a brother Gordon Andrews of West Plains, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister and one brother.
Jim loved the Lord, his wife of 65 years, his family, helping others and fishing. He will be missed by all that knew him. But we know we will see him again someday in heaven.

Recent Obituaries: Barbara A. Piper

News Progress Posted on by

Barbara A. Piper

Barbara A. Piper, 77, of Sullivan, passed away at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday August 7, 2024 in her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Lovington Church of God with Pastor Rodney Houser and Pastor Jerry Graham officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested to the Weekend Food Pac Program or to a charity of the donors choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Barbara was born February 15, 1947 in Tracy, Kentucky the daughter of James Ralph and Viola Annice Russell Remick. She had been a licensed day care provider and was a bus driver for the Sullivan Schools. Barbara was a member of the Lovington Church of God. She married Don Piper on December 23, 1995 in Sullivan.
Surviving are her husband Don of Sullivan, children Paul (Angie) Isaacs of Auburn, J. Mark (Angelique) Isaacs of Sullivan, Shari (Chris) Bennett of Mattoon, Penny (Jim) Yuille of Missouri, Crystal (Brian) Critchelow of Sullivan, Denise Willson of Sullivan, Jennifer (Jack) Cohan of Sullivan; fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son John Isaacs; and daughter-in-law Renee Isaacs; granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Haley.

Recent Obituaries: Aaron Jones

News Progress Posted on by

Aaron A. Jones

Aaron A. Jones, 26, of Mattoon, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 3:27 a.m. Monday August 5, 2024 in Sullivan.

Aaron was born July 15, 1998 in Mattoon, the son of Tony Jones and Joan Braun Jones. Aaron graduated from Sullivan High School in 2016, where he participated in the band program and earned the title of Drum Major for the Marching Redskins. Aaron attended Eastern Illinois University, where he was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Xi Upsilon chapter. He continued to pursue music and again became Drum Major before graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Aaron was first the band director for Roanoke-Benson High School, and most recently for Sullivan High School.

Aaron was a very accomplished musician. He could play anything you put in front of him, but his primary instruments were clarinet and piano. He also enjoyed traveling to watch marching band and drum corps competitions, boating on Lake Shelbyville, playing cards at family game days, walking and hiking, and spending time with friends.

Aaron was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Marjorie Jones of Pierson; maternal grandparents John Braun of Springfield and Geri Braun of Decatur; and his aunt Kim Vancil of Petersburg. He is survived by his parents Tony and Joan Jones of Sullivan; brother Cameron Jones of Champaign; sister Lindsay Jones of Mt. Prospect; paternal grandfather Arnold Jones of Pierson; aunt and uncle Terry and Sharon Jones of Pierson and uncle Monte Braun of Vandalia.

Memorial visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Friday August 9, 2024 in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan and a Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday August 11, 2024 on the Sullivan High School Football Field. The family requests casual dress; if you are able, please wear apparel supporting Sullivan High School, Eastern Illinois University, or the SHS band program. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sullivan High School Band Program. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net

Recent Obituaries: Betty Lou Weaver

News Progress Posted on by

Betty Lou Weaver

Betty Lou Weaver, 90, of Sullivan, passed away 4:17 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024, in Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the New Life Church in Sullivan.
Betty was born on August 6, 1933, in Hammond; the daughter of Neil and Josephine (Hurley) Quick. She married Wayne J. Weaver on March 13, 1954, in Sullivan; he preceded her in death in 2005. Betty attended New Life Church and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She loved going to garage sales, antiquing, eating out and socializing.
Betty is survived by her son, Herschel Weaver of Sullivan; daughter, Bonnie (Fred) Netherton of Sullivan; brother, Gale (Charlene) Quick of Decatur; sisters, Sharon Netherton of Sullivan and Rosemary Ferriell of Decatur; grandsons, Cody (Andrea) Weaver of Decatur and Austin (Holly) Weaver of Sullivan; great-grandchildren, Keegan Wayne Weaver, Grayson Weaver, Case Weaver, Kainan Weaver and Lainey Weaver.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wayne and 3 brothers.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mcmullinyoung.com

Recent Obituaries: Bryant Lane

News Progress Posted on by

Bryant Lane

Bryant Lane, 72, of Sullivan, passed away at 12:06 p.m. Friday July 31, 2024 in Willow Breeze Hospice House, Mattoon.

Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday August 5, 2024 in Keller Cemetery, Lovington with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. Military honors by the Lovington American Legion. Memorials are suggest to the family. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Bryant was born October 17, 1951 in Logan County, Kentucky the son of Willie J. Lane Sr. and Maxine Wilson Lane.  He had worked in agriculture in Kentucky. He served in the Illinois National Guard.
Surviving are his sisters Charlene (James) Coleman and Suzanne Goad (Bud) Gregory both of Sullivan and sons Tony and Jason of Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Willie Lane, Jr.