Recent Obituaries: Johnna L. Howard

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Johnna L. Howard, 73, of Sullivan, passed away at 11:13 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2026 in Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church with Pastor Don Lusk officiating. Burial will be in the Beals Cemetery, Trilla, Illinois. Visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Hope Lodge, 4207 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63108 or the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church.

Johnna was born on December 14, 1952 in Mattoon, Illinois, the daughter of John W. and Charlotte Stortzum Claxon. She had been a Physical Therapy Assistant at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. She was a member of the Sullivan Southern Baptist Church where she was Director of Women’s Missionary Group as well as many other church committees, member of the Southern Baptist Church Disaster Relief Team. She enjoyed hiking, camping and reading books, especially the Bible. Johnna married Terry Howard on July 14, 1978 in Mattoon.

Survivors include her husband Terry; sons Travis (Nicole) Howard of Mattoon and Troy (Diane) Howard of San Diego, California; grandchildren Landon, Ava, Ciara, Gabe, Candence and Caleb Howard; sisters Peggy Edwards of Rantoul and Billijean Powell of Mattoon; step sister Tina (Wayne) Giourard of Richland, Georgia; step brother Jeff Bickel of Arthur; half sister Beth Claxon of Colorado and half brother Jim Claxon of Mattoon and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step father Charles Bickel, sister Vicki McGuffey and half sisters Megan Claxon and Katy Robinson.

Recent Obituaries: Karon Lawson

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Karon Lawson, 88, of Decatur, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at her home.

Graveside services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to American Red Cross: PO Box 37839 Boone, IA 50037-0839. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

Karon was born on February 25, 1937; the daughter of Allen and Jean Taylor (Gay) Wilke. She married LeRoy Lawson on May 8, 1954, in Union City, TN; he preceded her in death on January 13, 2018. Karon was a retired surgery tech and OB tech at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur for many years. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross and taught CPR. Karon was the Civil Defense Leader in Moultrie County during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She spent time as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader through the years. Karon enjoyed crocheting and her circle word puzzles. She had a deep love for her family and Karon held a special place in her heart for all of her animals.

Karon is survived by her children, Kathy (Chuck) Levandoski of Decatur, Bill (Lori) Lawson of Lincoln, Susy (Pat) Simpson of Greenup, Lesa (Scott) Stearns of Bloomington and Mike (Bridget) Lawson of Downs; siblings, Joanlee Langone, Sharon Wilke and Roger (Joyce) Wilke. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Karon was preceded in death by her parents, husband and 1 granddaughter. 

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

Recent Obituaries: Crystal R. Harl

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Crystal R. Harl, 65, of Sullivan, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Sullivan.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2026, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, the family request casual attire. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the services, Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to The Life Center: PO Box 11, Sullivan, IL 61951

Crystal was born on November 14, 1959, in Mattoon; the daughter of Lewis F. and Pauline (England) Harl. Crystal worked in the kitchen at the Masonic Home for twenty years. She was a member of the New Life Church. Crystal was an avid country music fan, and she took multiple bus trips to see county music stars, with one to Nashville Fan Fair where she got to meet her favorite country music artist Marty Stuart! Crystal also got to meet Travis Tritt and many other artists on her country adventures. She loved spending time with her friends, family and her sister’s Yorkies.

Crystal is survived by her sister, Penny (John) Fultz of Bethany.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother and 1 half-brother. 

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

Recent Obituaries: Janet Crandall

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Janet Wise Crandall, 96, of Cerro Gordo, IL, passed away peacefully at 6:30 a.m. on January 27, 2026, at Heritage Woods, Sullivan, IL. Born on January 21, 1930, in Decatur, IL, Janet was the beloved daughter of Ralph and Gladys Wise.

Janet married Keith Crandall on June 2, 1949, beginning a beautiful partnership that lasted until his passing on May 13, 1993. Together, they built a loving home filled with warmth and laughter.

Janet was a devoted mother to her son, Lester Crandall, and daughters Linda (Larry) McCoy, Dianne (Bill) Petersen, Seema (Shahob) Imam, and Karen (Gail) Allen; as well as a devoted grandmother to 37 grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Saturday, January 31, 2026 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and a celebration of life service at 11:30 a.m.; both at the Cerro Gordo United Methodist Church (104 E. Carter St, Cerro Gordo, IL). A graveside service will follow immediately afterwards at the Cerro Gordo Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes at www.brintlingerandearl.com.

Recent Obituaries: Leslie ‘Ray’ Cottrell

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Leslie ‘Ray’ Cottrell, 85, of Mattoon, passed away at 6:43 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2026 in his home.

Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 24, 2026 in the St. Isidore Cemetery, rural Bethany conducted by Fr. Rafal Pyrchla. Military honors will be conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Ray was born May 12, 1940 in Granite City, Illinois, the son of Glover Rex and Nancy Marie Stroud Cottrell. He retired from Northfork-Western Railroad as a railroad engineer. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Ray married Diane C. Wachter on October 20, 1962 in Granite City, Illinois.

Survivors include his wife Diane; son Greg (Cindy) Cottrell of Bethany and Laurie (Scott) Glenn-Upton of Farmer City, Illinois; grandchildren Shelby (Steven) Rogers of Lake City, Illinois, Cody Cottrell and significant other Jessica Iberg of Decatur, Ashley (Bill) Chapman of Macon, Illinois, Katie Glenn of Bloomington, Illinois Summer Glenn of Chicago, Miles Upton of Urbana, Illinois, Austin (Amanda) Upton of St. Joseph, Illinois and Justin (Julian) Upton of Philo; great grandchildren Carman Chapman, Mason Green, River Upton, Steven Rogers, Samuel Rogers and baby Rogers due in June and a brother Kenneth Cottrell of southern Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and four sisters.