News Progress

Jim Wheeler

Jim Wheeler, 85, Sullivan, IL, died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Jim was born April 11, 1934, in Decatur, the son of James E. and Nona (Sanders) Wheeler. While living in Greenville, Il., his mother died and Jim moved to Bethany to live with his grandparents, Otis and Clara Wheeler. He married Donna Shank in 1956 and had three sons, Brad, Kris and Derk. Donna died in 1991, after a long illness. Jim married Ann Poland in June 1994.
While a young man, Jim, like his father and grandfather, started a commercial and residential construction company. He, along with his friend attorney Robert M. White, was responsible for the first retail IGA complex and the Quick Plastics commercial building in Sullivan. He also built the education building for the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
In 1963 Jim joined his father-in-law, Owen Shank, in the road maintenance business in Mattoon. Later he and his sons operated Earl Walker, Inc., a road maintenance business in Sullivan.
Jim was a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission for 33 years and served on many First United Methodist Church boards. He was appointed to the Sullivan City Council and served as a member of the Vocational Board at the Sullivan High School. He also served on the board of the Sullivan Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Brad (Tammie), Kris (Shelly), and Derk (Nicole Atchison) and grandchildren Ben, Hannah, Jed and Gus. Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and George Stall of Summerville, SC, and their daughters Jennifer (Harold) Albo and Janene (Cliff) Keefe; sister-in-law Georgia (Rex) Ashbrook and niece Missa (Michael) Cook. Jim shared a close relationship with Gene Compton of Mattoon.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m.,Sunday, October 27, 2019, in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church sanctuary followed by a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sullivan Food Bank, Mary’s Weekend Food Bags, or to the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.

Pattie Wood

Pattie F. Wood, 85, of Lovington, passed away at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday October 16, 2019 in Mason Point in Sullivan
Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Rodney Houser officiating. Visitation will be from 9 - 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials are suggested the Lovington Ambulance Service, the Moultrie County Relay for Life or to the Lovington Church of God. Please send online condolences to the family atreedfuneralhome.net.
Pattie was born March 15, 1934 in Lovington the daughter of Herschel and Nannie Harlin Carter. She had worked at the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company and was a member of the Lovington Church of God. Pattie married Edward ‘Ed’ E. Wood on January 13, 1951 in Pochahontas, Arkansas and he preceded her in death on November 2, 2005.
Surviving are her children, Vickie (Steve) Mechling of Logansport, Indiana, Keith (Brenda) Wood of Lovington, Steve (Potae) Wood of Chicago, Judy (Larry) Austin of Mt. Zion; fourteen grandchildren; twenty three great grandchildren and a great great granddaughter and special friend Dorthea Wood of Decatur.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, brother, grandson and great granddaughter.

Frank D. McBride
Frank D. McBride, 88, of Edwardsville, passed away, 9:40 a.m. Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Aspen Creek, Sullivan.
Celebration of Life services were held from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 13, 2019 at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge. McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, and Weber & Rodney Funeral Home, Edwardsville, are in care of the arrangements.
Frank was born August 26, 1931, in Thebes, IL, the son of Clyde and Mattie (Pettit) McBride. He married Virginia Ann Margherio; she survives. He served in the United States Marine Corps. Frank worked at Granite City Steel. When he retired, he and Virginia started a business which became McBride’s Lawn Service. Through his lawn service, he maintained not only his strong work ethic, but also his nature of being a helpful, caring and friendly person.
Frank is survived by his wife, Virginia of Edwardsville; sons, Steven D. (Erica) McBride of Key West, FL, and Gregory S. McBride of Edwardsville; daughter, Martica L. (John) Lancaster of Dalton City; step-son, Gregory J. Kiaer of St. Louis; sisters, Clyda (Dwayne) Lamb-Query of Rochelle, Roberta Cox of Edwardsville and Patricia Tolbert of Knoxville, TN. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Aspen Creek of Sullivan for their wonderful and compassionate care for Frank.