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Recent Obituaries: Patrick Louie Williams

News Progress Posted on July 29, 2025 by webmasterJuly 29, 2025

With his niece, Linda, and brother-in-law, Steve, at his side, Patrick Louie Williams went to Glory to meet his Savior in the early morning hours of July 26, 2025, at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on March 14, 1950, to Louie and Elizabeth (Spears) Williams. Patrick was the youngest of five children. 

Patrick or “Pat” as many knew him, grew up in the countryside of rural Bingham. He was proud to tell people that he was Tex Williams’ nephew. He loved all his family dearly and always found time to talk about them. If you had questions about the family tree, he was the person to ask. 

He was quite a fierce competitor when playing dominoes and Uno. He was sharp as a tack; for he was a killer with the draw four card. To the chagrin of his family, he was a Chicago Cubs fan. He redeemed himself in loving Peanuts and Harry Potter.

Patrick was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and Fillmore Baptist Church. He was a proud lifetime member of the Illinois Masonic Lodge Fillmore Chapter, where he served many positions most notably past master. He lived for over 20 years at the Illinois Masonic Lodge Home in Sullivan. There, he thrived working in the ice cream shop and men’s store, as well as participating in their various activities. 

Surviving are his big brother, Dale Williams, three beautiful sisters-in-law, one devoted brother-in-law, many nieces and nephews, as well as Linda and Ashton Williams whom he thought of as his daughters. Proceeding him in death are his parents, Louie and Elizabeth, his brothers, Bobby Jo and Richard, and his twin sister, Peggy.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Fillmore Baptist Church in Fillmore, IL. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Mike McKinney officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Carmel Baptist Cemetery in Ramsey, IL. 

Memorials may be directed to the Illinois Grand Masonic Lodge in Springfield. 

Sutton Memorial Home is in charge or arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at suttonmemorialhome.com. 

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Recent Obituaries: Luella Hughes

News Progress Posted on July 25, 2025 by webmasterJuly 25, 2025

Luella K. Hughes, 76, of Sullivan, passed away at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in the Willow Breeze Hospice House, Mattoon, Illinois.

Celebration of Life services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon to service time. Memorials are suggested to the Sullivan Ambulance Service or the Sullivan Weekend Food Pac Program. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Luella was born October 5, 1948 in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Robert ‘Bob’ and Joan Matheson Hughes. She retired from the Mt. Zion K-Mart after 25 years. Luella was a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), participated in the Sullivan Pencil Pal Program for 2nd graders for over 20 years, was a member of the Sullivan American Legion Auxiliary and the Sullivan VFW Auxiliary and enjoyed league bowling at Sullivan and Decatur.

Survivors include her sister Barbara Hughes of Mattoon; brothers Bill Hughes and Jim (Katrina) Hughes, all of Sullivan; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Arthur Hughes.

Posted in Recent Obituaries

Obituaries 7-23-2025: Roger Maxedon

News Progress Posted on July 23, 2025 by webmasterJuly 23, 2025

Roger Maxedon

Roger D. Maxedon, 88, of Effingham, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, at Willowbrook Memory Care in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 25, 2025, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17Chicago, IL 60601 or to the American Heart Association: PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692

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Obituaries 7-23-2025: Fern Marshall

News Progress Posted on July 23, 2025 by webmasterJuly 23, 2025

Fern Marshall

Fern Marshall, 89, of Sullivan, passed away 1:25 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home, Mattoon.

As per her wishes, no services will be held. Memorials may be made to the Sullivan Senior Center. McMullin-Young Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.

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Obituaries 7-23-2025: Randall Harris

News Progress Posted on July 23, 2025 by webmasterJuly 23, 2025

Randall Harris

Randall Lane Harris, 71 of Peoria, formerly of Sullivan, passed away on July 17, 2025, with his family at his side.

He was born to William “Bill” Floyd and Lorene (Lane) Harris in Decatur, IL. He married Mary Sue Potter Theinert in 1989 in Socorro, NM.

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Obituaries 7-23-2025: Martin “Marty” Harbaugh

News Progress Posted on July 23, 2025 by webmasterJuly 23, 2025

Martin "Marty" Harbaugh

Martin W. “Marty” Harbaugh, 68, of Sullivan passed away 9:25 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025, after a short battle with lung cancer.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials may be made to The Little Theatre On The Square or to the Sullivan AMBUCs.

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Obituaries 7-23-2025: Michael Cruit

News Progress Posted on July 23, 2025 by webmasterJuly 23, 2025

Michael Cruit

Michael Paul Cruit, 78, of rural Bethany died on July 16, 2025, in St. John’ s Hospital in Springfield following a series of strokes.   

Graveside services were held Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Locust Grove Cemetery, Pickaway Township, with Rev. Ron Dickinson officiating and military rites by the Clarence Bixler American Legion Post #409 of Findlay, IL. Arrangements by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. 

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Obituaries 7/16/2025: Benjamin Harris

News Progress Posted on July 16, 2025 by webmasterJuly 16, 2025

Benjamin Harris

Benjamin Franklin Harris, 90, of Bethany went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 6:43 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Shelbyville Manor, Shelbyville, after living with Alzheimer’s Dementia for several years with courage and resilience.

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Obituaries 7/16/2025: Hazel Fraker

News Progress Posted on July 16, 2025 by webmasterJuly 16, 2025

Hazel Fraker

Hazel Fraker, 91, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:52 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2025 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.

Celebration of Life services were held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. Burial was in the Humboldt Cemetery, Humboldt, Illinois. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

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Recent Obituaries: Benjamin Franklin Harris

News Progress Posted on July 9, 2025 by webmasterJuly 9, 2025

Benjamin Franklin Harris, 90, of Bethany went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 6:43 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Shelbyville Manor, Shelbyville, after living with Alzheimer’s Dementia for several years with courage and resilience.

A celebration of life service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025 at McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan, with Rev. Douglas Harris officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Following the service, burial will be in Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Benjamin was born August 25, 1934, in Detroit, MI, the son of Elbert and Annella (Baldwin) Harris. He was a graduate of Benton High School, Benton, and Central Bible College, Springfield, MO. Benjamin served in the United States National Guard.

Ben was an Assemblies of God pastor and was recently recognized for 50 years of ordained ministry. He pastored churches across Illinois including Ottawa, Bunker Hill, Vandalia, Olive Branch, Bethany and Paris. He also filled many pulpits in various churches in his later years.

On May 25, 1963, he married Sandra Hollister in Decatur, she survives. Also surviving are their children, Terry (Jodi) Harris of Altamont, Lisa (John) Fett of Tennessee, and Ron (Lori) Harris of Pennsylvania; also, seven grandchildren, Steffen Harris, Kirstie Burry, Kaela Cuzzone, John-Michael Fett, Chris Harris, Mike Harris, and Zachary Harris, and ten great-grandchildren.

Ben has three living siblings, sisters, Evelyn (Charles) Bayless and Roselyn Wingo; brother, Michael (Sharon) Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, William, Robert, Joanne and Wendell.

Ben enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping, bowling, and fast-pitch softball. He and Sandra traveled to 46 of the 50 states. Ben also went on Mission trips to Honduras and Denmark.

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

Posted in Recent Obituaries

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Moultrie-Douglas Contestants



News Progress


New royalty to be crowned
The Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Pageant will be held Monday, July 27th at 6:00 p.m. for Little Miss Fair Queen and 7:00 p.m. for Miss and Junior Miss Fair Queen located at the south track on the Mo-Do Fairgrounds. Vying for the title of Miss Moultrie Douglas Fair Queen are: Abigail Meyer of Tuscola, Addee Mulligan of Arcola, Sarah Rogers of Atwood, Ava Whitson of Tuscola, Addisyn Wilson of Villa Grove, Emma Spillman of Tuscola, Aymara Leal of Arcola and Katilyn Kirby of Sullivan.

Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas contestants
Vying for the title of Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas are: Harper Hale of Arthur, Brooklyn Bates of Sullivan, Sofie Reifsteck of Tuscola, Sophia Wilson of Arcola, Miley Rennels of Tuscola, Ava Warren of Sullivan, Tatum Faust of Pesotum, Maggie Meyer of Tuscola and Audrey Warren of Sullivan, pictured 2025 Jr Miss Moultrie-Douglas Quinn Chapman of Villa Grove.
Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas contestants
Vying for the title of Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas are: Everleigh Allen of Tuscola, Emelia Shelmadine of Tuscola, Arabella Butterick of Arthur, Josslyn Leigh Brown of Sullivan, Athalia Juliet Sanchez of Arcola, Myla Ro Oye of Arthur, Sophie Elliott of Sullivan, Rosie Smith of Villa Grove, Tinley Eads of Arthur, Alayna Guadiana of Arcola and Alexandria Brackemyre of Lovington, pictured with 2025 Little Miss Moultrie-Douglas Joslynn Steffens of Tuscola.


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