News Progress

Harold E. Renfro

Harold E. Renfro, 91 of Lovington, went to be with the Lord and his beloved wife and son at 2:28 AM Friday, April 25, 2025, at Eastview Terrace, Sullivan.
Services to celebrate Harold’s life will be held at 11 am Monday, April 28, 2025, at the First Church of God in Lovington. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.  Memorials are suggested to the First Church of God in Lovington. 
Harold was born on March 11, 1934, in St. Louis, MO, a son of Earnest W. and Vera E. (Atkinson) Renfro. He was a retired supervisor for Caterpillar. Harold was an active dedicated member of the First Church of God where he served s a Deacon. He also took great pride in maintaining and scheduling the church’s community building that he helped build. Harold was always busy, ready to drive a group to dinner, going boating, mushrooms hunting and he loved to garden. He also had many rental properties and grew very close to the families he took care of. Harold also served on the Village Board for several years. Harold married Donette A. Grabow on July 3, 1954, in Hillsboro. They celebrate 60 years of marriage before she passed away on January 25, 2015. 
Surviving are sons Skip and his wife Debbie Renfro, Bob and his wife Marylisa Renfro, daughter Bev and her husband Scott Connelly, and daughter-in-law Diane Renfro all of Lovington, brother John (Jane) Renfro of Lovington, sister- Vicki (David) Stadge of Delaware, OH,  and brother Hiram (Rose) Renfro of Donnellson, brother in  law Walter and his wife Mary Grabow of Normal, 8 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. 
Harold was greeted in Heaven by Jesus, his beloved wife Donette and his son, Gerald “Jerry” Renfro, his parents, brother, Robert “Bob” Renfro and sister, Lydia Collins. 
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gracelandfairlawn.com. 

Bettye Dawson

Bettye Katherine Dawson, 100, of Ankeny, IA, formerly of Lovington, Decatur and Tuscola, passed away Thursday, April 10, 2025, Rock Creek Senior Living, Ankeny, IA.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, in Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, Lovington.

Bettye was born on March 6, 1925, in Decatur; the daughter of Durward and Frances (Massengill) Dillow. She spent a lot of time with her only living grandparents. She married Kent E. Dawson in 1949; he preceded her in death on September 1, 2017, they raised 3 sons. Bettye graduated from Millikin University and went on to receive her Masters in Education from Eastern Illinois University. She was a teacher at Atwood-Hammond School for 27 years. Bettye enjoyed dancing, traveling around the world and teaching children. She was a member of the Lovington First Christian Church and National Education Association.

She is survived by her sons, Michael Dawson of Carmel, IN, and Mitchell (Teresa) Dawson of Ankeny, IA. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 son, Mark, 2 sisters and 1 brother.

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