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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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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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.
Read MoreBenjamin 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
Hazel Fraker
Hazel Fraker, 91, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:52 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2025 at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
Harold Merkle
Harold L. Merkle, 74, of Lovington, passed away 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at his home.
Read MoreHazel Fraker, 91, of Sullivan, passed away at 2:52 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2025 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.
Celebration of Life services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Bob Vail officiating. Burial will be in the Humboldt Cemetery, Humboldt, Illinois. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.
Hazel was born October 27, 1933 in Chesterville, Illinois, the daughter of Oscar Thomas and Lora Montgomery Key. Hazel was a homemaker and had worked at the Illinois Masonic Home. She had been a member of the Mt. Zion General Baptist Church, rural Sullivan. Hazel married Robert E. ‘Cherry’ Fraker on February 1, 1952 in Arcola, Illinois and he preceded her in death on October 12, 1998.
Survivors include her sons Ronald E. (Arlene) Fraker of Sullivan and Randy R. (Cheri) Fraker of Springfield, Illinois; grandchildren Dana (Brandt) Rodgers of Sullivan and Luke Fraker of Springfield, Illinois; great granddaughter Macie Rodgers of Sullivan and a sister Sharon (Ron) Sanders of Atwood, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, six brothers and five sisters.
Hazel loved her family and taking care of her home. She was an avid bird watcher and never saw a squirrell that she liked. She will be forever in our hearts.
Sara L. Gale, 82, of Lovington, passed away 4:10 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Arthur Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Lovington. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will take place in the Keller Cemetery, Lovington. Memorials may be made to the Lovington Library.
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Ruby D. Butt, 70, of Sullivan, passed away at 12:56 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2025 in her residence.
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Jacqueline Dee “Jackie” McCausland, 64, of Bethany, passed away 7:21 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at her home with her family by her side.
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