News Progress

Karen Coe

Karen D. Coe, 70, of Sullivan, passed away Monday, February 23, 2026 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2026 in the Reed Funeral Home with Jeannie Ruppert officiating. Burial will be in the Bolin Cemetery, rural Sullivan. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the New Life Pregnancy Center, 1698 E. Pershing Rd, Decatur, Illinois 62526. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Karen was born May 28, 1955 in Versailles, Kentucky, the daughter of Charles and Juanita Mae Nixon Hill. She had been a homemaker, school teacher and helped her husband David in their ministry. Karen married David L. Coe on January 9, 1976 in Sullivan and he preceded her in death on September 27, 2020.

Survivors include her children Michael (Beth) Coe of Sullivan, James (Stephanie) Coe of Granite City, Sarah Coe of Sullivan and Ruth (Anthony) Taylor of Sullivan; grandchildren Jonathan (Nicole) Coe, Keegan Coe, Zachery Coe, Ethen Coe, Jazzlynn Coe, Tristan Davis, Alyssa Taylor, Hannah Taylor, Michael (Bridget) Will, Justin (Jocelynne) Will and Nicholas Will; greatgrandchildren Emma, Piper, Arya and Knox; sister Debbie (John) Allen of Jefferson City, Missouri and a brother Charles Richard Hill of Ruther Glen, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two grandchildren.

Anthony (Tony) Adams

Anthony (Tony) D. Adams, 79, of Bethany, passed away February 23, 2026 in his home.

Celebration of Life services will be 12:00 Noon Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan with Pastor Brett Hinrichs officiating. Burial with military honors conducted by the Bethany American Legion Post #507 will be in the Marrowbone Twp. Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m until service time on Saturday. Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 2055 South Franklin Street Road, Decatur, Illinois 62521. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Born to Charles and Dorothy Adams of Decatur on August 1, 1946. Tony is a Decorated Marine Corp Vietnam Veteran who served from 1966-1968. He was a member of the Bethany American Legion Post #507. He retired from Caterpillar after 30 years. In his retirement he served the Mid-Illinois Red Cross for over a decade. Tony had the biggest heart and would help anyone in need. He loved his family fiercely, always had a smile on his face and a joke up his sleeve. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He leaves behind a sister, Lynn Thomas of Michigan, brother Larry Adams of Decatur, sister in-laws Nancy Scribner of Decatur, Carolyn “Joy” Lourash and husband Karry of Decatur, and Lela Ayers of Indiana. Tony also leaves behind a son, Robert Fandel of Bethany, a daughter Ellen Adams of Indiana, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, with a fifth on the way as well as several nieces and nephews and his beloved dog Dotty.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents and love of his life Elizabeth A. Adams along with great granddaughter Delanie.

Pastor Jack P. Adwell

Jack P. Adwell, 76, of Decatur, passed away at 7:28 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Shelbyville Manor Memory Care.

Celebration of Life services will be at Noon Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until Noon. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur, the Alzheimer’s Association or to Shelbyville Manor Memory Care. Online condolence may be sent to reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

Jack was born April 18, 1949, in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of James G. and Dorothy E. Chapman Adwell. Jack graduated from Monmouth Public Schools in 1967. He attended Mt. Vernon Bible College in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He received his master's degree from the University of Illinois in May of 2008. The first church Jack pastored was in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He later served at Moline Gospel Temple as a youth pastor. He also served at Bloomington Foursquare Church in Bloomington, Illinois, Decatur Foursquare Church, Life Foursquare Church and Silver Creek Foursquare Church in Douglas, Arizona.

Jack worked for many years at the Good News Bear Camp. His dedication and love for the kids was the ‘bigger than life’ Veggie Tales room he created. All the graphic design, booklets, the sound system he set up, and all the time he taught, blessed the Lord and touched many lives, both campers and staff. Kids loved him and wanted to hang out with him all the time.

Jack was a gifted teacher, both divinity and computer technology. He started teaching at Richland Community College in 1999. In 2011 Jack was named Outstanding Faculty Member and was named Business and Technology Division Dean in January 2012. Jack retired in 2016 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2024.

Jack married Rebecca Farris Hall on July 3, 2004 in Bethany.

Surviving are his wife Rebecca of Decatur; children Kris (Jeff) Klinger of Reno, Nevada, James (Mira) Adwell of Fairfax Station, Virginia, bonus children Julie (Tom) Courson of Dalton City, Jennifer (D.J.) Linville of Veedersburg, Indiana; step-brother Bob (Carol) Parrish of Manito; sisters Joan Marlow of Monmouth and Betty Thompson of Peoria; brother and sisters-in-law Punch and Cheryl Martin and Diane and Brent Phillips of Bethany; mother-in-law Norma Farris of Bethany, and grandchildren Brooke Klinger, Chase Klinger,  Kaia Adwell and Quinn Adwell. Bonus grandchildren Hope Linville, Holly Linville, Peyton Courson, and Parker Courson,.

He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Billy Farris.