Shirley Ann Keaton, age 92, of Benton, IL, passed away at 11:47 a.m., on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Herrin Hospital in Herrin, Illinois, surrounded by her family.
Shirley was born on May 13, 1934, to Perry William and Nell Luella (Laymon) Olson, in Saint Louis, Missouri. She was married to her husband, Charles E. Keaton, for 64 years. He preceded her in death on June 10, 2018.
She was a former grade teacher in Brownstown, Illinois. In her past time, she enjoyed working in her garden, canning, crocheting, assisting her husband with designing and custom building their own homes, traveling the world and going on cruises with her husband.
Shirley is survived by her nieces, JoDeane Vertrees and Jane O’Tain and her husband, Bob; great-niece and nephews, Lex Stewart and his wife, Shannon, Kelly Stewart, and Kyle O’Tain; great-great-nephews, Landon Keaton Stewart, John Thomas Pulliam and his wife Kaitlynn, and Alex Mitchell Stewart; great-great-great-nephews, John Keaton Pulliam and Braxton Carter Stewart; great-great-great nieces, Carly Steckenrider, Bree Steckenrider, and Laynee Nicole; and her longtime caregiver and dear friend, Carolyn Kulich.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Perry and Nell Olson; husband, Charles Keaton; sister, Nancy Lenea; sister-in-laws, Madge Jones, Mona Lee Bays, and Lou Dean Bailey; nieces and nephews, Miriam Stewart, Kay Page, Rox Bailey, Mike Bailey, John Bailey, Nicole Bailey, and Aaron Bailey; and her great-niece, Laura Stewart.
Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, Illinois.
Graveside services for Shirley will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted at Pate Funeral home for Can’s Can.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.