Ruth Ann Ronchetto, 79, of Coello, passed away on Monday April 13, 2026 at Axiom Healthcare in Mt Vernon.

She was born on October 24, 1946 in Christopher to Cecil and Helen (Peterson) Roberson.

She is survived by her children Shelly (Jubie) Palmer of Venice, FL and Randy Biby of Coello; two grandchildren Drew (Tammy) Palmer and Justin (Elise) Palmer and three great grandchildren and two sisters Sara Jo (Ray) Biggs of Christopher and Jane (David) Baker of Sesser and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by father Cecil Roberson and mother Helen Dunning.

Ruth Ann’s wishes were to be cremated.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Frank Wayne Davis, 82, of Thompsonville, passed away at 11:44 p.m., on Friday, April 10, 2026, at SIH Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL.

He was born on March 5, 1944, to Francis and Mary (Brauner) Davis in Louisville, KY. Frank worked as a Manager for Firestone Auto Care Stores. On November 15, 1975, he married Susan Hahn, and she survives.

Frank was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Vietnam War.

He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, IL.

Frank was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He absolutely loved fishing and was a member of the Fish Hounds Club. You could always find him watching sports, from football to NASCAR, he enjoyed every single minute of it. He was an extremely loyal Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan, never missing a game. He also enjoyed reading books.

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Susan, his two daughters, Lisa Chaboudy and Lynda Rollins; his two brothers, Larry (Linda) Davis and John Davis and his three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis W. and Mary E. Davis and his son, Shawn Davis.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory. 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Per Frank’s wishes, cremation will take place and a Celebration of Life will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church at a later date with burial will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Tinley Park, IL.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

James Douglas (JD) Darr, 80, of Benton, Illinois, passed away at Deaconess Hospital in Marion, Illinois on April 15, 2026, surrounded by his loving family and friends. JD was born on August 16, 1945 in West Frankfort, Illinois to Denzil James (DJ) and Ethel Fern (Farmer) Darr. JD was preceded in death by his parents.

JD married Wanda Sue Teffertiller Overturf on September 10, 1983. JD and Sue were happily married for more than 36 years, until her passing on March 18, 2020.

JD is survived by his daughters: Tara (Darren) Myers of Savoy, Jan (Lynn) Bush of Carbondale, Christina (Steven) White of Elgin; son: Ryan (Stephanie) Darr of Carlyle; grandchildren: Shelby Bush (Adam Lisiewski) of Bloomington, Leyton (Jessica) Bush of Carbondale, Marc White of Chicago, Lauren White of Elgin, Caleb (Taylor) Darr of Breese, Riley Darr of Carlyle, Andrew, Jacob and Jackson Myers of Savoy; great-grandchildren: Charlotte “Charlie” and Lincoln Bush of Carbondale, Amelia Darr of Breese. JD is also survived by his faithful pups, Buddy and Daisy, and Meathead the cat.

JD graduated from Benton High School in 1963, where he lettered in football, track and basketball. He attended barber school after graduating high school, and worked as a barber for many years. JD also worked as a coal miner at the Freeman United Coal Mining Company at Orient No. 3 mine in Waltonville, Illinois.

JD loved fishing and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. JD also cherished the many bonds and friendships made through his affiliation with the Stormriders Motorcycle Club (MC) for more than 45 years. JD was a founding member of the Stormriders MC and his club brothers were his brothers for life.

JD’s true favorite pastime was giving his friends and family a hard time – the bigger the insult, the deeper his love for you! And you can bet that there would be a big ol’ kiss, right on the lips. “Give me some lip lock”! JD had a huge heart, a quick wit, and was a loyal and faithful friend to so many people.

JD’s family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the following special friends and brothers who helped care for him during the last months of his life: Roy “Layne” Dobbs, Calvin “Champ” Lauderdale, Tommy “Homer” Conner, Nathan Robasse, Angie Dunning and Cassi Gunter Hartley.

A memorial visitation to honor and celebrate the life of JD Darr will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, Illinois. Please dress casually and bring your best JD stories. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Diabetes Association or to the pet rescue of your choice. JD’s wishes were that he be cremated, with his ashes distributed at a later date.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Lena L. Sanders, 93, of Benton, passed away at 6:48 a.m., on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at SIH Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL, surrounded by her family.

She was born on May 24, 1932, to Elva and Sarah (Finney) Sanders in Logan, IL. She was a Thompsonville High School graduate, a member of the Class of 1949. Lena worked for the Illinois Department of Revenue and retired as a Weights & Measures Inspector for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Lena made many friends throughout the state working as an Inspector, and always spoke fondly of her coworker, Martha McLaskey.

Lena was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was raised on a farm in Logan. Lena had several animals on her farm over the years but got the most enjoyment from her dogs. She enjoyed going to auctions, watching westerns, and loved reading books. Lena was also an avid Green Bay Packers fans unless her team was losing. Lena loved traveling and would frequently go on bus tours to the Kentucky Opry. She was “Grandma” to a lot of kids over the years. She loved to socialize while taking money at the door at BCHS sporting events. She enjoyed seeing and spending time with her great-grandchildren the last several years of her life.

Lena is survived by her children, Sarah Williams and LW (Michele) Biddle; six grandchildren, Mandi (Dale) Sanders, Jesse (Kelli) Williams, Sr., Renee (Frank) Clark, Michael (Regina) Sullivan, Heather (Ryan) Myers, Lindsay Thomas and Katie (Brady) Helmkamp; her granddaughter-in-law, Kerry Williams; 12 great-grandchildren, Jesse Williams, Jr., Maggie Williams, Lucy Williams, Brandon Williams, Abigail Williams, Gavin Williams, Fischer Williams, Laynee Thomas, Leona Helmkamp, Roper Sanders, Lucas Myers and Layla Myers and two great-great-grandsons due this fall.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elva and Sarah Sanders, her son, Kevin Biddle, her grandson, Benjamin “Ben” Williams and her siblings, Jesse Sanders, Noble Sanders, Weldon Sanders and Pearl Bertinette.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held directly after the visitation on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Jesse Hinds, officiating. Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

James Otto “Jim” Clayton, age 91, of Crainville, Illinois, passed away on April 14th, 2026, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born in Brazil, Indiana on February 2, 1935, to Arlie “Stu” and Grace E. Clayton.

Jim graduated Linton-Stockton High School in 1954 and retired from the United States Air Force(Technical Sargent).
He served our country 1954-1974 during the cold war, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War and the Viet Nam War.

Jim had a distinguished career in the Air Force and was dispatched to Ernest Harmon Airbase
Stephenville, Newfoundland to support the first air refueling of B52 bombers. Next he went to Ben
Gueir Airbase in Morocco to support the rotation of the B47 wing from Lockbourne to Morocco for Cold
War deterrence.

Later posts took him to Chanute AFB (Rantoul, IL), Shephard AFB (Wichita Falls, TX), Yokota Air Base
(Japan), Holloman AFB (Alamogordo, NM) and the US Embassy in London, England. In 1962 while in
Japan, he had an assignment in Bangkock, Thailand to support a SEATO exercise “Air Cobra”.
While assigned to the Defense Attache Office at the US Embassy, Jim was a special military courier
transporting documents to and from the NATO conference attended by Vice President, Hubert
Humphrey and Secretary of State, Dean Rusk.

Jim was stationed at Michigan Tech University, Houghton, MI and then University of Illinois, Champaign-
Urbana, Il for Air Force ROTC programs. He became an Honorary Member of the Arnold Air Society for
his work with the cadets at Michigan Tech. He spent his last year overseas at Kwanj-ju Airbase of South
Korea.

While serving the United States Air Force, he was honored with the Joint Service Accommodation and
the Air Force Accommodation medal.

He was a member of the Benton BPO Elks #1234, American Legion Post #2910, and the Air Force Sargent
Association.

Jim transitioned to his civilian career working for Old Ben Coal Company (18 years) as Warehouse
Manager at Mine 21 & 26 (Sesser). He later worked for Shawnee Health Service (11 years) in the Black
Lung Program and Respiratory Disease Program Director for the So. IL and So. IN.

Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, Dee; daughters, Vickie Golliher (David) and Jennifer
Summers both of Benton, step-daughter, Dawn Jensen (Jon), of Spooner, WI; grandchildren: Nathan
Golliher (wife-Aisha, daughter Carigon); Brooke Docherty (children Freya, Oliver); Abby Mocaby (Zach);
Dani Summers; Scot Summers; Adam Jensen (wife Elaine, children Liam, Beau, Lucy, Beth); Wyatt
Jensen; brother Arlie “Pete” Clayton (Debbie) and sister Joyce Hennette.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Arlie “Stu” and Grace E (Snyder) Clayton; his stepmother Edna
Clayton and brother Charles Leonard Clayton who was killed in World War II and awarded the Purple
Heart for his service.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held directly after the visitation on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Jesse Hinds, officiating. Military Honors will be performed by the United States Air Force Honors Team and by American Legion Post 2910 and V.F.W. Post 2671, where Jim was a member.

Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials may be made to EMS — Carterville Fire Department or to Veterans Honors Flight of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

George Murch, 82, of Christopher, passed away on Saturday April 11, 2026 at his home.

He was born on October 10, 1943 in Owensboro, KY to George and Beulah (Daniels) Murch. He married Sandra (Moore) Murch on November 1, 1968 and she survives of Christopher.

He is also survived by his daughters Jacque (Bill) Matyi of Johnston City and Trisha Lee Pheasant of Christopher; grandchildren Brent Ullman, Drake Matyi, William Matyi, Hannah Pheasant, Daymon Pheasant, Drew Pheasant, Austin Loucks and Aszure Loucks; great grandchildren Bria, Calum, Alivia, Bailey, Hayzlee, Parker, Wrenley, Blakely, Talon and Skylar and two sisters Brenda and Vicky and one nephew Brandon Murch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter Lisa Loucks and one brother Richard Murch.

George was an Army veteran and a coalminer.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday April 18, 2026 at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Kim Key, 67, of Christopher, passed away on Friday April 10, 2026 at his home.

He was born on March 6, 1959 in Christopher to Nixon and Velma (Rains) Key. He married Marianne (Curwick) Key and she preceded him in death.

He is survived by his children Mary Key of Christopher, Susan (Darrel Taylor) Key of Mulkeytown, Jessica (Thomas Cluck) Davies of Benton, Joshua Key of Buckner and Sandra (Crystal) Key of Benton; several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and ten brothers and sisters.

His wishes were to be cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Barbara Jean Forsythe, age 80, of Benton, passed away at 5:28 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in the SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Barbara was born on March 23, 1946, in West Frankfort, Illinois, the daughter of Gene and Colleen (Hungate) Woodrow.

She was a retired cook from Benton District 47.

Barbara enjoyed golfing, eating out, attending flea markets in Nashville, TN, shopping trips to Chicago and she enjoyed watching car races. And she was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Gina L. Forsythe-Walsh.

Surviving are her numerous friends, Gina’s father Sandy Forsythe of Benton, IL, many cousins, and her dog Indy.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, IL, with Jim Muir officiating. Friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery. The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the services.

To give online condolences to the family or to share memories of Barbara, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Judith Lee Stipes, age 80, formerly of Benton, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Barrington, Illinois. She lived a life full of love with her family and friends. Her greatest gift to the world was her kindness and the ability to see the best in people. She was resilient and touched many as a source of selfless giving.

Judy was born on July 4, 1945, in Channahon, Illinois, the daughter of Erwin and Myrtle (Wilkenson) Hewitt. She married Carl Wayne Stipes on November 17, 1990, and he preceded her in death on November 12, 2023. Both Carl and Judy were members of the First United Methodist Church of Benton.

Judy was a retired Nurse Assistant having worked at St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Illinois.

Surviving are her children: her twin sons Sal Reyes (married to Kerry) and Mark Reyes (and his partner Doris), her stepdaughters Rora Luttrell (married to William), Roberta Carlson, Cindy Lou Elizando as well as nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Stipes was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and all nine of her older siblings.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, Illinois, with Rev. Jesse Hinds officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Benton and will be accepted at the services.

To give online condolences to the family or to share memories of Judy, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Linda Kay Trogolo, 77, of Coello, passed away on Friday April 3, 2026 at Axiom Healthcare in West Frankfort, IL.

She was born on August 20, 1948 in West Frankfort, IL to Warren and Thelma (Webster) Dawson. She married Donnie Trogolo and he preceded her in death on February 14, 2026.

She is survived by her children Donna (John) Ley of Apachie Junction, AZ, Deanne (Mark) Winter of Ashboro, NC and James Trogolo of Coello; four grandchildren Hunter, Hendrix, Haven and Deonna and one brother Arther Warren Dawson of Sesser.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two sisters Nancy Mandrell and Phyllis Laurent.

Her wishes were to be cremated with no services.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com