Lynette Ann Burr, 68, of Carbondale, formerly of Benton, passed away on August 3, 2026 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

She was born on March 14, 1958 to Melvin and Mildred (Robinson) Bigham.

She is survived by her brother Rick Bigham of Benton, five grandchildren and a special friend Joey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two daughters Melissa Elder and Heather Elder, and two sisters Gaila Riddle and Marquetta Bigham.

Her wishes were to be cremated with no services.

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

Nelson Wayne Holman, age 78, of Benton; passed away at 9:52 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Deaconess Illinois Medical Center of Marion, Illinois.

Private Family Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Elder S.M. Williams Cemetery of Ewing, Illinois. Military Honors will be provided by the Benton American Legion Post #280, the V.F.W. Post #2671, and the Army National Guard honor’s team.

The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the services.

Nelson was born on November 28, 1947, in Orient, Illinois; the son of Nelson Wayne Holman, Sr. and Clarice (Adkins) Holman.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 19, 1967. He would proudly serve his Country in the Vietnam War.

Mr. Holman formerly worked in the coal mines for several years. He later worked as the Superintendent of the West City Water Department, where he was employed for over twenty years.
He was of the Christian faith. He loved watching sports of any kind. He also had a love for antique cars and enjoyed seeing them and reminiscing about cars from his era.
He will be greatly missed by his daughter and caretaker Melanie Stewart and Melanie’s husband Eric, whom Nelson loved as his own. Also surviving is a daughter Melissa Teal and husband Davie; four grandchildren: Caleb and Noah Stewart, and Megan and Levi Teal; brothers: Donald Holman and wife Roseann, Larry Holman, a sister Cheryl Martin and husband Doug, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Kenneth, Bill, and Jack; and three sisters: Arvada, Betty, and Sandy.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Nelson Holman, to the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, 10400 Terminal Drive, Suite 200, Marion, Illinois 62959.
To give condolences online, or to share memories of Nelson, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Mary Lou Harrison, 86, of Christopher, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 30, 2026 at Franklin Hospital.

She was a loving wife, mother. grandmother and great grandmother.

She married Isham Harrison on November 12, 1961, they were married 57 years until his passing in 2018.

Mary Lou leaves behind two children Mary Ann (Jeff) Wingo and Tom (Kendra) Harrison; grandchildren Tiffanie (Dustin) Young, Samantha (Brad) Chapman, Morgan Garrison, Chris Harrison and Kaci Harrison; great grandchildren Kase and Korbin Young, Lynnex and Logan Webb and Maybree Garrison.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son-in-law Mike Patchett and a granddaughter Kelly Marie Harrison.

A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday August 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Brad Ryan officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday from 11:00 Am until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Harrison Cemetery.

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

Loretta Ann Halliday, age 79, of Macedonia, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 4:18 p.m., Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Loretta’s wishes were to be cremated. A Celebration of Life Service will be announced at a future date.

The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the cremation arrangements.

Loretta was born on March 23, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan; the daughter of Robert and Lillian (Lince) Beck. She married Daniel Elmer Halliday on May 31, 1969, and he preceded her in death on February 8, 2026. Together they shared 56 years of marriage.

She was known as the “Flower Lady” at Big O Farm & Garden of Thompsonville. Her daughter Katie said she had an area in Big O’s where she worked on sickly flowers and plants for their customers.

Loretta loved the outdoors, including birdwatching, tending to her flower garden. She enjoyed playing Animal Crossing on her Nintendo Switch, scrap booking, and crafting. Her greatest pleasure was spending time in nature with her two grandchildren.

She and her late husband Dan, faithfully attended and served at the Jackson Grove Baptist Church of Benton.
Loretta is survived by her loving daughter Katie Wayman and husband Matthew of Christopher, Illinois; two grandchildren: Harper Wayman and Spencer Wayman; a sister Carol McCarty of Michigan, a brother Charles “Chuck” Beck of Pontiac, Michigan, sister-in-law and best friend Trish Halliday of Benton, Illinois; and several nieces, nephews, friends, and her church family at Jackson Grove.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a brother Michael Beck, and two brothers-in-law Rodney McCarty and Michael Halliday.
Memorial Contributions, In Loving Memory of Loretta Halliday, may be made to the Jackson Grove Baptist Church and will be accepted at the services.
To give condolences to the family online, or to share memories of Loretta, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

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David Loyd Hastings, age 82, of Christopher, IL, passed away at 3:45 p.m., on Friday, July 24, 2026, at his residence, surrounded by his family.

David was born on December 23, 1943, in Carbondale, IL to Claude and Lucy (Nichols) Hastings. David married Marilynn Buck and she preceded him in death.

He worked as a truck driver for Michael Walters Trucking and in engineering at Franklin Hospital in Benton.

David enjoyed bowling on the Michael Walters Trucking bowling team. He loved riding his motorcycle with his brother, Claude Allen and friend, Tom McClearin. He enjoyed carpentry work and loved building cabinets, decks and on occasion, a gazebo. He was always outside working on his yard and planting and caring for his plants and his garden.He is survived by his children, Nancy Kay (Shannon M. “Mike” Williams) Green, Brenda (Kevin) Horn, Kathy Hastings and Elizabeth (Jeramiah) Barnett; his brother, Claude Allen; his sister, Betty Jo and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Lucy Hastings, his wife, Marilynn Hastings, his sisters, Bea, Juanita and Martha and his brother, Jerry.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at Liberty-Ridlin Cemetery in Macedonia, IL.

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

Randy Earl Wiggins, age 79, of Benton; passed away at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, at his home.

Private family Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, with Seth Schlag officiating.

Family members are asked to go directly to the cemetery. The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the services.

Randy was born on February 3, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland; the son of Ray Elmo and Golden Marie (Beard) Wiggins. He married the former Brenda Kay Gipson on June 8, 1968, and together they shared in 58 years of marriage.
Randy formerly worked as a dispatcher with the city of Benton. He also formerly taught art with the Trico School District and later worked at the Learning Resource Center at Rend Lake College.

He was a member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Randy enjoyed and loved to paint and was known for his artwork and family birthday cards. He also liked to read, but most of all he loved spending time and spoiling his daughter, two grandsons and two great-grandsons who he was known as “Gramps.”

Surviving is his loving wife Brenda Wiggins of Benton, Illinois, a daughter Christina Roach and husband David of Marion, Illinois, two grandsons Andrew Hayter and wife Valerie of Marion, Illinois, David Roach and husband Daniel of Maryland Heights, Missouri; two great-grandsons Charlie and Anderson Hayter; a sister-in-law Judy Lampley and husband Danny of Benton, Illinois, a brother-in-law John Gipson and wife Jennifer of Benton, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Ray Elmo and Golden Marie Wiggins, his grandmother that helped raise him Mamie Beard, father-in-law and mother-in-law Charles “Chalk” and Sylvia Gipson, a sister-in-law Pam Prior and a nephew Matthew Gipson.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Randy Wiggins, to the Benton Public Library, 502 South Main Street, Benton, Illinois 62812.
To give condolences online, or to share memories of Randy, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Carol Ann Sink, 86, of Sesser, passed away on Friday July 17, 2026 at Greentree Memory Care Center in Mt Vernon.

She was born on September 21, 1939 in Kenosha, WI to Roscoe and Etta (Pedley) Torrey. She married Gilbert “Gib” Sink and he preceded her in death on September 13, 2021.

She is survived by her children Kristen (Kevin) Minor of Sesser and Guy (Kina) Sink of Zeigler; grandchildren Lindsey (Ben) Mundstock, Tyson Shurtz, Torrey (Kyle) Massey, Christian Sink, Jenessa Watson, Koya Barlow and Shania Dorris; great grandchildren Paxton, Miles, Abram, Hutch, Tripp, Sadie, Scout, Jreyson, Laya, Tate, Amir and Mason. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five siblings Gloria Bailey, Phyllis Maginn, Sharon Meyer, Lynn Torrey and Maryln Zirbel.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday July 21, 2026 at 11:00 Am at the Maple Hill Cemetery with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

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

Bill Eugene Tasky, age 85, of Benton; passed away at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Franklin Hospital of Benton.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Benton American Legion Post #280, the V.F.W. Post #2671, and the Army National Guard honor’s team.
Family and friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery. The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the services.

Bill was born on August 10, 1940, in Christopher, Illinois; the son of Duke and Opal (Hall) Tasky. He married Nancy Elaine “Shorty” Moore on September 6, 1958, and she preceded him in death on June 16, 2021.

In 1962 Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served his country obtaining the rank of Private First Class. Mr. Tasky formerly worked as a laborer for the railroad.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Benton, Illinois, the Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion Post #280 of Benton.

Bill enjoyed cooking and baking his famous white pies. He loved to visit with friends at Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot. He liked going to eat at the Polar Whip in Energy. Gardening, fishing for bluegills and hunting squirrels were a favorite past-time. He also loved animals, especially Snowball and Skippy, and he even fed the neighborhood cats and on occasion a raccoon and a skunk.

Surviving are three children: Kim Mandrell and husband Mike of Benton, Illinois, Christine Richardson of Benton, Illinois, William David Tasky of Portsmouth, Virginia; grandchildren including: Heather Young and husband Keith of Benton, Illinois, John Tasky and wife Heather of Du Quoin, Illinois, Lacey Cooksey and husband Andrew of Benton, Illinois, Michael David Tasky and wife Hillary of Virginia, Sabrina Tasky of Portsmouth, Virginia, Damian Parker and wife Amanda of Tennessee; great-grandchildren: Alex, Jace, Grayson, Dexter, Adylynne and one on the way; a sister Donna Thompson of Peoria, Illinois, two half-sisters Linda Knapp of Benton, Illinois, Cindy Eldridge and husband Danny of Benton, Illinois; a brother-in-law David Cummings and companion Patty Gray of Benton, Illinois, a sister-in-law Mary Jane Tasky of Benton, Illinois, a special nephew Jarad Cummings and a special great-niece Aerobella Breedwell-Cummings, lots of other nieces and nephews and several friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, an infant daughter Terry Lynn Tasky, a son Bruce Allen Tasky, a brother Onnie Joe Tasky, a son-in-law D.T. Richardson, and a brother-in-law Mark Thompson.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Bill E. Tasky, to the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, 10400 Terminal Drive, Suite 200, Marion, Illinois 62959, and will be accepted at the services.
To give condolences online, or to share memories of Bill, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Carrol Sue Parker Hogan, 74, of Benton, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2026, at her home while sleeping.

She was born on August 20, 1951, in Ravenden, Arkansas to Walter and Fredda (Ernst) Parker. She married Clarence Eugene Hogan on June 9, 1982. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Clarence “Gene” Hogan.

In addition to her husband, Clarence “Gene” Hogan of Benton, she is survived by her son, Eric (Amanda) Tindall of Sesser; two granddaughters, Mackenzie Tindall of Sesser and Mackayla (Dylan) Miller of O’Fallon; and two great-granddaughters whom she adored, Hadley Kay and Stella Kay.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Parker and Fredda Ernst Parker, brothers Jessie Parker and Walter Parker, and five sisters: Jacqueline Green, Jeanie Brown, Ilean Tucker, Ann Broadway, and Peggy Browning.

Carrol loved reading and taking her dogs on walks. Most important was her family. She loved spending time and talking about her granddaughters. She retired from Benton Water Department.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, with Rick Grammer officiating.
Services are under the direction of the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

To give online condolences to the family or to share memories of Carrol, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.
She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. Her kindness, warmth, and love will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew