Doyle Gene Conner, 66, of Mulkeytown, passed away on May 5, 2021 at his home.

He was born on August 7, 1954 in Christopher to Bobby Gene and Caroline (Norris) Conner. He is survived by his mother Caroline Conner of Christopher; siblings Marion Conner of Florence, AL, Nancy Jamerson of Christopher, Pamela (Paul) Hampton of Gulf Port, MS, Dixie Conner of Mulkeytown, Valery (David) Keefe of Aurora, CO and Colleen (Larry) Freeman of Gainsville, GA.

Graveside services will be on Saturday May 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Ward Cemetery in Mulkeytown. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

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

Deborah Susan (Lipe) Griffin Robinson, age 71, of West City, passed away Saturday, May 1, 2021 at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton with Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in the Phillips Cemetery of Ewing. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening; and from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

We ask everyone attending the services to be considerate of others and to practice social distancing. We are limited to 50 people in our funeral home at a time, masks are required. If you are sick, please stay at home.

Deborah was born on November 7, 1949 in Benton, Illinois; the daughter of Roy Lipe and Patsey (Crippen) Lipe. She was first married to John W. Griffin, and he preceded her in death on July 12, 2002. On August 15, 2003 she married Jimmy Floyd Robinson, and he survives.
She was a former surgical nurse and mental health counselor.

Deborah was a member of Whittington Church, where she enjoyed worshipping her Lord Jesus with her church family.
She enjoyed reading, working puzzles, sewing, and doing crafts.

Surviving is her husband Jimmy Robinson of West City; a daughter Diane Stroud of Marion, IL; two sons: John Griffin, Jr of Benton, Kenneth Griffin and wife Karen of Shelbyville, TN; grandchildren: Dakota Griffin, Katie Griffin, Shelby Griffin, Alexis Burke, Amanda Burke, Kenny Griffin, Brayden Griffin, Brad Stroud, Brandi Stroud, and Brittney Rector; seven great-grandchildren: Jasmine, Drew, Jackson, Dylan, Natalie, Kinsley, and Maverick; five sisters: Becky Buchanan, Mary Mason, Sandy Dover, Cindy Weller, and Tammy Moore; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband John W. Griffin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Whittington Church; and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Carole Kay Rice, age 77, of Benton, passed away at 7:30 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2021 at the Benton Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Memorial Celebration of Life Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021 at the Logan Cemetery, with Rev. Brian Mixon officiating. Friends and family are asked to go directly to the cemetery.

Leffler Funeral Home of Benton; is in charge of the arrangements.

Carole Kay Rice was born on April 26, 1944 in Benton, IL; the daughter of Willie Haney and Thelma (Burton) Haney. She married James L. Rice in 1961 and he preceded her in death on October 1, 2004.

Carole was an LPN, having worked with many area nursing homes and Franklin Hospital.

She attended the Thompsonville Church of God.

Carole enjoyed feeding wild animals, especially birds and deer. She enjoyed cooking, shopping area Amish Stores, tanning and wearing makeup. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her grandsons.

Surviving is a son Steve Rice and wife Loretta of Logan; a daughter Cindy Darnell of Logan; Carole’s partner Keith Manzek of West City; three grandsons: Daniel Rice of West City, Kyle Darnell of Logan, Jim Pense of Logan; siblings: Bill Haney, Ronnie Haney, Earlene Haney, Brenda Khankan, Sandra Majdich; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a sister Linda Kraft.

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

Jerry W Peacock, 78, of Benton, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at his residence.

He was born on July 18, 1942, to Richard and Freda (Willis) Peacock in West Frankfort, IL.
Jerry is survived by his loving spouse Kay (Boldon) Peacock; and one grandson, Cory Peacock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Lee and Freda May Peacock, Sr; son, Steven Peacock; five brothers, Tom Peacock, Ronnie Peacock, Robert Peacock, James Peacock and Richard Peacock, Jr; and one sister, Beulah Ruth Peacock.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL. A private family graveside service will be held at Tower Heights Cemetery, West Frankfort, IL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Benton, IL., and will be accepted at the church and the funeral home.

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

Elsie Schram, 40, of Zeigler, passed away on April 30, 2021 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

She was born on April 18, 1981 in Cairo, IL to Joseph Elvis and Sally Ann (Salver) Little. She married C.J. Schram on May 4, 2007 and he survives of Zeigler.

She is also survived by her children Michael (Zoey) McGill of Johnston City, Liberty McGill of Zeigler and Brody Schram of Zeigler; brothers and sisters Becky Little of Jackson, MO, Elvis (Melissa) Little of Dallas, TX, Mona (Lindell) Johnson of Paducah, KY and Travis (Juliann) Little of Paducah, KY; a special niece Ashley (Freddie) Thomas of Scott City, MO and several other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 8, 2021 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at the Zeigler Eagles.

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

Louie Kunas passed away on April 29, 2021. He was born May 12, 1931 in Coello, Illinois, delivered by a midwife at the local mining company. The youngest of eight children born to Polish immigrants George and Valeria, Louie grew up working on the family farm and enjoying rural small-town life.

After graduating high school in 1950, he worked for Caterpillar in Peoria. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving proudly as a ship’s mechanic on the SS Helena from 1951-1955. After the war Louie attended college at Montana State then moved to Chicago along with several of his siblings. In the 1970s he began a long career working as a model maker in research and development for Motorola and contributed to the creation of the earliest cellular telephone and flip phone.

Louie was a deeply devoted father to his children Lyle, Diana, Amie, and Myra, and a surrogate father to his granddaughter Isis. He was proud to have completed an associate’s degree from Elgin Community College. After retirement, he continued making machine parts from his home business in Hampshire. An avid reader, road-tripper, trap shooter and hunter, he loved traveling the country in the family RV and relished taking his kids on hunting and fishing trips to Wyoming, North Dakota, and Canada.

Louie is preceded in death by his parents (George and Valeria), siblings Stanley (Virginia), Carl (Helen), Julie (Bill Rose), Wanda (Ted Glowinski), Eleanor (Hillard Telinski), Henry, and Stephanie, infant son George Michael, and daughter Diana. He is survived by his son Lyle, daughters Amie Leucht and Myra Kunas, and his grandchildren Isis, Riley, Louie, Rudy, Selby, Evie, and Sammy.

Funeral services for Louie will be on Wednesday May 5, 2021 at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at 12:00 PM. Burial will be at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

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

Sherry Lynn Johnson, 66, of Benton passed away Friday afternoon, April 30, 2021 at the Helia HealthCare in Benton.

She was born in Christopher, IL on Nov. 24, 1954, the daughter of Harold Dean and Flora Mae (Good) Furlow.
Sherry married Steve Johnson on Oct. 8, 1971 in Elizabethtown, IL, and he survives.

Sherry lived for her family, especially her granddaughter. Sherry started her career as a CNA, she then went to LPN school, then became a Registered Nurse, and over the years served as Head Supervisor over ICU at UMWA Hospital in West Frankfort, and was House Supervisor at UMWA when she left to go to Frankfort Health Care where she started as Director of Nurses, then became Administrator and retired from that position.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by her:
Husband: Steve Johnson of Benton
Son: Stevie Johnson of Benton
Daughter: Stacie Little & husband Greg of Buckner
Granddaughter: KayLee Little of Buckner
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her Parents & by 2 Sisters-Sue Travelstead & husband Raymond Travelstead and Bernadine Braddy.
Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. Monday, May 3rd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Rev. Bill Perry officiating. Burial will be in the Mulkeytown Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.
We ask everyone attending the services to be considerate of others and to practice social distancing. We are limited to 50 people in our building at a time, and masks are recommended.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com