Nita Jean Bain, 86, of Benton, passed away Thursday morning, May 8, 2014 after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Mt. Vernon, IL, on April 25, 1928, the daughter of Orley Howard and Nellie Mae (Blanton) Pearson.

She married Robert Sanford Bain on March 17, 1946 and he preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2005.

Mrs. Bain was a bookkeeper and homemaker, she worked for several years for Hunky-Lynch Car Dealership.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Bain Fowler and husband Jack, of Benton and a son, Pastor Sandy Bain and wife Norma, of Jacksonville, NC.  She is also survived by three grandchildren, John Fowler and wife Susan, of Hamilton County, Kimberly and Jason Barclift, Newport NC and Stacy and Jody Yopp, Jacksonville, NC.  In addition she is survived by three great-grandchildren, Cameron Yopp, Savannah Yopp and Elijah Barclift and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Bain was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by two brothers, William Pearson and Gail Pearson and a sister, Nadine ERwin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Sandy Bain officiating.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc.

William Edward Collier, 85, died Tuesday May 6, 2014 at his home surrounded by those that loved him.

He was born on January 29, 1929 in West Frankfort, the son of Richard and Lydia (Gunter) Collier.  William married Anna Marie (Ferrando) on October 2, 1948 and she preceded him in death on January 3, 2006.

He graduated from West Frankfort High School.  He enlisted into the Army in 1947-1948, and then reenlisted for the Korean War from 1950-1951.  He was part of the Invasion of Inchong.

He is a member and past master of the Christopher Masonic Lodge 1016; he was a 32nd degree Mason; Ainad Shriner; Police officer for the City of Christopher for 16 years, and served as Alderman in Ward I for 24 years; he was a member of the Teamsters (Retired Truck Driver) and a retired driver for the Marion eye center.

Survivors include a daughter Ellen Neikes and husband James of Christopher, a son Steve Collier and wife Cindy of Christopher, IL.  Three grandsons Michael Neikes and wife Jennifer of Marion, Anthony Neikes of Christopher, and Christopher Collier of Christopher.  One Granddaughter Allison (Neikes) Peterson and husband Anthony of Simpsonville, KY.  Two Great-Grandsons Ehren Neikes and Austin Minton of Marion.  Three Great Granddaughters Sarah Peterson of Simpsonville, Ky, Keira Neikes of Marion, and Kaitlin Neikes of Marion.  Sister Estella Walsh of Memphis, TN, Sister-in-law Janet Collier of Decatur, IL.  He is survived by several nephews.  He also leaves three special friends Barbara Zeboski of Christopher, Eva Adams and Joe Mezo of Benton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and two brothers James Collier and Gerald Collier.
William will always be remembered as a person who loved to talk about his life in the Army, the places he traveled as a truck driver for Bonifield and Yellow Freight, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and driving and enjoying his car.

Services will be on Saturday May 10, 2014 at 11 a.m.. at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with Brother Denny Bush officiating.  Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Friday May 9, 2014 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  Masonic service will be at 7:00 P.M. on Friday May 9, 2014.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com .

James “Jim” Lloyd Kelly, 78 of Sesser, died Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale surrounded by his loving family.
He was born August 30, 1935 in West Frankfort, Illinois, the son of Joseph Clyde and Aline (Cox) Kelly.

Jim was a 1953 graduate of Goode-Barren Township (Sesser) High School and had attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  He was also a U.S. Army Veteran.

On July 6, 1958 he married Margaret Jan (Page) in Sesser, Illinois at the First Methodist Church.

Jim was a member of the Sesser Methodist Church, where he served in various leadership roles for many years including serving as a Certified Lay Speaker. He served as a long-time officer of the Bank of Sesser for over 25 years retiring as President of Magna Bank of Sesser in 1993.

Jim was currently serving as a member of the Sesser City Council; a member and past chairman of the Rend Lake College Foundation Board; Treasure and past President of the Franklin County Shrine Club; a member of the Ainad Shrine; a member and past Master of the Sesser Masonic Lodge; a member of the Sesser-Valier Alumni Recognition Committee; and member and former long-time Treasure of the Sesser Homecoming Association.
Previously Jim had served as Sesser City Clerk from 1960-1968; had served as a member of the Cashe River District Lay Leadership Committee; had served as Trustee of the Goode-Barren Township Building; had served as a member of the Christopher Rural Health Corporation Board of Directors; was a former officer and member of the Sesser Chamber of Commerce; a former member and Treasure of the Sesser Area Cultural and Development Corporation; a former member of the Sesser Jaycees, Lion’s, and Kiwanis; a former member of the Franklin County Sherriff’s Merit Board and past member of the Illinois Bankers Association.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter: Jennifer Kringer and husband Jon of Sesser, a brother: Carroll Kelly and wife Nancy of Sesser, two grandsons:  Christian Sink and Seth Newton of Sesser, a brother-in-law:  Farrell Page and wife Linda of Sesser, and by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded indeath by his parents, a sister:  Jennie Frances Dolan, and two brother:  William Robert Kelly and Joseph Clyde Kelly Jr.
Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 and from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at the Sesser United Methodist Church.  Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at the church with Reverend Zack Waldis officiating.  Interment will be at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Memorials can be made to the Sesser United Methodist Church or Shiner’s Children’s Hospital.

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

Bobbie Holman Williams, 46, of Benton, passed away at 5 a.m. Monday, April 28, 2014 at the Benton Rehab & HealthCare Center.

She was born in Benton, IL on February 5, 1968 the daughter of Troy and Alice (Williams) Holman.

Bobbie was a dietary aide at Benton Rehab and Healthcare for several years.

Bobbie is survived by three children, Zabra Holman, of West Frankfort, Ted Williams, of Las Vegas, NV and Brandy Williams, of Du Quoin, five grandchildren, Jordyn, Justyce, Shelby, Makenna and Maven.  She is also survived by two sisters, Patty Williams and husband Gene, of Benton and Lattesia Lawson and husband Chris of Las Vegas, NV, an aunt, Marilyn Isaacs, of West City and nieces and nephews Stacey, Tony and Rocky.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her grandson, Markus and by a brother, William Ray Holman.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at Williams Chapel Cemetery in Ewing with the Rev. Ron Cremeens officiating.  There will be no visitation.  Those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the family and will be accepted at the funeral home at any time.

Mary Cardey-Harris, 74, of Pittsburg, IL passed away Sunday morning, April 27, 2014 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

She was born in Douglas, Wyoming on May 18, 1939, the daughter of Herman Earl and Dorothy Mable (Luhn) Schlichting.

She is survived by her life partner, Karen Cardey-Harris, of Pittsburg, IL.  Also surviving is her son, Mark Harris and wife Kari, of Leaf River, IL and two sisters, Louise Kaiser and husband Bill of Rockaway Beach, OR and Linda Hansen and husband Bob, of Denver, CO and a brother, Herman Schlichting and wife Diane of Chesterfield, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her first partner, Margaret Hughes.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 at the Zion United Church of Christ in Marion with the Rev. John Holst officiating.  The family will greet friends at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Zion United Church of Christ.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

Earlene Whittington, 83, of Mulkeytown, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2014 in Mt. Vernon.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2014 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Benton with the Rev. Steve Shotts officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene in Benton and also after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.

For those who wish, memorials in Mrs. Whittington’s memory may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene, PO Box 369, Benton, IL 62812.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.