Flora Maxine Helton, 89, of Christopher, passed away on August 20, 2020 at her home.

Maxine “Nan” was born on July 5, 1931 to Almus and Mary Kirkpatrick.

Maxine met her future husband while working in a café in uptown Christopher. James was a driller for the mines working in this area. He came in the café and she waited on him. They dated for three months when he asked her to marry him. They married March 27, 1948. And that was the beginning of a 56 year marriage and a lifetime of family and friends. Maxine loved her family and it showed through her actions. The family moved back here in 1967 so they could take care of her mother. And that snowballed into not only taking care of her own family but her siblings, grandkids, neighbors and friends. She always wanted everyone to be taken care of and fed, even to the last weeks telling everyone to have some food and drink and to be careful on their way home. Maxine’s years were filled with service and love. Rest “Nan”. You’re finally to your eternal home. We will see you soon.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Douglas) Wuellner of Springfield; one son Mike (Kathy) Helton of Christopher; daughter-in-law Priscilla Helton of Christopher; grandchildren Brian Wuellner, Jeremy (Christy) Wuellner, Rachel (Bryan) Galloway and Ronnie Tochtrop; great grandchildren Austin Wuellner, Rebecka (Chase) Chastain, Jaylynne Wuellner, Madilyn Helton and Chloe Galloway; one special nephew Tom Calloni of Buckner and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James E. Helton, one son James E. Helton Jr., one grandson Matthew Helton and ten brothers and sisters Ezra, Paul, Roy, Grace, Dorothy, Millie, Lloyd, Marie, Earl and Dale, and one special nephew Charles Calloni.

Funeral services for Maxine will be on Tuesday August 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor Greg Shelton officiating. Visitation will be on Monday August 24, 2020 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM and on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Valier.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

John Jacob “Jake” Seymour, 80, of Benton, passed away at 4:25 p.m., on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at Helia Healthcare of Benton.

John was born on June 6, 1940, to Eldred and Ruth Ann (Webb) Seymour.

Jake graduated top of his class from Benton Consolidated High School and the University of Illinois. He retired as the Chief Probation Officer and Director of Court Services over the Second Judicial Circuit. John enjoyed being a radio broadcaster and investigative journalist for 10 years. He served 16 years as President of Benton Civic Center, a former member of the Benton City Council, former member of the Benton Library Board, and member of the First Christian Church since 1953.

John was an avid gardener, and advocate for the community and the juvenile justice system. He loved watching baseball especially the St. Louis Cardinals. John was very active in the civil rights movement, woman’s liberation and freedom writer. He enjoyed listening to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead. Most of all, he loved and enjoyed his grandchildren and creating stories and reading to them.

Mr. Seymour is survived by his son, Jason (Lanon) Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; daughter, Kelley (Richard) Eubanks of Whittington, IL; three granddaughters, Chandra (Nicholas Degler) McDevitt, Abbie Eubanks of Benton, IL, and Kennedy Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; a grandson, Kole Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; two great-granddaughters, Gillian Eubanks and Tenyson Eubanks; sister-in-law, Jean Seymour of Ramsey, MT; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and his former wife, Jeanette Seymour.

John was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Meleir and Marian Hilgenberg and two brothers, Jim Seymour and Joe Seymour.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Library and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences maybe left at www.patefh.com

April Dawn (Stubblefield) Miles, age 49, of Benton, passed away at 5:45 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2020 at Barnes Jewish Hospital of St. Louis.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2020 at the Leffler Funeral Home with Rev. Andrew Jones officiating. Private family burial will be in the Franklin Cemetery of Whittington. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Due to Health Concerns related to COVID-19: Visitation and Funeral services are limited to 50 people at one time; facial coverings are required; and social distancing should be observed. If you are sick, please stay at home.

April was born on July 15, 1971 in Benton, IL; the daughter of Ronald Stubblefield and Stella (Basham) Stubblefield.

She was a BCHS graduate of the Class of 1989; and a graduate of Rend Lake College with an Associates in Science Degree in Medical Coding. She worked as a Registration Clerk at the Franklin Hospital of Benton; and formerly worked with Flowers By Dave of Benton.

April enjoyed taking naps, watching criminal television programs, camping, going for joy rides, dancing at home with her daughter Taylore. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving is her daughter Taylore Miles and fiancée Warren Smothers of Benton; her boyfriend Scot Barnfield of Cookeville, TN; a sister Stephanie Watkins and husband Bill of Herrin; a brother Darren Stubblefield of Benton; her grandmother Jackie Stubblefield of Benton; her ex-husband Craig Miles of Benton; three aunts Carol Sieveking and Roberta Lenard both of Benton, and Karen Toms of Logan; a niece Kylie Watkins; two nephews Eli Watkins and Dylan Stubblefield; her adopted daughter Kyrie Dial of Nashville, TN; and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the America Heart Association or the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Vivian M. McClerren, age 95, of rural West Frankfort, IL, passed away peacefully at 4:07 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2020, in the Herrin Hospital of Herrin, IL.

She was born on Monday, March 2, 1925, east of West Frankfort, IL, in Franklin County, the daughter of Raymond Roy and Goldie Gretchen (Williams) Gray.

Vivian was united in marriage to Carl Herbert McClerren on Friday, October 19, 1945, by his Sister Opal Jeffreys at her home in Thompsonville, IL, and together they shared nearly 64 years of marriage until his death on Sunday, August 23, 2009.

Vivian’s working career was managing her home and seeing to the needs of her family. She did work for a short time early in her lifetime at the Smoler Brothers Dress Factory in Herrin, IL.

She is a member of the Union Freewill Baptist Church of rural Thompsonville, IL.

In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, having made many of her daughter’s clothes, cooking and collecting recipes and working in her flowers and garden at the house and helping her husband on the farm.

She enjoyed spending time outdoors in the country and the gatherings with the family. The many memories that have been created will now be cherished by those she leaves behind.

She is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Janice M. and Ed Baker of Maryville, IL, and Sandra C. Hall of rural West Frankfort; son, Gale A. McClerren of rural West Frankfort; four grandchildren, Deanna Rainey and her husband, Jack of Granite City, IL, Tracy Walters and her husband, Robert of Edwardsville, IL, Eddie Baker and his wife, Suzanne of Lee’s Summit, MO and Amanda Kodros and her husband, Tom of Matawan, New Jersey, eight great grandchildren, other extended family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister, Margaret Gray.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Stone Funeral Home, 1201 E. Poplar Street, West Frankfort, IL.

DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND BY THE SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER BY THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, it is REQUIRED you wear a mask and social distance yourself from others if you are planning on attending the immediate family visitation or public graveside service.

The time of visitation for the immediate family will be from 2:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at the funeral home.

Following the time of visitation, the public graveside committal service will at 3:15 p.m. in East Fork Cemetery, located east of West Frankfort, with Rev. Eddie Paul Davis presiding.

Those wishing to attend the graveside committal service should gather at the cemetery prior to 3:15 p.m.

Interment will be next to her husband in East Fork Cemetery.

For those who prefer memorial contributions may be made to “Organization of Donor’s Choice”. Memorial contributions envelopes will be available at the funeral home or may be mailed to the Stone Funeral Home, 1201 E. Poplar Street, West Frankfort, IL 62896.

To leave an online condolence of memory please visit our website at www.stonefh.com or for additional information call the funeral home at 618-932-2161.

Michael Alonzo Rowland, 66, Christopher, IL went to be with the Lord on August 17, 2020 at the Herrin Hospital.

Mike was born December 14, 1953 to Steve and Ida Helen Rowland (Welch) in Christopher, IL

Mike started his long career as a Franklin County Deputy at the age of 20. He graduated from SIU Law School in 1982, and became Assistant State’s Attorney for Franklin County. Then he became Chief Public Defender for Jackson County. When he ran for State’s Attorney of Franklin County he was elected. After 4 years in office Mike wanted to see the world and became Chief Public Defender in the islands of Micronesia. Because of health issues he and his family moved back a couple of years later and he held the office of Chief Public Defender in Franklin County until he had was forced to retire due to his health.

Mike married the love of his life, Glenda Katie Rowland on October 15, 1983 in Benton, IL and she remains in Christopher. Also surviving are his sons Timothy (Simone) McCarty, William (Michele) McCarty, Michael Rowland Jr. and Brett (Mary) Seagle. His grandchildren Anna, Gavin, Sophia, Jaquin, Liam, Rheya and Finn, also surviving are his mother Ida Helen Rowland, two brothers Charles (Judy) Rowland, Steve (Vicky) Rowland, and one sister Cheryl (Dennis) Robertson. As well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Steve Rowland as well as his son Eric Bean.

Mike started his deacon program in 2006 and after 7 years of training and seminars in 2013 he was ordained by the Honorable Bishop Braxton as Deacon of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Christopher, IL.

Mike loved playing the banjo and formed with several others the Franklin County Line band. Who performed mostly in nursing homes, to bring joy to so many.

Mike also loved his dogs and he will be greatly missed by his Pug Percy and his other dog Bayo Wolf.

Visitation will be on Saturday August 22, 2020 from 8am to 10:30 AM at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, IL. Funeral mass will start at 11am at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Christopher, the burial follow at St. Andrews Cemetery in Christopher, IL

In lieu of flowers you can donate to the American Cancer Society.

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

Arlie Gene Galloway, 77, of Sesser, IL passed away on Monday, August 17, 2020 at his home after a long battle with a chronic medical condition. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing.

Born February 20, 1943 in West Frankfort, IL to Ralph and Pansy Galloway, Arlie spent many of his years as a coal miner and farmer. He was a devoted husband and father and always worried about his children and grandchildren. He was always willing to “fix” anything, whether it was a home project or offering family advice. Arlie was happiest when he was surrounded by his family. He enjoyed going to car shows, attending and supporting his grandchildren in their various activities, traveling to Florida in the winter, and working on his 1956 Ford Truck. In addition, he enjoyed gardening and watching his purple martins and hummingbirds.

He will be remembered by his hard work, his devotion to his family and friends, and his entertaining stories.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet Galloway, five children, Angela Rock of Sesser (Jeff), Christy McBride of Murphysboro (Blaine), April Minor of Ewing (Brian), John Galloway of Knoxville, TN, and Sean Galloway of DuQuoin (Alyssa); three stepsons, John Brown of Eureka, MO (Jennifer), Troy Brown of Murphysboro (Lacey), and Greg Brown of Marion (Stephanie); 15 grandchildren: Tyler Rock, Dylan Rock, Peyton Rock, Qwentin McBride, Ariana McBride, Brendan Minor, Bryli Minor, Uriah Galloway, Isaiah Galloway, Liev Galloway, Brandon Brown, Brooke Brown, Allison Brown, Cadence Brown, Grace Roper, and 1 great grandchild, Luka Rock; three sisters, Sharon Sample of Sesser (Danny), Kay Newbury of Sesser (Tom), and Kathy Clark of Macedonia (David). He is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Galloway, mother Pansy Galloway, and sister, Patricia Eubanks.

Graveside services will be on Friday August 21, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be on Friday August 21, 2020 from 10:00 AM until 12:45 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information go to website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com