Captain Warren E. Stewart left this world on June 26, 2021 at approximately 8:30 p.m. while in the companionship of his cousins, Bob and Cindy Britton, Delores Perona and her daughter Robin Reich, while watching circle track racing on television.

Warren was a dual resident of Panama City, Florida and Benton, IL, where he had resided for the past two years.

Warren was a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force. His first interest in the service came when he entered the ROTC at Southern Illinois University. After getting his Bachelor’s degree from SIUC in economics, he then was accepted into the Air Force and was sent to Lackland Air Force base in Biloxi, MS; Kelley Air Force base in San Antonio, TX; Denver CO, where he was then sent to Iceland; Forbes Air Force base in Topeka, KS; North Bend Air Force base in North Bend, OR; Nellis Air Force base where he obtained his Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) in Las Vegas, NV, and retiring from Tyndall Air Force base in Panama City, FL.
Warren was also a 32nd degree Mason along with being a Shriner.

After retirement Warren became a real estate agent in Panama City along with being a bail bondsman, that he thoroughly enjoyed, for more than 20 years. Oh some of the stories…

Although never married, Warren has a legacy of long term family and friends. And some of them are listed below:

The Gene and Gladys Flatt family, the Clyde and Stella Stewart family, the Maxine and Wallace Miller family, the Maxine and Gene Vanwinkle family, the Lyle and Denzil Miller family, the John and Billie Burzynski family, the Casey and Wilma Sims family, the Jack and Hazel Stewart family, the Jim and Anne Stewart family, the Bill and Sally Britton family, and the Raymond and Frances Foster family.

Warren asked that these friends be mentioned, as if family.

Toni Alsup, Ron Harrelson, Scott Harrelson, Sue Tyler , Charlie Paul, Judy and Ernie Duckworth, Gary Messersmith, Anna Marie and Ron Giacone, David Wright, Val Pritchett, Terry Thomas, Charles Barlow and their families.
Two other friends who Warren has known for years is Jack Knapp, (a well known author of science fiction with many published books) and it was Warren who edited these books for Jack prior to selling them on Amazon. And David Cameron, whom he met in Reno, and the two of them just “clicked”.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, Warren has asked that all donations be accepted at the funeral home to be sent to the Shriners Hospital in his name. This family would like to thank you for all being such a friend to him. And we ask for prayers, that Warren did believe in the Lord and is with Him now.

His parents, who have passed, were Pansy (Warren) and Silas (Gene) Stewart. His grandparents are as follows: the late Ora and Silas Stewart and the late Frances and Robert Warren.
Services will be Tuesday June 29th at the Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton IL. The services will start at 11 a.m. and prior to that, please come and share some stories with us starting at 9 am.
Everyone is invited to the Cozy Table after the funeral for lunch and a celebration of Warren’s life.
The pall bearers are as follows: Bob Britton, Garrett Britton, Charlie Paul, Alan Stewart, Danny Drew and John Kramer.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Deborah Sue Heern, age 60, of Thompsonville, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 11:57 p.m. Thursday, June 24,2021 at her home.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 28,2021 at the First Baptist Church of Thompsonville with Rev. Greg Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery of Makanda. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church of Thompsonville.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Deborah was born on September 28,1960 in Carbondale, Illinois; the daughter of Kenneth L. Cowan and Glenda L. (Stewart) Cowan. On February 10,1979 she married Kenneth Lee Heern and together they shared 42 years of marriage.

She worked at the Thompsonville School District as the head cook for the past 25 plus years; and she also was a bus driver for the school district since 2010.

Deborah attended the Bethel Community Church of Benton; and was the Special Occasion Senior Saints Choir Director for Thompsonville First Baptist Church.

She enjoyed serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, taking care of the kids at Thompsonville Schools; and she was a volunteer raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospitals. Her family said she was always willing to help others.
She loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and the rest of her family. She was always the biggest supporter and number one fan of her children and grandchildren.

Surviving is her loving husband of 42 years Kenneth L. Heern of Thompsonville; her parents Kenneth and Glenda Cowan of Cobden; two children: Kendra Lee Jones and husband David of Thompsonville, Ross William Heern and wife Bethany of Mulkeytown; five grandchildren: Kenzie Lee Jones, Wyatt Allen Jones, Violet Mae Jones, Penelope Grace Heern, and Cade Ira Heern; a sister Kimra L. Brand and husband James of Herrin; a brother Kenneth W. Cowan of Carbondale; mother-in-law Verna Mae Heern of Carbondale; brother-in-law Terry G. Heern and wife Elaine of Carbondale; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents; her father-in-law Ira Lee Heern; and a brother-in-law Johnny B. Heern.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the services, or can be mailed to Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Keith Neal, 67, of Macedonia, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday Evening, June 23, 2021.

Mr. Neal was born in Franklin County, IL on November 1, 1953, the son of Glen and Ethel (House) Neal.

Keith married Judy Kearney on June 30, 1973, and she survives.
He answered the call to preach in 1992. Keith began pastoring at Williams Chapel Baptist Church, from there he went to Olive Branch in Wayne City, and for the past 17 years he has served as pastor at the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church.

Keith and Judy owned and operated the Macedonia Game Preserve for the past 22 years, and he farmed his entire adult life.

Mr. Neal is survived by his wife, Judy, of Macedonia; sons Bryon Neal, and wife April, of Sedalia, MO and Brady Neal, of Macedonia; grandchildren Kylie, Barrett and Blane Neal; nephews Bryce and Blake Kearney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, William Glen Neal and by a brother, Dennis.

Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, June 26th at the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in Liberty-Ridlin Cemetery in Macedonia. Visitation will be from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers Memorials may be made to the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church or to Liberty Baptist Church.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Roger Louis Brown, 73, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Wednesday June 23, 2021 at his home.

He was born on November 12, 1947 in Christopher, IL to Louie and Helen (O’Dell) Brown. He married Janice (Stewart) Brown on April 1, 1983.

He is survived by his wife Janice Brown of Mulkeytown; three children Lisa Brown of Mulkeytown, Steven (Lisa) Brown of Marion and Chad (Kendra) Woodland of Valier; two grandchildren Clayton and Gavin Woodland; two sisters Donna Stritzel of Hillsboro, IL and Brenda Brown of Millstadt, IL.

Roger was a coalminer and a member of the UMWA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Matthew Woodland and one brother Norman Brown.

A Memorial Service will be on Wednesday June 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery.

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

April Nicole Sims, 43, formerly of Sesser, passed away June 19, 2021.

She was born on April 4, 1978 in Mt Vernon.

She is survived by her parents Rick and Debi (Cockrum) Sims of Sesser; three children David Lee Sims of Sesser, Thomas Alva Overton of Desoto and Debra Faye Overton of DuQuoin; one brother Ricky (Natasha) Sims West Frankfort; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and one grandmother Donna Cockrum and a very special fur baby “Miss Kitty”.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Guy Sims Sr. (Pappy Sims), Joyce Sims, great grandparents Richard and Mildred Williams, maternal grandparents Robert Cockrum and Eva Horn, great grandparents Ray Bob Cockrum, Lessie Cockrum, Norman and George Spencer, two uncles Robbie Cockrum and Spencer Gilbert and one cousin Justin Markle.

She will be cremated with a Memorial Service on Friday June 25, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:30 AM until 12:00 PM for immediate family only and from 12:00 PM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM for the public.

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

Pauline Regis, 99, of Christopher, passed away on Monday June 21, 2021 at Delmar Gardens South in St Louis, MO.

She was born on April 13, 1922 in Royalton to Andrew and Anna (Adamisin) Varga. She married Batiste John Regis on November 15, 1947 and he preceded her in death on November 19, 2016.

She is survived by her two daughters Paula Ann (Ron) Ryan of Mt Olive, IL and Janet Regis (Kerry) Sprimont of St Louis, MO; grandchildren Kristin (Carl) Crawford, Eric (Nicky) Ryan and Megan Regis Sprimont; great grandchildren Catherine, Corinna, Alyssa, Ethan, Addison, Kyrsten, Julia and Jeremy and one sister Clara Varga of Benton, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and nine brothers and sisters Andrew Varga, Emrick Varga, Dorothy Rentfro, Anna Zazzara, Michael Varga, Joseph Varga, Julia Varga, Margaret Varga and Irene Varga.

Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday June 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the St Andrews Catholic Church in Christopher, IL with Father Eusebius Mbidoaka officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM at the Church. Burial will be at St Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Royalton, IL.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St Aloysius Catholic Cemetery or to Brightfocus Foundation, a foundation for Alzheimer’s disease and Macular Degeneration at www.brightfocus.org.

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

SESSER – Brian Howard Lewis, 45, of Sesser, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 20, 2021.

Surviving is his loving wife of 21 years, Alyssa Lewis of Sesser, IL; one daughter: Sydney Lewis of Sesser, IL; one brother Terry Lewis of Ina, IL; parents Tim and Phyllis (Blackwell) Lewis of Ina, IL; father-in-law and mother-in-law David and Karen Harrison of Sesser, IL.

Brian was a devoted husband, father, and friend and was a faithful member of Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser, where he served as a Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent.

He was preceded in death by his infant sister Kelly Michelle Lewis and his grandparents Howard and Betty Lewis and Marlin and Pearl Blackwell.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, June 23 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 24 Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Bro. Curtis Smith officiating. Burial will be at Paradise Cemetery in Tamaroa, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church for International and North American Missions and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Fayretta L. McPheron, 81, of Valier, passed away on Friday June 18, 2021 at Hartland regional Medical Center in Marion.

She was born on October 26, 1939 in Indiana to Rev. Ralph and Cleo (Holt) Underwood. She married Bobby McPheron and he survives of Valier.

She is also survived by two sons Aaron R. McPheron of Christopher and Jason L. (Keri) McPheron of Cleveland, TN; five grandchildren Billie Fox, Kristi Hampton, Jayln McPheron, Lily McPheron and Daisy McPheron; one great granddaughter Isabella and one brother Ralphie (Carolyn) Underwood of Coldwater, MI and numerous cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Robyn Fay Fox and two brothers Fred Underwood and Bill Underwood.

She retired in 1995 after 35 years of marketing service for South Central Bell Telephone Company. Fay was a wonderful apostolic woman, she assisted her husband pastor for twelve years in Kentucky and Michigan. She was an outstanding piano player and was an anointed singer with a voice that would pull you into the very presence of God. Her home church was God’s House Pentecostal Church in Tilden, IL, where Rev. Phillip Easton pastors.

Funeral services for Fay will be on Wednesday June 23, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Rev Phillip Easton officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday June 22, 2021 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

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