Wilma A. Gulley passed away at Parkway Manor in Marion, Illinois at 5:45 am October 16, following a brief battle with cancer.

Wilma was born at home in Jefferson County the daughter of William H. Grahlherr and Juastina Rhynes Grahlherr on March 21, 1934. Her mother Juastina, passed away when Wilma was only 5 months old and her Grandparents Walter and Nellie Rhynes raised her at the adjoining farms of her father William(Bill) Grahlherr and her favorite Uncle Ernie Rhynes, who all preceded her death. She was married for almost 60 years to Louis Alan Gulley who also preceded her death.

She worked in the abstracting business her entire adult life in Jefferson and Franklin Counties and was brilliant at the job.

Wilma is survived by her two brothers Fred Grahlherr of Texico, IL and Bill Grahlherr of St. Louis, Mo, and one sister Judy Grahlherr Grisley of Marion, Illinois, three first cousins Janice Rhynes Pigge of Mt. Vernon, IL, Cheryl

Rhynes Conner of Ina, IL and Nancy Rhynes Webb of Sesser, IL. and many more second cousins. She had been a resident at Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Benton for the past 4 years, where she leaves her best friends, Ina May, Francis, Ruth and Elsa.

Wilmas wish for graveside funeral services will be held at the Masonic Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10:30 am with the Rev. Victor Long officiating, Eulogy by Wendell Presley and arrangements provided by Morton & Johnston Funeral Home of Benton, IL.

There will be no visitation, those attending the service are asked to meet under the cemetery tent shortly before 10:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

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

Robert P. “Bob” Gant, 95, of Benton, IL passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Helia Health Care Center in Benton.

He was born in Benton, IL on February 9, 1924, the son of Robert Rollie & Gertie Belle (Scrutchfield) Gant.

He married Pauline Flanagan in 1947 in Benton and she preceded him in death on July 4, 2001.
He was a retired Millwright.

Mr. Gant is survived by three granddaughters, Tammy Collins, and husband James, of Salyersville, KY, Tabatha Collinsworth, and husband Brian, of Salyersville, KY and Misty Howard, and husband Clint, of Salyersville, KY; grandchildren Kaitlyn Shepherd, and husband Ryan, Kara Francis, and husband Cody, Caleb Blair, Jacob Howard, Brianna Collinsworth and Dylan Collinsworth; great-grandchildren Cason Francis and Hudson Shepherd; daughter-in-law Diana Gant, of Salyersville, KY; sister Arletta Shadowen, of Benton, IL

Mr. Gant was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sons Michael Gant and Frank Gant, by four sisters and three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 16th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

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

Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Simmons, 86, passed away Friday morning, Oct. 11, 2019 at the Greenville Nursing & Rehab Center in Greenville, IL.

She was born in Benton, IL on January 4, 1933, the daughter of Frank & Winnie Maude (Pinkham) Rice.

She married Charles Robert “Bob” Simmons on Oct. 14, 1950 in Piggott, Arkansas, and he preceded her in death on March 23, 2011.

Mr. & Mrs. Simmons had lived in the Delavan, WI area for almost 50 years. She had worked at Lakeland Hospital in Elkhorn, WI.

Mrs. Simmons is survived by her sons, Grant Simmons, and Justin, of Mundelein, IL and Gregg Simmons, and wife Jane, of Lacrosse, WI; grandchildren Sarah Heep, and husband Steve, of Wildwood, MO, Shannon Simmons, of Menasha, WI, Lauren Schultz, of Wildwood, MO and Ryan Schultz, of Wildwood, MO; two great-grandchildren Madison and Brooklyn.
4 Grandchildren:

Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her parents,pusband, by a sister, Evelyn and by a brother, Charles Rice.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 10 A.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Mary Ann Przybyl, 89, of Shelbyville, IL passed away on October 12, 2019. She was born on December 25, 1929 in Sesser, IL to William and Bertha (Jones) Veach.

She married Florian Phillip Przybyl on January 12, 1956 and he survives of Shelbyville. She is also survived by her children Diane (William) Kyle of Litchfield and Elaine Przybyl of Shelbyville; one granddaughter Heather (Rick) Knop of Litchfield and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and four sisters. She was a proud Navy wife.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday October 16, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. In lieu of flowers donations can be given to the Alzheimer’s Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Gordon L. Stewart, 73, of Logan passed away Sunday morning, Oct. 6, 2019 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion.

He was born in West Frankfort, IL on Nov. 23, 1945, the son of Clorice & Florence Evelyn (Sullivan) Stewart.

Mr. Stewart was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving in Vietnam from 1966-1967. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Mr. Stewart had two sisters, Marie Mapps and Juanita Provenzano, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial with military rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts, and the National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

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

Edith E. Taylor, 99, of Whittington, IL passed away Thursday morning, October 3, 2019 at Helia HealthCare Center in Benton.

She was born in Franklin County, IL on March 21, 1920, the daughter of Albert & Ethel (Kirk) Erwin.
She married Kenneth Taylor on December 4, 1937 in Benton, and he preceded her in death on January 26, 1969.

Mrs. Taylor was saved at Hazel Dell Free WIll Baptist Church in 1955. She was a member of the Benton First Free Will Baptist Church.

Mrs. Taylor is survived by her children, Carole Jean Rea, and husband David, of Benton, IL, Sandra Taylor, of Whittington and William “Bill” Taylor, of Whittington; grandchildren Diana Ing, and husband Keith, of Benton, Brian Taylor, and husband Scott, of Benton, Heath Taylor, of Whittington, Chrissy Miller, and husband Bryan, of Sesser, IL and Beth Thompson, of Arizona; granddaughter-in-law Marsha Rea, of Whittington and 12 great grand-children and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a son, Kenneth Dale Taylor, by a grandson-Monte Rea, by a sister, Gladys Mendenhall and by brothers, Charles Erwin, Harold Erwin and John Clark, Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 7th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Rev. Kent Dunford officiating. Burial will be in the Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.
For those who wish Memorials may be made to the Benton First Free Will Baptist Church.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Jack A. Miller, Sr., age 57, of Benton, passed away Thursday, October 3, 2019 at his home in Benton.

Jack’s wishes were to be cremated.

A private family service will be held at a future date.

The Leffler Funeral Home, of Benton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Jack Ashley Miller was born on April 12, 1962 in Benton, the son of John Alden Miller and Louetta (Moss) Miller. He married the former Jennifer Lynn Ellis on December 10, 1981 and she preceded him in death on January 19, 2017.

Jack was a former self-employed entrepreneur having owned and operated Miller’s Bit Service, Miller Auto Sales, and Miller & Son Trucking.

He and his late wife were former members of the Steel City Baptist Church.
Jack enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, boating and racing.

He is survived by three children: Jessica Miller of Marion, IL, Jack A. Miller, Jr. and wife Heather of West Frankfort, IL, Jasmin Teel and husband Shawn of Coello; five grandchildren: Jacynda and Jordan Gibbs, Jeremiah and Jaxson Miller, Adrianna Teel; his mother Louetta Tollison and husband Dave of Benton; a sister Jean Ann Williams and husband Stanley of Benton; a brother James “Red” Miller of Benton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father; his wife Jennifer Lynn Miller; two brothers: Jerry Allen Miller and John Alden Miller, Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made “In Memory of Jack”, payable to the Leffler Funeral Home, to assist the family with final expenses.

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