JoAnn Mullen, 80, of Benton passed away Saturday morning, December 30, 2017 at her home.

She was born in Carrier Mills, IL on November 24, 1937, the daughter of Joe & Arzella (Barger) Thornton.

She married Virgil Mullen on June 9, 1957 in Joliet, IL, and he survives.

Along with her husband they formerly owned and operated the Benton Bowl and Rend Lake Storage. She was a Faithful member of Grace Awakening Church.

Along with her husband, she is survived by her three children Dave Mullen and wife Janie of Janesville, WI,  Cindy Faulkner and husband Carley of Benton, and Arlena Baier & husband Max of Valier  her grandchildren: Natalie, Kyle, Cassie, Jessica, Andy, Art, Angela Rebecca and Jon Great-Grandchildren: Aidan, Virgil, Sophia, Arlena, Karley, William

She is also survived by her two sisters, Delores and Georgia, one step-sister Anita, and two step brothers Dow and Jack, and lots of loving relatives.

Mrs. Mullen was preceded in death by her Parents, by her step-mother-Francis Thornton, by a Son-Norman Ray, by a grandson, Nathan and by a brother, Ray.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Rev. Ken Petty officiating. Burial will be in the Harrison Cemetery in Buckner. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to the Family to assist with expenses, and will be accepted at the funeral home at any time.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Lillian “Irene” Newell, 91, of Sesser passed away on Friday December 29, 2017 at 1:30 PM at her home. She was born December 28, 1926 in Sesser to William and Alma (LeVault) Reiger. 

She married Maxey Newell in 1949 and he preceded her in death on November 3, 1997. She is survived by one sister Dorothy (Ken) Lipe of Sesser; one brother Lonnie Reiger of Benton; five children Kaylia Breedlove of Downers Grove, IL, Karla Young of Mulkeytown, Tony (Nancy) Newell of Peoria, AZ, Kitty (Terry) Transue of Grayland, WA, and Mary Reynolds of Sesser; 10 grandchildren Johnna Young, Joey Davis, Toni Joiner, Mary Lynn Newell, Amy Davis, Earl Young, Jamie Newell, Terry Transue II, Kelly Breedlove, Ricky Transue; one step grandchild Becky Reynolds Harris; 12 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren.  She will be dearly missed by her family. 

Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of her life. Irene worked at Tricon Industries in Downers Grove, IL and Norge Maytag in Herrin, IL

 She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sons-in-law Roy Breedlove, Earl Young, and Larry Reynolds, two grandchildren Kelly Breedlove and Earl Young Jr. and ten brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be on Monday January 1, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Mark Miller officiating.   Visitation will be on Monday January 1, 2018 from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.  

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information, please visit our website, http://www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com/

Leslie O. Trone, 75, of Benton passed away Thursday, December 28, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.

Mr. Trone was born on July 26, 1942  in Schuyler County, Illinois the son of Orville E. & Freida (Settles) Trone. He married Janice Trone on February 7, 1997 in Benton, IL and she survives.

Mr. Trone retired from GTE. He was also an Army Vietnam Veteran.

He is survived by his wife Janice Trone, hias, children; Mark Trone,  Randy Trone and wife Shanna, Brad Trone, Pamela Gagnon and husband Erik, Richard Kulich & wife Kortena.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren, three sisters, Marilyn O’Malley, Sharon Layne, and Joyce Booton, two brothers, David Bryant, and Gary Trone.

He was preceded in death by his Parents and by a Brother-Larry Bryant.

Funeral services will be held on 1:30 P.M. Sunday, December 31st at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Steve Shotts officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and the National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 11:30 A.M. Sunday at the funeral home.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Helen Alfoldy, 95, of Buckner passed away on Thursday December 28, 2017 at 3:36 PM at Helia Healthcare in Benton.

She was born on September 29, 1922 in Huntersdon, OH to Alexander and Lena (Miller) Alfoldy.

She is survived by her three sisters Flora Alfoldy of Buckner, Sister Janice Alfoldy of Benton, and Margaret Murphy of Florida; two brothers Alex Alfoldy of California and Eugene Alfoldy of California.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Elsie Lake and one brother John Alfoldy.

She was a clerk at Montgomery Ward in Chicago for many years.  She was also a member of the St Andrew’s Catholic Church in Christopher.

Funeral Mass will be on Friday January 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the St Andrew’s Catholic Church in Christopher with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Visitation will be on Friday January 5, 2018 from 9:00 Am until 11:00 AM at the church.  Burial will be at St Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery in Christopher.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Andrew’s Catholic Church or to the Alzheimer’s Association.  Envelopes will be available at the church.

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

Freida “Fay” Harris, 84, of Cape Girardeau, MO, passed away at 5:10 a.m. on  Tuesday, December 26, 2017,  at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson, MO.

She was born on April 1, 1933, to Logan “Nick” and Stella “Madeline” (Warren) Summers in Hamilton County, IL. On July 18, 1953, she married James O. “Ollie” Harris  and he preceded her in death.

Fay is survived by her son, Kevin Harris and wife Cathy, of Cape Girardeau, MO; two granddaughters, Cassidy Hinkle and Hayley Harris and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Marie Hinkle

She was preceded in death by her parents, Logan “Nick” and Stella “Madeline” Summers, her husband, James O. “Ollie” Harris, one brother, Richard Summers and two sisters, Helen Grayson and Pauline Frazier.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2017,  at 1:00 p.m., at the Mt. Etna Cemetery in Akin, IL, with the Rev. Greg Shelton, officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Rosalie Hammonds, 82, of Christopher passed away on Thursday December 21, 2017 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon.

She was born on February 2, 1935 in Benton to Willie and Fannie (Snitchler) Tate.  She married Frank Hammonds on October 22, 1960 and he preceded her in death on November 9, 2017.

She is survived by her daughter Cathy Hammonds of Christopher; one grandson Jason Hammonds of Christopher; and one sister Mildred Galloway of Thompsonville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Juanita Bright, Virginia Webb and Pearl Crisp, brothers William Tate, Pete Tate, Jerry Tate, Paul Tate, Bill Tate, Carl Tate and Harry Tate.

Graveside services will be on Wednesday December 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Hammonds Cemetery in Buckner with Brother Frank Caruso officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Gilbert Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses