It is with deep love and gratitude that we celebrate the life of Shirley, (also known as Shirl, Mom, Grandma, Grams, and GiGi) who passed away peacefully at the age of 93.

Shirley lived a long, happy, and healthy life filled with love, laughter, and purpose. She was known for her sweet and gracious spirit, and for the kindness she extended to everyone she met. A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she found her greatest joy in her family — always our biggest cheerleader, offering encouragement, wisdom, and unconditional love.

Even in her later years, Shirley continued to touch lives with her gentle words of encouragement and genuine sincerity. She had a remarkable gift for making others feel seen and valued. Her strength and positivity carried her through life’s challenges, including her final month following a hip fracture, with grace and courage.

Her legacy of love and kindness will live on in all whose lives she touched — especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who will forever cherish her example and her beautiful heart.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Pastor Roger Teel officiating. Entombment will follow in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.
Memorial contributions in memory of Shirley may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Shirley, go to www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Rickey Gene “Moose” McLaskey, 76, of West Frankfort, Illinois passed away Tuesday October 7, 2025 in his residence at 3:15p.m.

Rick was born July 18, 1949 in Herrin, Illinois to Dean and Ruth (Rotramel) McLaskey. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church – West Frankfort, Illinois. Rick worked for the city of West Frankfort from 1973 until his retirement as the Superintendent of the Water Department. He also worked for the Route 37 Water District. Rick enjoyed playing golf, Cardinals baseball, Alabama football “Roll Tide.” He loved coaching baseball for his son. Rick was a former member of the FCHS football chain gang and the scorekeeper for FCHS basketball. He also received the Tom McKie Award.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Elizabeth Ann Vincelette; parents; three brothers: Donald, Tim, and Larry McLaskey; mother and father-in-law, Charles and Betty Christian.

Rick is survived by his son, Christopher (Scherrie) McLaskey; sisters: Cathy (Paul) Dial, Judy (Bob) Hayes, and Sharon (James) Vaughn; brother, Harold McLaskey; former wife, Mary Jo Snider; granddaughter, Emma McLaskey; grandson, Emerson Vincelette.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday October 11, 2025 in Union Funeral Home – West Frankfort, Illinois with Rev. Dr. Eusebius Mbidoaka officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the FCHS golf team. Envelopes will be available and accepted at the funeral home.

Roy L. Pribble, 93, of Thompsonville, passed away at 3:20 a.m., on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the VA Medical Center in Marion, IL.

He was born on May 10, 1932, to John and Pearl (Blessing) Pribble in Carterville, IL. Roy married Mary Alice Summers and she preceded him in death on November 22, 2014.

Roy was a United States Army Veteran, serving in the Korean War.

After his time serving in the Army, he attended college. Roy then began working at Herrin and Carbondale Hospitals as a Dietician and in Administration. After his retirement he started working at Federal Crop Insurance.

He was a member of East Benton Baptist Church and then joined Calvary Baptist Church in West Frankfort, a member of the Akin Masonic Lodge for 59 years and a member of the Franklin County Shriners.

Roy loved his family very, very much and enjoyed getting together with his family and talking to them. He loved coming out to the farm and helping wherever he was needed, but most of all, his family was his pride and joy and could not wait for the get-togethers and cooking for them.

Roy is survived by his son, Tim Pribble (Clytie Zimmerman) of Thompsonville, IL; four grandchildren, Jeremiah (Dana) Pribble of Goreville, IL, Amanda (Kris) Mayberry of Norris City, IL, Josh (Stacy) Pribble of Thompsonville, IL and Jacob Pribble of Thompsonville, IL; eight great-grandchildren, Loren (Reice) Pribble of Goreville, IL, Shelby Pribble of Goreville, IL, Blaire Mayberry of Norris City, IL, Marissa Mayberry of Norris City, IL, Brayden Mayberry of Norris City, IL, Alan Pribble of Thompsonville, IL, Casey (Raleigh) Pribble of Thompsonville, IL and Courtney Pribble (Gavin Melton) of Thompsonville, IL; one great-great-grandchild, Oaklynn; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Pearl Pribble, his wife, Mary Alice Pribble, his daughter-in-law, Debbie Pribble, his four brothers, Ed, Bob, Andy and Gene and his sister, Geneva.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL, with The Reverend Lloyd Whittaker, officiating.

The family wants to extend a very, very special appreciation and thanks to Carolyn West for her care giving to Mary and Roy, the VA staff at the hospital and CLC Unit Hospice.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital and will be accepted at Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Mark Eugene McIntosh, age 64, of Benton, Illinois, passed away at 4:05 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room.

Mark was born on August 29, 1961, in Benton, Illinois; the son of George McIntosh and Marty (Smith) McChesney.

He re-built bits and was last employed with RLC Bits of Benton.

Mark enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Surviving are three children: a daughter Tamara McIntosh of West City, Illinois, two sons: Wesley McIntosh and Daniel McIntosh; three grandchildren: Hailey McIntosh, Haiden McIntosh and Joey Nowak; four half-brothers: Dennis Richardson of Christopher, Illinois, Gary Richardson and wife Deronda of Benton, Illinois, Edward Richardson and wife Laura of Benton, Illinois, Laren McIntosh of Alton, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his adopted parents: John and Thelma Richardson, and a grandson Connor McIntosh.

Cremation services will be accorded through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, Illinois.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mark may be made to the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, Illinois, to assist with funeral expenses.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Mark, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Cecilia “Jane” Brayfield, 89, died peacefully at the DuQuoin Nursing and Rehab in DuQuoin, IL on September 28th, 2025.

Jane was a homemaker as well as the proprietor of “Aunt Janes Treasures” antique store in Christopher Illinois. Jane was born in Christopher IL to Carl and Lela (Jones) Webb, the oldest of three children.

She married John Robert Brayfield of Sesser, and they had two sons, John Steven and Robby Webb Brayfield. For a generation of kids from the Christopher area she was known as “Aunt Jane” from her story hour reading program at the Christopher Public Library as well as her gifts of stuffed animals for kids and seniors at Halloween and Christmas. Jane was known to be funny, kind, generous, outgoing and the type of person to have never met a stranger or a garage sale she didn’t like. She was always there to lend a helping hand to those in need. In her free time, Jane enjoyed garage sales, antiquing, and traveling, having traveled to Ireland, England, and Italy as well as throughout most of the United States.

Jane is survived by her sons John and wife Betsy Brayfield, of Valier, IL, and Rob and wife Cathy Brayfield, of Maineville, OH, three grandchildren, John Steven Brayfield Jr., Sarah Jo and Kody Rathert, and Kaylee Brayfield and great grandchildren Bowen and Caroline Brayfield and Skylar and Dawson Rathert. Jane was preceded in death by her husband John, parents Carl and Lela, one brother Dean Webb and one sister Leann (Webb) Stritzel and brother-in-law Richard “Dick” Stritzel.

Jane will be cremated and there will be a graveside service for Jane and John to be laid to rest together on Saturday October 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery, as well as a celebration of life to follow. In lieu of flowers, to honor Jane’s memory, please donate to http://www.canscanbenton.org which is a non-profit ministry that provides programs and resources to underprivileged southern Illinoisans.

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

Robert J. Nolan, 87, of Benton, passed away at 4:44 a.m., on Monday, September 8, 2025, at his daughter’s home in Benton, IL.

He was born on June 19, 1938, to Joseph and Eleanor (Castagnola) Nolan in San Francisco, CA. Robert worked as an electrician in electrical safety training and inspector.

Robert served three years in the United States National Guard in San Francisco, CA where he was a Specialist 4th Class and earning the Honor of Sharp Shooter.

He enjoyed traveling, cooking and building models.

Robert is survived by his children, Timothy Joseph Nolan of CA; Kimberly Ann (Nolan) Hayes of CA and Colleen (Nolan) Marsinko, and husband Randy of Benton, IL; and two grandchildren, Bryan Hayes and Christopher Hayes, both of CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph James and Eleanor Elina Nolan and his son, Joseph Robert Nolan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home and Crematory, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Per Robert’s wishes, cremation will take place.

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