Donald Darnell, PhD, 87, of Akin, IL, passed away at 6:32 p.m., on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born on February 7, 1930, to Carl Felix and Dana Marguerite (Marquis) Darnell in Macedonia, IL. Donald was a United States Army Veteran serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

He retired as a Professor of Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. On July 20, 1992, he married Thi Nguyen. Donald and Thi resided in Akin, IL.

Donald was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He enjoyed gardening, traveling, writing cards and poetry. Donald performed and traveled as Spinner the Clown. He was a member of Akin Baptist Church.

Donald is survived by his loving wife, Thi, children, Nhu Ta – Chante Trinh and Tri Ta – Thuy-Anh Trinh; grandchildren, Robert Trinh, Valerie Trinh, Natalie Trinh, Jessica Ta, Vanessa Ta; and two brothers, Phillip R. Darnell and Jimmy M. Darnell; also surviving many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Felix and Dana Marguerite Darnell, sisters, Edna Marguerite Williams and Lois Mae Long; brothers, Carl Dean Darnell, Mark Alan Darnell, Jesse Commordore Darnell, William Eugene Darnell and twin brother, Ronald Darnell.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St, Benton, IL. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will follow the visitation at 12:00 p.m., on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at the funeral home with Br. Dale Howard officiating. Burial will follow services at Brady Cemetery in Akin, IL, with military rites performed by the Benton American Legion Post 280, V.F.W. Post 2671 and the National Guard Honors Team.

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

Nellie O. Bozovich, 89, of West Frankfort passed away Saturday morning, September 16, 2017 at her home.

She was born in Essex, Missouri on August 1, 1928, the daughter of Oscar E. & Bertha (Ashby) Pullum.

Mrs. Bozovich was a member of the Steel City Baptist Church.

She married Howard E. Bozovich on August 23, 1947, and he survives.

Also surviving are three children;  John H. Bozovich and wife Joan M. of West Frankfort
Ronald E. Bozovich and wife Patricia of Caseyville, N. Dianne Mitchell and husband Chris of West Frankfort.

Also surviving are nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, two sisters Lavern Keys of Benton and Bertha McGuire of Clearwater, FL

Mrs. Bozovich was preceded in death by her Parents, by two grandsons, one granddaughter, 1 great-grandson, one brother and three sisters.

A memorial service will be held at 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 20th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Joe Zbinden and Bro. Chris Mitchell officiating.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.

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

Charles Eugene “Blue” West, age 62, of Macedonia, passed away at 9:40 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2017 at his sister’s home in West Frankfort.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, with Rev. Steven Flach officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery. Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Mr. West was born on November 18, 1955 in Benton, the son of Charles West and Imogene (Summers) West.

Blue worked as a welder and a tree trimmer. His family said he enjoyed Harley motorcycles, hunting, antiquing, attending Cherokee Indian retreats, going to auctions and treasure picking with his brothers, landscaping and planting flowers, and most of all spending time with his family.

Surviving are his three children; Kyle Grant and wife Kendra of Thompsonville, Rebecca Winemiller and husband Jason of Thompsonville, Shelley Martin of Benton; ten grandchildren: Sean Winemiller of the U.S. Army stationed in South Korea, Samantha Yates and husband Adam of Benton, Harley Eugene West of Benton, Andrew Blake Winemiller of Thompsonville, Matthew Martin of Benton; a great granddaughter Aubrey Sky Yates; ex-wife Vickie Galloway of Buckner; two sisters: Susanne Erickson and husband Joe of Michigan, Charlene Adams of West Frankfort; three brothers: Gary Wayne West of Benton, Fred West and wife Carolyn of Benton, Danny West and wife Ruthanne of Benton; two sisters-in-law: Dana West of Benton, Polly West of Orient; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. West was preceded in death by his parents; paternal and maternal grandparents; two brothers: William Lee West, Dennis Ray West; a sister-in-law Bobbi West; a niece: Jennie Kato and her husband Roy and their son Joshua.

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

Eugene Pulke, 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 7, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 1, 1923 in Perry County to Charles and Irene (Lynch) Pulke. He married Billie Mae (Hawkins) Pulke on July 1, 1945 and she preceded him in death on November 9, 1996.

Survivors include his children Cheryl McDonnough and Joel Pulke both of Pinckneyville; grandchildren Brandy McWhorter, Brooke May, Ashley Keebler and Amos Pulke; great grandchildren Alyssa Hagene, Gentry May, Logan McDonnough, Joel McDonnough, Logan McWhorter, and Ethan McWhorter.

He was a retired farmer, Coal Miner and a member of the UMWA. He was an Army Veteran serving during WWII.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one son Leslie Pulke, one grandson James McDonnough (Dana), one brother Paul Dean Pulke; and one sister Phyllis Glass.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday September 12, 2017 at 1:00 Pm at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Dwayne Bolinger and Brother Mark Harris. Visitation will be on Tuesday September 12, 2017 from 11:00 Am until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery in Pinckneyville.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Pentecostal Church of Pinckneyville and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Beverly “Bev” Dale Edwards, 80, of McLeansboro IL, passed away on September 7, 2017.

He was born on May 6, 1937 in Sesser to Loren and Florence (Forrest) Edwards. He married Bernice (Ponder) Edwards and she preceded him in death on April 20, 1997. He then married Nancy (Middleton) Edwards on June 17, 1998 and she survives of McLeansboro, IL.

Survivors include his wife Nancy Edwards of McLeansboro; three sons Kevin Dale Edwards of Australia, Blake Allen Edwards of McLeansboro, and Craig Edwards of Wilmington, NC; three step-children Verna Bonner of Walnut Hill, IL, Jackie Dobbyn of Odin, IL, and Julia McCarty of Patoka, IL; one sister Donna Pitts of Sesser.

He was a retired coal miner and coal company executive, a member of the Benton Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Ten Mile Baptist Church in McLeansboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, one brother Bob “Red” Edwards.

Funeral services will be on Sunday September 10, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Ten Mile Baptist Church in McLeansboro with Brother Jake Gray officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday September 9, 2017 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For a full obituary go to our website  www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com