Gerald “Gabe”  McCarty, 83, of West Frankfort, IL , died at 4:45 pm on Sunday, July 3, 2016, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital, Carbondale, IL.

Mr. McCarty was born May 1, 1933, in Benton, IL, the son of  William and Cleo (Reynolds) McCarty.

Gabe was a  veteran of the United States Air Force,  serving in the Korean War. He was a retired sheet metal worker from SIU and a member of the First Baptist Church in West Frankfort.

He is survived by a son, Richard McMahan and wife of Mt. Vernon; a daughter, Roxie Loyd of Kansas City, Mo;  a granddaughter, Maggie Taylor of Arlington, TX; the love of his life, Avanell Fulton of Carterville, IL; special friend, Patty Garcia of Centralia, IL; several grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Gabe was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Melissa Postnikoff of Fort Worth, TX and a sister, Ione Cardiff.

In 1958, Gabe started a band called the Four Vest Band. The band consisted for Gabe, Ron Head, George Warren and Vernon Mandrell and they played at local venues and teen towns. He continued to play bass in several bands. He had a beautiful voice and could play the bass, but couldn’t do both at the same time but he did both well. In the beginning they called him “One String” because he only played one string but it was consistent and good. He eventually learned all five and was in demand as a bass player. Earl Sandusky, a great drummer, aptly renamed him “Little Caesar”. Area musicians will be able to relate to these stories about Gabe. He continued to play music up until six months ago.

In 1963, before the Beatles were famous, George Harrison arrived in Benton, IL, to visit his sister, Louise Caldwell, who was presently living in America. George and Gabe became friends and Gabe took George to play country music in Muddy, IL. Gabe escorted George around the area to buy a new guitar here and to play in area too. Harrison remained friends with Gabe throughout the years and books have been written about both of them. George Harrison became famous with the Beatles on his return to England and Gabe was invited to go meet all the Beatles and followed them through the years.

Visitation will be from  1 pm to 4 pm, on Friday, July 8, 2016, at Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main St., Benton, IL. A funeral service will follow the visitation at  4 pm at Pate Funeral Home.

Burial will immediately follow services at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL., with military rites by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the United States Air Force Honors Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.patefh.com

Alicia Rae Anglese, 24, of Christopher, IL, passed away June 30, 2016.

She was born February 25, 1992 in Carbondale, IL.

Alicia worked at the Franklin-Jefferson Special Education District.

Alicia is survived by her father and stepmother, Daniel Lee and Brenda Anglese, of Mulkeytown, IL and her mother and stepfather Marcia and Randy Venegoni, of Christopher; one sister Missy and Bryan Furlow, of Christopher; a stepbrother Garrett Venegoni, of Herrin, IL; stepsisters Victoria Bryley, of Herrin, Valerie Binkley, of Evansville, IN and Lauren Venegoni, of Herrin; grandparents Carolyn Summers, Judy Furlow and James Anglese.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at the Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher with Brother Hagle Summers officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 3, 2016 from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery.

Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher, is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

Cecil L. Good-Sims, 76, of Benton, passed away at 9:56 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.

She was born on February 9, 1940, in Christopher, IL. Cecil was a retired CNA.  She married Guy “Pappy” Leon Sims on December 9, 1978, and he preceded her in death on August 7, 2014.

 Cecil was a member of the Steel City Baptist Church, the Benton Eagles and the American Legion Auxiliary in Benton. She enjoyed playing Bingo and loved her animals. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother..

She is survived by three daughters, Marsha Grady, Theresa Twogood and husband Rusty, and Peggy Wakefield and husband Mike; one sister, Betty Shippert and husband Tony; ten grandchildren, April, Brandon, Stacy, Preston, Ashley, Jesse, Christopher, Nicholas, Michele and Hope and 12 great-grandchildren.

 She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Sissy and Jules Demaret, one daughter, Lisa King-Seals, two sisters, Flora Mae Furlow-Neralich and Penny Marvel; a son-in-law, Bill Grady.

 Cremation was held per her wishes. Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Mulkeytown Cemetery, Mulkeytown, IL.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Chance Rescue of Franklin County and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Sandra Jane Veach, 82, of Sesser, IL, passed away at 11:01 a.m. on June 20, 2016 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital, in Mt. Vernon, IL.

She was born on November 21, 1933 in Sesser, the daughter of Dallas Murry and Lela Mae (Sands) Murry.

Sandra married Bob S. Veach on December 8, 1950 and he survives.

She was a homemaker.

Sandra is survived by her children Mike, Debbie and David; grandchildren Angela, Michael, Patty, Ricky, Chelle, Mathew and Joe; sister Annabel (Murry) Parker, of Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Patty Veach and one brother Ross Murry.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Sesser.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhome.com.

 

 

Pat Carr, age 47 of Benton, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Benton.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Patrick Stanley Carr was born on May 1, 1969 in Peoria, IL, the son of William Scott Carr and Judith Ann (Stanley) Carr.

Pat was a residential electrician and a member International Brotherhood of  Electrical Workers  Local 702 of West Frankfort.

Pat enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He was an avid waterfowl and deer hunter, and fisherman.  Pat also had a love for horses, especially race horses; which he formerly owned, trained, and raced.

He is survived by his parents Bill and Judy Carr of Benton; a son Nicholas Lowe of Orlando, FL; a granddaughter Connie Lowe of Orlando, FL; his maternal grandfather Milton Stanley of East Peoria, IL;  a brother Scott Carr and wife Carmalee of Benton; a sister Renee Osborn and husband Richard of Odessa, TX; two aunts Janet Cheatham and husband Gene of East Peoria, IL, Dawn Kirk and husband Don also of East Peoria, IL; several cousins, nieces, nephews, and his many special friends.

Pat was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Edith Stanley; and his paternal grandparents Scott and Mildred Carr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, and will be collected at the funeral home.

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