Earl “Gene” Poole, age 88, of Minooka, and formerly of Benton, IL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Sunny Hill Nursing Home, Joliet, IL., surrounded by his loving family.

Gene was born October 13, 1928, in Benton, to Ray and Margaruete “Maggie” (Lipe) Poole. He was a proud veteran of the United States Navy and a member of Joliet American Legion Post #1080. He retired from Caterpillar, Inc., Joliet, in 1987.

Gene enjoyed working in the garage, gardening, and riding his motorcycle. He loved his family and the Chicago Cubs. During retirement, he enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family.

He married his beloved wife of 40 years, Delphia Rose Freed on November 8, 1976. She preceded him in death on March 31, 2017. Three daughters, Jessica Poole, Loretta Conner and Carol Kohl; one grandson, Michael James Willis; his parents; and one brother, Ray Poole, Jr. also preceded him in death.

Surviving are his four children, Kathy (Gordon Bebout) Olson, Sue (Mary Hunckler) Poole, Tammy (Karen) Poole, and Terri (Diane Warriner) Poole; six grandchildren, Byron (Maryann Upton) Olson, Karla Olson, Lisa (Michael) Murray, Ed (Brooke McDonald) Bales, Robert Bales and Valerie (Kyle) Carlson; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Poole; several nieces and nephews; and two long time friends, Jack Hanson and Russ Nelson of Minooka.

Visitation for Earl “Gene” Poole will be held Saturday, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet. Gene will then return to his beloved Benton, IL., and a visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2017, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, 301 S Main St, Benton, IL. Cremation rites will be accorded following the visitation. Graveside services for the family will be held Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, where Gene’s final resting place will be with his parents.

Frances Lucille Tittle, age 86, of Sesser IL, died peacefully at her home with her son Lloyd and her daughter Lola by her side, at 11:15 p.m. Monday, August 14, 2017.

A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Zeigler Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Family and friends are to go directly to the cemetery. Funeral arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Frances Lucille Tittle was born on September 18, 1930 in Chicago, the daughter of Samuel Walter Barr and Katherine (Powell) Barr. She married Vernon Tittle on February 21, 1949, and he preceded her in death on June 3, 2001.

She was a homemaker, and enjoyed cooking, eating out, watching the Food Channel, and playing slot machines.

She is survived by five children: Eileen (Walter) Perreault, Louisville, KY, Vernon Alex (Lenore) Tittle, Downers Grove, IL, Deloris Fisher, Sandwich, IL, Lola Hanson and partner Roger, Sesser, IL, Lloyd Wayne Tittle, Sesser, IL; nine grandchildren: Marcy Kearns and partner Robert, Rockland, MA, Jennette Fisher and partner Eddie, Chicago, Leo Levandowski and partner Ericka, Marion, IL, Lisa Steinmetz and partner Jeff, Johnston City, IL, Daniel Barbier, David Barbier, Louisville, KY, Russell (Kat) Tittle, JR, Paducah, KY, David Gushi and Donnie Gushi, both of Downers Grove, IL; twenty-one great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers: Samuel Earl Barr, Leonard Charles Barr, Sr.; four sisters: Pearl Barr, Gertrude Irene Speir, Beatrice “Bea” Canada, Genevive I. Conrad; three sons: James Allen “Jimmy” Tittle, Wesley Robert Tittle, Russell Lee “Russ” Tittle; and a great-grandson Eli Levandowski.

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

Mary Lynn Hall, 71, of Richardson, TX (Formerly of Aurora, IL) passed away on Sunday, August 13th at 12:21 am at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, TX. She was born on June 11, 1946 in Peoria, IL to Harvella (Amick) Smith. On November 26, 1965 Mary married Don, the love of her life, in Peoria, IL.

Mary worked at West Aurora High School in Aurora, IL before retiring. She knew no stranger, just like her mother. She brightened the lives of everyone she came in to contact with especially her grandson. She never passed up an opportunity to play a game with him.

Mary will be deeply missed by her husband, Don; her two daughters, Julie (Ian) Eisenmann and Laurie Hall of Richardson, TX; one grandson, Van Eisenmann; two brothers, Jimmy (Salome) Smith of Savannah, GA and Tony (Lezlie) Smith of Clear Lake Shores, TX; four sisters, Betty (Lowell) Robinson of Marquette Heights, IL, Ginny (Ed) Schwinn of Marquette Heights, IL, Terey (Will) Kroeker of Kiowa, Co and Peggy Koch of Minonk, IL; three sisters-in-law, Sue Willis, Ruth Zeboski and Linda Ward of Benton, IL; one brother-in-law, Ike Crnokrak of Benton IL and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Larry and Joey Smith; three sisters, Judy Multhaup, Jean Wilcoxen and Gerey Myers; two sisters-in-law, Norma Crnokrak and Joann Joiner; two brothers-in-law Wesley and Ron Hall.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, IL with Rev. Bert Mitchell officiating. Interment will be at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home

Memorials may be made to the West City First Baptist Church.

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

 

Debbie Fay, 61, of Mulkeytown, IL formerly of Syracuse, NY passed away on Wednesday August 9, 2017 at 3:30 AM.

She was born on February 18, 1956 in Syracuse, NY to Peter and Mary (Redmond) Fay.
She is survived by her companion Dennis Hampton of Mulkeytown; two sons Matt Hampton and fiancé Hunter Williams of Mulkeytown and Peter Auchampau of Las Vegas, NV; grandson Alexander Hampton, her pride and joy, who always caused her to light up when she heard him in the house; one brother Mike Fay of Syracuse, Ny; two sisters Patty (Steve) Dipaulo of Rochester, NY, and Karen Fay of Syracuse, NY.

She was a LPN and had worked at several nursing homes in the area the last being Helia Healthcare in Energy.

Her wishes were to be cremated with no services.

The family of Debbie Fay would like to thank Hospice of Southern Illinois and the nurses and aides at Parkway Manor in Marion which was her home away from home.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is handling arrangements.

Sarah Ann Hommema, 88, of Melbourne, FL, formerly of Benton, IL,  passed away at 1:00 a.m., on  August 4, 2017, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Florida.

She was born on July 13, 1929, to Carl and Jeanette (Dornbos) Cardy in Chicago, IL.  Sarah married Richard Hommema and he precedes her in death.

Sarah is survived by her one son, Keith Allen Hommema; two daughters, Jeanette Carol Hubiak and Shirley Ann Gibson; three grandsons, William, John, and Derek; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her loving spouse, Richard Hommema, and her parents, Carl and Jeanette Cardy.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held from Thursday, August 10, 2017, from 5:00 p.m., to 8:00 p.m.,  at Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St.,  Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Pate Funeral Home.

Burial will follow services at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, IL.

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

Robert Edward Hungate, age 53, of Benton, passed away Saturday, August 5, 2017 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2017 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Burton Wills and Father Joseph Trapp officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Ed was born on January 3, 1964 in Benton, the son of Kenneth Wayne Hungate and Elva Mae (Lindsey) Hungate.

Ed was baptized at age 10 at the East Benton Baptist Church.

Ed was a Benton High School graduate of the Class of 1982.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1987 with a B.F.A. specializing in Art History, and Special Populations Art. He would later further his education and receive his M.A. in 1990 from the University of Illinois Art Education, specializing in Photography, Painting and Drawing.

While at the University of Illinois, Ed played football for The Fighting Illini. In his Freshmen season in 1982 he was a part of the Illini team that played in the Liberty Bowl game. In his Sophomore season in 1983, the Illini would win the Big Ten Championship. His Junior season would be successful too, as the Fighting Illini would make it to the Rose Bowl game versus U.C.L.A. And his final season in his Senior year in 1985, Ed was Football Team Captain and would go on to play in the Peach Bowl.

Football played a huge part of Ed’s career in education. He would coach as both a head coach and assistant at many schools including, West Frankfort High School, Orange County Schools in Orlando, FL, Urbana High School, Sarasota High School, Anna-Jonesboro High School, South Lake High School, and Waterloo High School.

He loved teaching and shared his love of Art at the following schools, Orange County, FL, University of Illinois, Sarasota, FL, Anna-Jonesboro High School, South Lake School in Clermont, FL, Benton School District #47, Waterloo CUSD 5, and Rend Lake College.

Ed enjoyed painting, playing guitar, photography, poetry, song writing, literature, art history, physical fitness, travel, historic sites, and Elvis Presley.

He is survived by his daughter Madison Rae Duke and husband Dillon James Duke of Clermont, FL, a son Robert Austin Hungate of Benton; two grandsons Derek Wayne Duke and Darren .

James Duke; his parents Ken and Elva Hungate of Benton; a brother David Wayne Hungate of Hixson, TN.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

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