Dorris B. Hart, 89, of Benton IL, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in Mt. Vernon.

She was bron in West Frankfort, IL on March 30, 1928, the daughter of Howard Kenneth & Marie (Dorris) Burkett.

She married William W. Hart, Jr. in 1947, and he preceded her in death on January 2, 1996.

Mrs. Hart was a longtime member of the First Christian Church, and a longtime member of the Franklin Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by several Nieces & Nephews.

Mrs. Hart was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband & by 1 Brother-Kenneth H. Burkett.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 4:00 P.M. Monday, May 15th at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. There will be No Visitation. Those attending the service on Monday are requested to meet at the cemetery.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

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

Alma Brown, 87, of Sesser IL,  passed away on Wednesday May 10, 2017 at Lavender Ridge in Mt Vernon.

She was born on July 13, 1929 in Franklin County, IL to Joe and Myrta (Nowland) Newbury.  She married Delbert Brown on August 11, 1948 and he preceded her in death on November 9, 2014.

Survivors include her children Linda (Terry) Miller of Sesser and Darrell (Charlotte) Brown of Sesser; 3 grandchildren Rich (Selena) Miller, Angela (John) Furlow, and Guy Brown; 3 great grandchildren Grady Furlow, Stella Furlow, and Cole Furlow; one step-great granddaughter Danielle Stroud; one sister Aline Root of Mt Vernon; and one brother Walter (Wanda) Newbury of Sesser. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She was a member of the Sesser First Baptist Church. She had a passion for quilting, making porcelain dolls, doll clothing and many other crafts.  She had worked as a cook for Sesser Schools, worked at the sewing factory in DuQuoin, and retired from The Bank of Sesser in 1990.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters Mildred Bauman and Anita Martin, and two brothers Joe Frank Newbury and Tom Newbury.

Funeral services will be on Saturday May 13, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Mark Miller officiating.  Burial will be in Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser.  Visitation will be on Saturday May 13, 2017 from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Horse Prairie Cemetery fund or the Carmi Baptist Children’s Home and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Beverly A. Howell, 72, of West City IL, passed away Monday morning, May 8, 2017 at her home.

She was born in West City, IL on December 4, 1944, the daughter of Clarence Eugene & Audrey (Bigham) Lindsey.

Mrs. Howell is survived by her seven children, Pamela Donelson and husband Robert of Creal Springs, Glenn Carmon and wife Melanie of Pascagoula, MS, JoLisa Carmon of West Frankfort, Terry Flener of West Frankfort, Brian Bearden and wife Lora of West Frankfor, Jeff Bearden and wife Loretta of Benton, Marcella Akin of Benton, and several

 

She is survived by her four siblings, Elva Hungate and husband Kenneth of Benton, Jimmy Lindsey and wife Glenda of West Frankfort, Keith Lindsey and wife Becky of Royalton, and Brad Lindsey and wife Tammy of Royalton

She was preceded in death by her Parents.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 12th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor John Neace officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 9:00 A.M. on Friday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

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

Jackie Roger Dale Walters, Sr., age 52, of West Frankfort, IL and formerly of Benton, passed away at 1:35 p.m. Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

Roger’s wishes were to be cremated with no memorial services.

Jackie Roger Dale Walters was born on April 1, 1965 in Benton, IL the son of Denzil J. Walters and Dorris (Graves) Walters.

Surviving are his three children: Roger Walters, Jr. and wife RaeAnne of West Frankfort, Misty Walters of West Frankfort, and Dustin Walters of West Frankfort; six grandchildren: Logan Michael Walters, Hayden Cole Walters, Noah Walters, Andrew Walters, Justin Walters, Kelsey Walters; three brothers: Brian Walters and wife Karen of Marion, IL, Terry Walters and wife Laura of West Frankfort, Mike Walters and wife Ginger of Benton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Gary Strickland, Denzil J. “Pud” Walters, four grandchildren: Camron Daein Walters, and triplets Brooklyn Jade Walters, Brayden Dean Walters, Braxton Kylie Walters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Jackie Roger Dale Walters, Sr.; payments may be made to the “Go Fund Me” account set up on Facebook, or directly to the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Carolyn Sue Wilkerson, 79, of Benton passed away at 12:15 A.M. Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

She was born in Benton, IL on February 8, 1938, the daughter of Ray & Lea (Trapper) Shaw. She was married to Philip “Jr.” Wilkerson on September 11, 1959 and he preceded her in death on December 14, 2003.

Mrs. Wilkerson is survived by her five children; Tony Wilkerson of Benton, Rhonda Renee Ray and husband Terry of Benton, Valorie DeAnn Bailey and husband Bill of Valier, Daniel Shawn Wilkerson and wife Katie of Benton, Joshua Adam Wilkerson and wife Melissa of Benton, thirteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and one sister, Billie Jean Hedger of Benton.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, a Brother-Ray and a Sister-Margaret.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, April 30th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Tony Phelps and Pastor Jerome Hefner officiating. Burial will be in the Franklin Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 12 Noon on Sunday at the funeral home.

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

 

Lindell Eugene Moyers, of Valier IL, bid his earthly home goodbye on Sunday, April 23, at 6:45 A.M.

Known by most as Linnie, he was a husband, brother, uncle, father, friend, and dearly loved PawPaw.

A man of great faith and a native son of Southern Illinois, who grew up in Valier, Linnie worked for many years in the coal mining trades as a welder, mechanic, and later as an electrician. He worked in the mine construction of Burning Star #5 near DeSoto, Old Ben Central Shop in Benton, Joy Industries in Mt. Vernon, before retiring from Gateway Mine in Coulterville in 2015.

Despite the loss of a leg at age 11 in a hunting accident, Linnie was as hardworking as the day was long, and he made a pretty darn good blueberry banana pie. But he was happiest at home with his grandchildren, or on the lake, whether the fish were biting or not, and camping with his brothers and close friends.

He was a life long member of the Valier First Baptist Church, and a former member of the Valier Volunteer Fire Department. An avid fisherman, singer of ditties, and teller of tales, he kept his grandchildren amused and well-fed with wonderful antics and all the fried crappie they could eat.

He was a fine man. His legacy of kindness, hard work, and humility is intact. He left us too soon, but our memories and love for him are rich.

The wake of loved ones he leaves is substantial, to include his wife of 49 years, Suzanne Derrington Moyers, daughters Cheryl Moyers, and Shawna (Craig) Williams, grandchildren Tivoli Williams, Bronx Williams, Evan Williams, and Isabella ‘Izzie” Wilson; brothers Stan (Tina – deceased) Brown, Mike (Denise) Moyers, sisters Linda Moyers (Tom) Haywood, and Clara Brown (Rick) Avery.

He left several neices and nephews;  Missie (Greg) DeFord, Jennifer (Jay) Hall, Brandy Derrington (Frank – deceased) Yasko, Melissa Kay Ramaker, Lexy (Jerry) Travelstead, Mandy (Tim) Leffler, Chris Avery, Phillip (Beth) Avery, James (Eric Doyle) Reed, Ryan (Sandra) Brown, Joseph (Meredith) Moyers, grandnieces Ambrielle (Brandon) Padget, Kaitlyn Hall, Kiera (Grady Dunihoo) DeFord, Abby Avery, Alaina Travelstead, Olivia Moyers, Addie Brown, Hadley Moyers, Lailey Leffler, and grandnephews Andrew Avery, Cameron Hall, Garrett Brown, Landon Travelstead, Jax Moyers, Jace Travelstead, Kaiden Leffler, Reis Leffler, and great nieces Adalyn Padget, Khloe DeFord, and great nephew Wesley Padget.

Linnie will be dearly missed by his family, his church, his community, and the countless friends he made in his nearly seventy trips around the sun.  Plans for a church memorial and a separate celebration of Linnie’s life, to be held at Rend Lake, are currently being made.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is assisting the family with arrangements.