Billiejean (Reed) Kearney Jamerson, 61, of Benton, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2014 in Benton.

She was born in Christopher, IL on September 11, 1952, the daughter of Billie F. Reed and Clara Pauline (Hill).

She was a Sunday School teacher and a former member of Forrest Baptist Church and later in life became a member of South Point Church of God, in West Frankfort.

Billiejean was a dedicated licensed Registered Nurse.  She was a wonderful musician and an excellent piano player, playing with several area bands from her high school days on up.  She was a faithful supporter of St. Joseph Indian School.

She is survived by three children, Tara Margaret Kearney and fiance Daniel Sronce, of Giant City, Billie Dale Jamerson, of Benton and Bonnie Elizabeth House and husband Preston, of Benton.  She is also survived by grandchildren, Michael Alan Jamerson, Alyssa Alan Jamerson, Jace Aaron House, Tristan Patrick House, Julian Paul House and Keaton Elisha House.  Also surviving is her mother, Clara Shawmeker, of Benton, two sisters, JennaBev Purkaple and husband David of Benton and Lana Garland, of West Frankfort; nieces and nephews Christopher Sutherland, Lindsey Strobel, Brandy LeVine and Athena Garland and by her special dog “Snowie.”

She was a wonderful mother and was adored by her grandchildren.

Billiejean was preceded in death by her father and by a special niece, Chastity Fields.

Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Todd Parchman officiating.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.  Private graveside services will be held on Thursday at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.

Jeffrey Thomas Boyd passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2014 in his home due to his on-going battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig ’s disease).

Jeff was born on December 20, 1950 at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin, Il. Jeff was the youngest of three boys born to Loren Woodrow Boyd and Vera Galloway Boyd. Both of his parents preceded him in death.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 27 years, Christine (Dolce) Boyd of Sesser, Il and their children Cassie Hartwell and William of Sesser, Il. Jeff is also survived by his brothers Loren “Beau” Boyd and wife Cheryl of Benton, Il and Steve Boyd and wife Carolyn of Sesser, Il.

Jeff graduated from Sesser Community Unit schools in 1967. He continued on to the University of Missouri at Rolla. Jeff was raised on the farm operating heavy machinery and continued to do so until his death in his life-long career as a civil engineer. Jeff operated as an owner of Boyd Brother’s Inc of Sesser, Il and J.T. Boyd Construction Company of Sesser, Il.

Jeff was an avid bass fisherman, quail hunter, and Harley rider. He also enjoyed gardening outside with his wife and kids. Nothing made him happier than to spend time outside with the sun on his face and the wind in his hair. Jeff lived the fisherman’s dream and lived most of his adult life at his boyhood fishing spot . Jeff was a member of B.A.S.S. Master’s, the Masonic Lodge in Sesser, the Scottish Rite, and the Anid Temple of Shriners.

Jeff had been a member of 4-H as a youth and participated in 4-H with both of his children. Jeff had served as a member of the Franklin County Hospital Board and a member of the Sesser School Board. Jeff was also a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 318 in Marion, Il.

Services to remember Jeff’s life will be held at the United Methodist Church in Sesser, Il on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. The church will open at 9:00 a.m. and the memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the ALS association, the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis, MO, or for college expenses for Jeff’s children.

Vera Romani 75 passed away April 12, 2014 after a brief illness.

She was born to Ole and Vera Olson in Oak Harbor, Washington on August 23, 1938,

She married Humbert (Humpy) Romani on October 30, 1953.  He preceded her in death on March 14, 2001.

Vera was a homemaker and also helped her husband in several businesses they owned.

Survivors include her children Victor M. Romani and wife Trisha of Sesser.  Annette Easter and husband CJ of West City, Darren M. Romani and wife Kimberly of West City, Teresa Hammond and husband Gale of Hendersonville, Tennessee.
A sister Dorathy (Tootsie) Gilbert and husband Eugene (Dud) of Oak Harbor, Washington, and a brother Hans (Swede) Olson and wife Marlene of Oak Harbor, Washington, and several nieces and nephews also survive

She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.  She will be sadly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Robert Olson, sister Nanny Lewin, and five children Tina Romani, Leslie Romani, Diana Romani, Lisa Sisney, Christopher Romani, one grandchild, and three great grandchildren.

Funeral Service will be Wednesday April 16, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Brayfield/Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Officiating will be Father Peter Balili,   Visitation will be Tuesday April 15, 2014 after 6 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Raymond Mrogenski, 91, of Benton, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2014 at StoneBridge Senior Living Center in Benton.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Father Joseph Trapp officiating.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

CHRISTOPHER – Rex Vernon English, 86, passed away at 2:15 AM, April 8, 2014, at his home.

Rex was born on April 27, 1927 in Kennett, Missouri to Joe and Azalea (Rollins) English.  He married Betty Lou Adams on May 11, 1947 in Anna, Illinois.  Together they shared over 59 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on August 11, 2006.

Rex graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1945.  After graduating, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy in World War II.  After being honorably discharged, he returned to Anna and worked at Jo-Ann Laundry.  He then started employment with Bunny Bread in Anna and was transferred to Christopher in 1958 as terminal supervisor.  Later, a new terminal was built in Herrin and, in 1985, he retired as Northern District Manager, after 30 years employment.  For most of his career, Rex’s terminal had the best sales results of all and he was called upon to help open new locations for Bunny Bread as well.

Rex was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion in Christopher, Illinois.

Rex enjoyed fishing at Reelfoot Lake with Betty, fun times with family at their cabin near Desoto, Illinois, playing pinochle with friends and family, dancing, golfing with his brothers and spending time with classmates from the Class of 1945.

Most of all, he enjoyed living at Lake of Egypt, dubbed by family members as “Lake of English”, for 21 years.  The times there, with Betty and his kids, grandkids and all of their friends were priceless.  Fishing, pontoon boat rides, water skiing (which he did until he was 60 years old), watching the grandkids play on the dock – all of these provided him with such pleasure.  But what the grandkids loved best were the spectacular 4^th of July fireworks Grandpa provided each year.

Rex is survived by five children and their spouses, Sandy and Tom Vaughn, Candy and David Price, Rex and Sheila English, Kent (Smitty) and Cathy English, all of Christopher and Carilea and Larry Cooper of Benton, Ky; eleven grandchildren, Ryan Vaughn and wife, Jenny, Melissa Gibbs, Chad Price and wife, Kelli, Shauna Burckhardt and husband, Brian, Seth English and wife, Mehgan, Stella Triplett and husband, Gary, Katie Pettit and husband, Andy, Matthew English and wife, Lindsay, Ashley Kuhn and husband, Jay, Brandis Wheeler and Neill Wheeler and wife, Niki; great grandchildren, Zoey Vaughn, Liam Gibbs, Shae, Lexi and Piper Price, Azalee and Brock Burckhardt, Jorja English, Abbott Triplett, Spencer and Finnigan Pettit, Eloise English, Lemmy Kuhn and Colton Wheeler; a sister-in-law, Norma Fuller, 4 nieces and 11 nephews. Two more great grandchildren will arrive later this year.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, infant grandson, Clint Anthony Ronchetto, his sisters, Dixie English and Ellen Campbell, brothers and sisters-in-law, J. T. and Jennie English, C.A. and Bettye English, Harold and Mary English, brother-in-law, Donald McCann and nephews, Larry, Gary and Terry English and Brian Campbell.

Services will be at _11:00 A.M  Friday April 11,2014 at the  Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with the Rev. Daniel Ison officiating.  Interment will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday  at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the First Christian Church in Christopher.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home

Cheryl “Cherie” Browning, 62, of Mulkeytown, died April 3, 2014 at Herrin Hospital Emergency Room.

Cheryl was born Oct. 6, 1951, in Carbondale, the daughter of Leon Swisher and Leona (Johnson) Swisher.

She operated Nana’s Nook Restaurant, in Royalton and attended the Royalton Church of the Nazarene.

She was married to Gary Browning on July 12, 1975 and he survives of Mulkeytown.

Also surviving are her children, Joey Browning and his girlfriend Denise Bradshaw of Mulkeytown and Angie Worley of Mulkeytown and a grandson, Braden Worley. Cheryl is also survived by two sisters, Amy (Jeffrey) Jones, Wylie TX, and Paula (David) Payne, of Benton, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 7 at 11 a.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor David Sorensen officiating.  Visitation will be Sunday, April 6, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Ward Cemetery, in Mulkeytown.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.  

Michael S. Romani, 46, of Waltonville (formerly of Sesser), died March 20, 2014 at Herrin Hospital.

Michael was born in Benton, the son of Danny Romani and Karen (Allen) Romani, and they survive in Sesser.  He worked in mine construction and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Sesser.  He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and was also an avid outdoorsman and a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues.

He is survived by a special friend and partner, Amber Sims, of Waltonville and four children, Wade Romani, Elaina Romani, Caroline Romani, all of Du Quoin and by Zane Hardesty, of Waltonville. Also surviving are two sisters, Valerie and Chad Miller, of Sesser and Kendra Romani, of Sesser.  Michael is also survived by several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his wife Shelly (Browning) Romani and two uncles.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.  A memorial service, with Father Dan Jurek officiating, will be held Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations should be given to Mike’s children educational fund and will be accepted at the Funeral Home

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser IL, is in charge of arrangements.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com