Dorothy Marie (Tanner) Furlow 81, of Sesser, passed away Wednesday February 26, 2014 at Countryside Manor nursing home in Mt. Vernon, IL.

Dorothy was born October 25, 1932 to Ola and Margaret (Bourm) Tanner.

John Robert Mocaby, 81, of Logan, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Parrish, IL, on January 11, 1933, the son of Irvin and Mary (Spain) Mocaby.

He married Ida Louetta (Melvin) on September 30, 1951 and she survives.

Mr. Mocaby loved to fish.  He was a great husband, father and grandpa.  Mr. Mocaby was retired from S & W Motors in Mt. Vernon.

He is survived by his wife Ida Louetta Mocaby, of Logan, four children, John Mocaby, Jr. and wife Mary, Janet Brannan, Joy Smith and husband Tom and Robin Mocaby, all of Logan.

Mr. Mocaby is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, by a daughter, Lynette Camden, a granddaughter Jamie Bragg and by three sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Dean Severin officiating.  Burial will be in the Logan Church of God Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Freda Joy, 90, of Ina passed away at 1:40 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.

She was born in Buzzard Roost, Elk Prairie Township, Jefferson County, IL, on June 14, 1923, the daughter of Perry and Lillie (Rigg) Williams.  She married Allen “Short” Joy on Feb. 17, 1940 in St. Charles, MO and he preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 2001.

Mrs. Joy was a member of the Ina Free Will Baptist Church and she loved her church family very much.

Mrs. Joy worked at the Shoe Factory in Mt. Vernon and was a cook at Ina Grade School for several years.  She and her husband Short also ran the restaurant in Ina for many years.

Mrs. Joy is survived by her four children, Brenda Fowler and husband Curtis, of Ina, Ronald Joy and wife JoAnn, of Ina, Rhonda Newell and husband Eddie, of Bonnie and Randy Clyde Joy, of Ina.  Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, Joy Schroeder and husband Marc, Wayne Fowler, Todd Fowler and wife Laurie, Barry Joy, Beth Ann Joy, Jason Newell and wife Stacy, Jennifer Schrimpf and husband Matt, Randy Alan Joy, Natashia Cruz and husband Rene; 22 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law Betty Isaacs, of Mt. Vernon and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Joy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 7 brothers, Burt, Pearl, Elva, Curtis, Kenneth, Olen and Max and by one sister, Mary Reynolds.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina with Brother Jason Newell and Brother Brad Ryan officiating.  Burial will be in Kirk Cemetery in Ina.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Johnston Funeral Home in Ina.  For those who wish, memorials can be made to the Kirk Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home at any time.

Janice A. (Kirkman) Bigham, 69, of Benton, died February 18, 2014 at her home in Benton.

Janice was born Nov. 28, 1944 in Logan, IL to Charles Earl and Margaret Gene (Kirkman) Moss.

She was a homemaker.

Janice is survived by her children, Gregory S. Kirkman, Valier, IL and Anthony S. Lee, Benton, IL.

Also surviving are grandchildren Dustin Kirkman, Dyllion Kirkman, Jacob Kirkman, Katlyn Ward, McKenna Kirkman; great-grandchildren Kailence Kirkman, Kieran Kirkman and Aiden Kirkman.  She is also survived by a great-aunt, Gertie Eickelman, of Christopher, IL.

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Hospice of Southern Illinois and also to her good friend Pat.

In lieu of flowers Memorials may be given to Hospices of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

SESSER — Joyce Marie Montgomery, 68, died at 2:33 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at home.

Joyce was born March 7, 1945, in Du Quoin, to John Nelson and Claris (Downen) Sheriff.

Joyce married Noble Montgomery on March 4, 1964. He survives of Sesser.

She was a homemaker.

Joyce is survived by her children, Mike and Crystal Montgomery of Sesser, and Chuck and Missy Montgomery of Mulkeytown; grandchildren, Emma Montgomery, Chloe Montgomery, Liam Montgomery, Jeana Montgomery, O’Rian Montgomery and SkyLyn Montgomery; and brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Judy Sheriff of Scheller.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Gary Crocker officiating.  Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Passages Hospice.

SESSER — Theresa Ann (Leber) Hester, 55, passed away Feb. 12, 2014, at her home surrounded by her family and friends.

She was born March 8, 1958, in Stauton, to Caroline (Klinkerfuss) and Edward Leber Sr.  Theresa was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Edward Leber Jr.

Theresa is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Gary Bedgood, grandchildren, Keith Taylor, Dalton Thompson and Collin Thompson; her great-granddaughter, Layla Thompson; sister, Libby Kessel and her children and grandchildren; brother, Geno Leber and his wife, Judy, and their children and grandchildren; brother, Karl Leber and his children and grandchildren; sister, Madonna Spann and her children and grandchildren; sister, Stephanie Woodside and her children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in St. Mary Catholic Church in Sesser.  Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois

Ralph L. Reece, 88 formerly of Bonnie, died Tuesday Feb. 11, 2014 at 12:15 a.m. at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.

He was born in Franklin County, IL on March 7, 1925 the son of Willie E. and May (McGinnis) Reece.  He married Barbara Jean (Williams) in Ina on September 12, 1948 and she preceded him in death on August 10, 2011.

He was a World War II Army Veteran.  Mr. Reece retired from Army Corps of Engineers and he was also a farmer.

Mr. Reece is survived by two children, Roger Reece and wife Liz of Du Quoin and Rhonda Monroe and husband Alan of Wayne City, IL.  He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Reece was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one daughter, Paul Weiss, by two granddaughters, two sisters, Dorothy and Eva and by one brother, Lloyd.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2014 at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina with the Rev. Gary Whipple officiating. Burial will be in the Kirk Cemetery in Ina.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.