Eunice(Hammond) Brown passed away peacefully on January 9, 2014, at Heritage Manor in Minonk, Illinois.

She was born on June 6, 1921, as one of 12 children of Syble and Clarence Hammond.

Eunice was a life long resident of Sesser, Illinois and married Louis Brown on November 24, 1945.  They were married 52 years when Louis passed away.    Together they raised five children – Martha Brown, Sebring, Florida, John Brown, Mulkeytown,  Illinois, Richard Brown, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Alice Kirkpatrick, Minonk, Illinois, and Ruth Gesell, Sumner, Washington.

She was preceded in death by all of her siblings except Mary Piacentini who resides in RockWall, Texas.  Eunice leaves behind seven grand children, one great grand child, and many relatives and friends.

Eunice lived a long and fruitful life.  She enjoyed caring for her yard and flowers, playing cards with friends, and going out to eat. Some of her favorite “haunts” were the Custard Stand in Sesser, the Maid-Rite in Christopher, and fish from the Sesser VFW. Together she and Louis enjoyed many trips to Texas with friends.  Anyone spending much time with Eunice also knows she never met a dessert/sweet item she did not like.  Her children want to express their appreciation to the many individuals who touched Eunice’s life.  She was fortunate to have met so many caring people during her life’s journey.

A memorial service for Eunice will be held at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home  in Sesser, Illinois on Monday January 13, 2014 at 6:00 P.M., visitation  from 3 – 6 p.m at the Funeral Home. Coffee and deserts will be served immediately following at the Sesser VFW Post meeting room.   Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Heritage Woods, 1305 Bailey Lane, Benton, Illinois 62812 or Heritage Manor, 201 Locust Street, Minonk, Illinois 61760.  Her children truly appreciated the care, kindness, and support both facilities provided.

Burial will follow at a later date in Maple Hill Cemetery, Sesser IL.

Joseph L. Ainslie, 81, of Benton, passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 5, 2014 at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center, in Herrin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Bill Perry officiating.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, with military honors conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and the Illinois National Guard Honor Squad.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Frank Krajnik, 90, of Benton, passed away at 8:55 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2014 at Helia Health Care in Benton.

He was born in Benton, IL, on May 8, 1923, the son of Frank and Josephine (Jedlicka) Krajnik.

Mr. Krajnik was a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by two nephews, Ron Burlison and wife Patti, of Benton, IL and Dr. John Burlison and wife Christy, of Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Also surviving are two great nephews, Raymie Burlison and wife Vanessa and their children Raymie Jr. and Major, of Benton, IL and Jared Burlison, of Albuquerque, NM.

Mr. Krajnik was preceded in death by his paretns, two sisters, Mary Krajnik and Martha Burlison.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Friday, January 10 at the Buck Road Cemetery in Collinsville.  Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery. There will be no visitation.

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

Wanda Maxine Threlkeld, 93, of Benton, passed away at 9:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014 at Helia Healthcare in Benton.

She was born in Benton, IL on Oct. 23, 1920, the daughter of William Loren and Gertrude (Dial) Epps.

She married Harry Threlkeld on Dec. 22, 1940 and he preceded her in death on July 10, 1999.

Mrs. Threlkeld was head cook at Grant Grade School and Washington Grade School in Benton, and retired as head cook from Benton Middle School.  She was a member of the Good Sams Camping Club and a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, in Benton.

Mrs. Threlkeld is survived by a daughter, Rita Doty and husband Ken, of Benton and a son, Richard Threlkeld and wife Marlene, of Carbondale.  She is also survived by four grandchildren, Steven Doty and wife Susie, of Scheller, David Doty and wife Amber, of Mt. Vernon, IN, Chad Threlkeld, and wife Heather, of Benton and Kimberly Threlkeld, of Carbondale; six great-grandchildren, April, Emily, Anthony, Caleb, Branden and Loganl; and three great-great grandchildren, Michael, Alex and Kayana.

Mrs. Threlkeld was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Buddy Epps and Bill Epps and by a half-sister, Louise Parrish.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with the Rev.  Ron Cremeens officiating.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 9 a.m. on Monday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church or to the Murdale Baptist Church, in Carbondale.

Ruth W. Rice, 94, of Benton passed away Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013 at 8:40 p.m. at Helia Health Care, in Benton.

She was born on January 1, 1919 in Thompsonville, the daughter of Francis Elmer and Lionne (Conover) Warren.

She married Arthur Gordon Rice on Dec. 4, 1937 and he preceded her in death on Sept. 22, 2004.

Mrs. Rice is survived by her son, Kevin Warren Rice, of Bourbonnais, IL and a daughter Kay Kotval, of Benton, IL.  She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Mrs. Rice was preceded in death by her parents, by a son, Gordon Richard Rice, by a grandson, by three sisters, Beatrice Barger, Emma Tessier and Ida Brainard and a brother, Ervin Warren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with the Rev. Steve Shotts officiating.  Burial will be at Brady Cemetery in Akin.

CHRISTOPHER — Lauretta I. Chwarczinski, 60, died on Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, in Herrin Hospital.

She was born Jan. 24, 1953, in Mount Vernon, to Dale and Nettie (Cook) Wooters of Odin.

She married Leonard Chwarczinski and he survives of Christopher.

Lauretta was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, children, George and Casondra Chwarczinski of Kell, Joseph and Jeanine Chwarczinski of Boonville, Ind. and Amanda Fraley of Herrin.  She is also survived by grandchildren, Mikayla Chwarczinski, Aaron Chwarczinski, Ava Chwarczinski, Jonathon Chwarczinski, Izaiah Fraley, Jolene Fraley and Harley Hardin and brothers, Stuart Wooters of Louisiana and Brian Wooters of Odin.  Also surviving are sisters, Jaclyn Capps of Belle Rive, Dalane Terrell of Land-O-Lakes, Fla., Joyce Daniel of Alabama, Elvina Wiley of Alabama, , Karen Sharon of Wilmington and Diana Lacey of Wilmington.

Lauretta was preceded in death by her mother; one sister, Gretta Roseanne Casillas; and stepmother, Gretta Wooters.

Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 in Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home

George O. Smith, 90, of Benton passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 19, 2013 at Nature Trail Health Care Center in Mt. Vernon.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013 at the Franklin Cemetery in Whittington.  Military rites will be conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Honor Squad.  Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Sunday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.