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.

Walter Vandekerkhove, 97, passed away at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday December 19, 2013, with his loving family by his side.

Walter, better known as Jeff Vander, was born January 26, 1916, in Skidmore, Kansas.  He was the last of seven children born to Gus and Marie (Menu) Vandekerkhove.

He married Madeline OpdeBeeck in Skiplaken, Belgium, on January 10, 1946, and she preceded him in death in June, 1991.

Walter is survived by daughters Pat (Bob) Boles, Irma (Darrell) Kimmel, Trudy Irvin, and Connie (Danny) Flowers, and one son Walter Jr.  Papa Jeff leaves behind 9 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers, Gustave Jr., John and Louis, and sisters Julia, Susan and Garman.

Walter was a WWII Army veteran serving in Belgium as a Jeep mechanic and driver where he met Madeline.  He returned to Illinois with his new bride and began working second shift in the coal mines and opened his life-long business, Vander’s Gas & Appliance.  Jeff and Madeline sold their business in 1975 and retired to Tarpon Springs, FL.

Walter was a member and past-commander of both the American Legion Post 560 and VFW Cox Post 4753 in Sesser, member of the Sesser- Goode Masonic Lodge #744, and lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.

Funeral services will be on Monday December 23, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.  Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery with military graveside rites courtesy of the Sesser American Legion and VFW Post.  Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Sunday December 22, 2013 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the American Cancer Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Retired Capt. John D. Glover, USMC, passed away Dec. 13 in Spring Hill, Florida.

John was born in Somerville, TN on Oct. 3, 1931 to Monroe and Emma Glover.

John joined the USMC in December of 1949 and retired from the Marines in 1971.  He served two tours of duty in the Korean War and two tours of duty in Vietnam.  John came to Benton as a Marine Corps Recruiter where he met and married Dolores Cunningham and together they have two sons, John D. Glover, Jr. and Greg Glover.  The Glovers were married for 54 years.

After retiring from the Marines John Worked at the Bank of Ina for 5 years and then went to work for Inland Steel Coal Company where he worked for 10 years. He was also very active in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Franklin Hospital and the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.  He served for five years as president of the Benton Grade School Board.  John was very active in Benton Little League as both a coach and umpire.  John was a Mason.

After retiring from Inland Steel he and his wife Dolores spent winters in Spring Hill, Florida and summers in Benton.

Surviving are his wife Dolores, two sons, John D. Glover, Jr., wife Theresa and son Eric of Naperville, IL and Greg Glover and wife Beth and children Jon and Molly, of Plainfield, IL.  John is also survived by sisters Inez Hill, Grace Jones, Lee Dishman and brother J.R. Ross, sisters-in-law Mary Ann Wellever and Mary Lou Cunningham and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in memory of John Glover to:

HPH Hospice Foundation

ATTN: Donations

12107 Majestic Blvd.

Hudson, FL 34667

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Burton Wills officiating.  Burial with military rites will be conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Posts and the National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.

Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Evadine Lewis, 89, of Benton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, in Mount Vernon Countryside Manor.

She was born Sept. 12, 1924, in Rend City, the daughter of Elmer and Eva (Derrington) Veach. She married Floyd Darrel Lewis on Nov. 15, 1942, in St. Louis, and he preceded her in death April 17, 2011.

Mrs. Lewis was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include her son, Farrel L. Lewis and wife, Linda, of Benton; daughter, Linda E. Bogard of Oldsmar, Fla.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Luther Veach and Kenneth Veach; and sister, Virnetta Sample.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, in Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton with Dr. Sammy Simmons and the Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the church.

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

BENTON – Merle Francine Frye, 85, of Benton, died at 8:05 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 in the Franklin Hospital in Benton.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 at Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser with the Rev. Eric Drake officiating. Her ashes will be buried at a later date.

Mrs. Frye was born on April 28, 1928 in Carbondale, the daughter of Glen and Lillian Hayse. She married Dewey Frye who preceded her in death.

She is survived by three children, James “Butch” Taylor, of Benton, and Linda Taylor Cockrum, of Sesser (children of the late James Taylor); and Darrel Bigham, of Sesser, (son of the late Jack Bigham); and daughter-in-law Jane Taylor. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters, Carmen Lampley, Marybelle Taylor and Katie Taylor and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Frye was preceded in death by her parents, by three sisters, Evelyn Hayse, Symantha Risley, Elizabeth McGhee, a brother, Buck Hayse, and a son-in-law Billy Cockrum. She was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law Bill Risley, Jim McGhee, Jack Taylor, Bobby Jo Taylor, Kenneth Lampley, Kenneth Sample, Frank Taylor, Donald Taylor, Curtis Frye, Jack Frye and by sister-in-law Mary Rowlett.

She was loved dearly and will be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Research Down Syndrome, 180 West Adams, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60603.

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