Ruth R. Mitchell age 91 of Vincennes, IN and formally of Venice FLA and Christopher and Elkville area passed away in BridgePoint Nursing Home, Vincennes, June 7, 2013.

Ruth was born on March 27, 1922 in Vergennes, IL to Phillip and Luaria (McCoy) Rath.  She graduated form Elkville High School in 1940.  She Married John Mitchell May 21, 1943 in Carbondale, IL.

Ruth retired from United States Steel and Carnegie Pension Fund in Pittsburgh after 35 years; she was a member of the Eastern Star for 50 years  and ladies of Venice Shrine.

Her and husband, a retired Lt.Col of the US Air Force and retired FBI special agent traveled extensively to more than 69 countries John preceded her in death on June 22, 1999.

Survivors include a brother Charles Rath of Vincennes, three nephews Barry Koerner, David Koerner, and Phillip Rath and one niece Kimberly Modrowski.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister Virginia Koerner

Graveside funeral service for Ruth Mitchell will be Thursday June 13,2013 at 11 a.m. at the Masonic & IOOF Cemetery Benton IL, with Rev. Jean Webster officiating.  Friends are ask to meet at the cemetery.  Arrangements our under the direction of the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher IL.

WHITTINGTON – Noble F. Johnston, 87, passed away Thursday morning, June 6, 2013.

Mr. Johnston was born May 26, 1926, in Whittington, the son of John T. and Jennie (Brown) Johnston.

He married JoAnn (House) on Sept. 9, 1979, and she survives.

Mr. Johnston served in the National Guard and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He was discharged in May 1946.

He retired from Ford Motor Company after 32 years. He worked as a die setter, foreman, mechanic and crane operator. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sesser.

Mr. Johnston was a life member of Amvets. He was a member of Sesser-Goode Masonic Lodge 744 and Benton Masonic Lodge 64 and Shriners and Scottish Rite Bodies.

Mr. Johnston is survived by his wife, JoAnn Johnston; three daughters, Diann McCord of Wilmington, Renee Johnston-Casey of Ewing and Melissa Schleede and husband, Jim, of Merrillville, Ind.  Also surviving is six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Cheryl Markus and husband, Raymond, of Ohio and Keith Pyle and wife, Patricia, of Crete; one sister, Jo Aleen Guess of Benton; and two brothers, Loyd Gale Johnston of Benton and Larry Johnston and wife, Sharon, of Crete; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Johnston was preceded in death by his parents, a son Rick and a brother, Olen Lee Johnston.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 10 at 10 a.m. in Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, with the Rev. Mark Minor and Rev. Julie Smith officiating. Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with Masonic rites at 7 p.m.

Yolanda Gunter, 90, of Sesser, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

She was born February 17, 1923 in Coello, the daughter of Telamaco Carnebale and Fidelia (Androvandi) Carnebali.

She was married to Tom Gunter and he preceded her in death. She worked for 17 years at Butler’s Store in Sesser, IL.

She is also survived by a special friend and caregiver Jack Winemiller, of Sesser, IL and one brother Fred Carnebali, of Chicago. Also surviving is two cousins and their spouses, Rick and Brenda Androvandi, of Sesser, IL and Nick and Barbara Androvandi, of Sesser along with two nieces, Patricia Leoni, of Chicago, IL and Shirley Overturf, of Sesser, IL.

Yolanda was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2013 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, IL with the Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery in Mulkeytown, IL.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations can be made to the First Baptist Church in Sesser, IL

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

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

SESSER – James J. Mandrell, 75, died Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at home.

James was born Dec. 24, 1937, to Millard and Dorothy (Connor) Mandrell.

He married Lida (Shaw) Mandrell on Dec. 24, 1955, in Sterling.  James was a steelworker.

He is survived by children, James Nelson Mandrell of Mount Vernon, Steven Lee Mandrell of North Carolina, Alma Louise Mandrell of West Frankfort and Angel Marie Todd of Sesser.  Also surviving are grandchildren, Alysha, Hunter, Zachary, Ryan, Jennifer and Stacey; several great-grandchildren; brothers, Homer Mandrell of Deer Grove and Bob Mandrell of Atlanta; and three sisters also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Jo Ellen and two brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, June 3, in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, with Brother Bryant Harris officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 3, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family.

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

For more information, visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

James Leon Wilson, 74, died Friday, May 31, 2013, in Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Mr. Wilson was born April 8, 1939, in Jefferson County, to James Herbert and Clara Ileta (Harrison) Wilson.

He married Mary Fay (Kiselewski) Wilson on June 10, 1961.  He was a coal miner.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his children, Veronica and Ed Sample of St. Charles, Mo., Joe and Lori Wilson of Kirksey, Ky., Sheila Maher of Sesser, Aleta Combs of Sesser and Robert Wilson of Scheller; grandchildren, Katie (Jarred) Griffin, Patrick Sample, Abby Haskins, Jessica Jenkins, Ashley Ambeau, David Jenkins, Dara Wilson, Kris Cole, Vincent Ambeau, Greg Jenkins, Emily Haskins, Tristin Cole, Macy Wilson, Zane Wilson, Thomas Combs, Rebecca Combs, Catherine Combs and Kolton Wilson; and great-grandchild, Axton Lowery.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday June 4, at 10:30 a.mm. in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, with Father Peter Balili officiating. Interment will be in Knob Prairie Cemetery in Waltoville. Visitation will be on Monday, June 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Research or to the American Lung Association and will be accepted at the funeral home

For more information, visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

EWING – Harl Gene “Heavy Dog” Harmon, 71, formerly of Sesser, died May 23, 2013, in Select Hospital in Evansville, Ind.

Gene was a retired coal miner. He worked at Old Benn 21 for 33 years. He also was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He was born March 24, 1942, in Christopher to Aaron and Ruth (Mezo) Harmon. He was married to Geneva (Alexander) Harmon.

Survivors include children, Marty Harmon of Sesser, Alisa and Scott Square of Naples, Fla., Dana and Allen Byrns of Sesser and Jeffery Harmon, also of Sesser; grandchildren, Todd Harmon, Nathan and Natasha Harmon, Cassidy Harmon, Tanner Square, Hunter Square, Danae and Jarrett Kelly, Addison Harmon and Sumer Harmon; great-grandchildren, Haden Harmon and Mayson Harmon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Muriel Owens and Dorothy Mae Harbison.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 31, in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Gene will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

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

For more information, go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Michele Renee’ Grubaugh, 38, died Thursday, May 23, 2013, at Memphis University Hospital in Tennessee.

She was born Sept. 9, 1974, in Joliet, to Thomas and Bea (Easley) Freeman of Sesser.

Surviving are her sisters and brothers November Freeman of Sesser, Thomas John Freeman of Sesser, Gary Willis of Tonica, IL, Robin Martin of Dowell and Toshya Willis of Sesser.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, with the Rev. Brad Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to family to help with funeral expenses.

For more information, visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Alva Edward Odle, 77, of Benton, passed away Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

He was born in Benton, IL on July 18, 1935.

Mr. Odle worked for years as a body man and also worked in mine construction and appliance resale.

He was a member and former officer in the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Mr. Odle is survived by five children, Denny Odle, of Benton, Mike Odle and wife Wendy, of Macedonia, Robert Odle and wife Deborah, of Benton, Bryan Odle, of Illinois and Wendy Odle Garrett, of Olney.

He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Peggy Lynn Tucker Martin, of Olney; his companion Kathy Shelton; of Benton; his best friend Fred West, of Benton; one brother James “Crow” Odle, of Benton.  Also surviving are grandchildren Miki Lampley, Amanda Odle, Amy Odle, Jamy Odle, Debbra Odle, Shane Fitzpatrick, Sierra Odle, Dylan Odle, Rhonda Odle, Crystal Odle, Dominique Dontez Odle, Nikeisha Rachell Odle and Jim Dale Rathbun, Jr., 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Odle was preceded in death by his father, Charles “Chick” Odle and by his mother Mary Rusher and by a sister, Louise Conner Wallace.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.  Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton.  Visitation will be after 12 noon on Saturday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the family.

Randall R. Roberts, 74, of Benton, passed away Sunday morning, May 19, 2013 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Benton, IL on Sept. 13, 1938, the son of Roy and Edith (Carpenter) Roberts.

He married Rose Mary (Bettress) on August 3, 1973, and she preceded him in death on September 3, 2010.

Mr. Roberts was an Army veteran and was a member of the South Benton Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Roberts is survived by three sons, Charles W. Roberts and wife Kathy, of Winter Haven, FL, Randy Roberts and fiancee Carrie, of Marion and Joshua Roberts and wife Keshia, of Benton.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Elijah, Logan, Matt, Mark and John and one granddaughter on the way, Kaitlyn.

Also surviving are two brothers, Darrell Roberts and wife Malinda, of Benton and John Roberts and wife Darlene, of Benton; two special nieces, Jane Stowers, of Benton and Lucille Elko, of Benton.

Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Rose Mary Roberts and by several brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013 at the South Benton Missionary Baptist Church with Brother Robert Ray officiating.  Burial with military rites will be in the Williams Chapel Cemetery in Ewing.  Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Friday at the church.

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