EVANSVILLE – Asalee E. (Vanzandt) Southard, age 104, of Newburgh, IN, passed away Monday, February 9, 2026, at Solarbron.

Asalee was born May 24, 1921, in Christopher, IL, to the late Martin Vanzandt and Eva (Renfro) Vanzandt. She was a faithful member of Gateway Baptist Church in Newburgh since 1957. Asalee was employed at Shawnee Plastics for 14 years. She was a Sunday school teacher for over 30 years. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening. Asalee was always calling everyone “Sweetie” and was known for her blackberry cobblers.

Asalee is survived by her son, Curt Southard (Betsy); sister, Lena Trogolo; 3 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and 4 great great grandchildren.

Asalee is preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Eva Vanzandt; loving husband, Floyd Southard; son, Gary Southard; 5 brothers; 2 sisters; and grandson, Ronnie Southard.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Gateway Baptist Church, 7564 IN-66, Newburgh, IN 47630 with Reverend Glenn Mollette officiating. Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.

Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Gateway Baptist Church.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Gateway Baptist Church at 7564 IN-66, Newburgh, IN 47630.

Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN, is handling the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of Asalee Southard. Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

John Bradley, 70, of Christopher, passed away on Thursday February 5, 2026 at St Louis University Hospital.

He was born on September 18, 1955 in Valparaiso, IN to Elbert and Ruth (Ross) Bradley Jr.

He is survived by his two sons Dakota Conder and Seth Bradley; two sisters Kathy Berkley of Buckner and Joyce (Mike) Saddler of Thompsonville; one brother Robert (Nancy) Bradley of Thompsonville and one brother-in-law George Smith of Buckner and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter Christina Bradley, and two sisters Barbara Smith and Pamela Mayer and two nephews Bryan Mayer and John Mayer.

He was employed by Cablec in DuQuoin for many years. He loved his Harley and going on poker runs and working on cars. He was a Veteran of the United States Army.

Graveside Services will be on Wednesday February 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Jones Cemetery in Thompsonville. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Loretta A. Franklin, 87, of Benton passed away Friday night February 6, 2026 at her home.

She was born in Benton, IL on October 1, 1938 the daughter of Otha & Geraldine (Baumgarte) Hutchcraft.

She married Denzil Lee “Bud” Franklin on May 5, 1956 in Benton and he preceded her in death on February 23, 2022.

Mrs. Franklin was a Head School Cook and wanted all kids to have a good meal, even paying for some meals herself. She loved her grandkids, quilting, cooking and baking and going places with her husband. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton and attended the First Free Will Baptist Church in Benton.

Mrs. Franklin is survived by her:
2 Sons:
Denny Franklin & wife Cathy of Mulkeytown
Mark Franklin & wife Melody of Benton
Grandchildren:
Brice Franklin
Sammi Bailes & husband Donald
Selina Franklin
1 Great-Grandson: Jace
Sister: Betty (Allen) Miles of Benton
Brother-in-law: Mike Franklin of Ewing

She is also survived by several Nieces & Nephews and her dog Holly.

Mrs. Franklin was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, 3 Sisters-in-law-Lynn Franklin, Peggy Franklin & Freda May and Brother-in-law-John Franklin.
Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 13th at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton with Bro. Kent Dunford officiating. Burial will follow. There will be No Visitation, those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the takeactiontoday.net, Benton-West City Ministerial Alliance or Franklin County Animal Control.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Martha (Barham) Evancik, 91, of Christopher, passed away on Thursday February 5, 2026 at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin, IL.

She was born on May 25, 1934 in Benton, IL to Henry Lafayette and Anna Louise (Kist) Barham.

Martha married Edward Joseph Evancik on August 11, 1962 and he preceded her in death on April 8, 1989. She is also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers James Edward Barham and Joseph Louis Barham and one sister Elizabeth Ann (Barham) Newsome.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday February 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Michael Frank Porvaznik, 81, of Valier, passed away on Thursday February 5, 2026 at his home.

He was born on December 22, 1944 in West Frankfort, IL to George Michael and Rose (Horvath) Porvaznik. He married Bonnie (Cavins) Porvaznik and she survives of Valier.

He is also survived by his daughter Tammy R. Goessman of Sesser; grandchildren Martin Todd Harmon, Mikala Goessman and Mikena Chacon; one great grandchild Haden Harmon, one brother Jon Mark Porvaznik of Benton and one sister Mari Sue Montgomery of Sesser.

He was a coalminer and a member of the United Mine Workers of America and was a past president of the Italian Club.

His wishes were to be cremated, with no services.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

The world is dimmer and a lot less magical as Patricia “Patty’ Ann Beasley left it on February 2, 2026, wrapped in the arms of her cowboy and her daughters.

Patty was born on April 16, 1950, at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Alexander Krause and Marie Ora (Moran) Krause. She was the youngest of three sisters who remained best friends all their lives. Her sister, Diana, was a great source of support during her illness, and spent many nights lying on couches and beds with her baby sister.

Patty’s family moved to Ewing, IL and she attended Ewing Grade School and Benton High School. Patty met her one and only love at Ewing Grade School, her cowboy, Monte Keith Beasley. She loved him from the moment she saw him and for every moment since.

Patty and Monte married on July 3, 1976, in Franklin County, IL. They had two daughters, Shannon and Darby.

Patty, always with a paintbrush in one hand and a hammer in the other, made life magic. She could take the most mundane of objects and turn them into something spectacular. Give her a handful of locust shells, a bucket for collecting buckeyes, and a wooden box and she could give any child a full day of fun. She had a never-ending imagination. She used it to make her children’s childhoods so extraordinary that she may have gone a little too far and ended up with kids who believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny til almost high school.

Patty was the daughter of a carpenter and could build anything. All she needed was a box of nails and her lifelong partner and best friend, Monte. Together, they could build anything they needed and could build it better than it could be bought. They didn’t believe in living outside of their means and never owned a credit card their entire lives. Patty left this world not totally sure how to use a debit card and not totally convinced most restaurants would take them.

Patty lived for her family, and adventures with them. She canoed, hiked, and survival-camped the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for seven-day stretches at a time not once, but twice, with her daughter Darby. They portaged canoes across rocks as slippery as ice and slept with one eye open, keeping watch for bears. Both times she was in her 70s.

Patty took a boat to Alaska with Darby, her wife Ashley, and their (then) newborn baby boy, Jackson. They hopped off the boat and into a car, exploring every nook and cranny of the state. Did Patty almost cause a stampede trying to pet a moose during a subsequent adventure to Yellowstone with Darb and Ash? I guess you will just have to use your imagination to try to figure out what was going on in hers! What can be confirmed is she returned home with a suitcase full of bones belonging to either woolly mammoths or dinosaurs, depending on which grandchild you ask.

She spent a week in 107-degree heat at 73 years old hiking the most intense trails in Moab, Utah with her daughter, Shannon. Who overheated during that trip? It wasn’t Patty.

Patty and Monte spent months on the road living in a slide-in camper in the back of their truck, exploring all the western United States. They may or may not have illegally passed into Mexico. They took their houseboat from Illinois and floated all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, with a dappled Chiweenie in tow.

When their children were young, Patty, the kids and Monte, a jockey who rode horses all over the country, spent a summer racing in Canada and living next to Niagara Falls in a house with no stove. No stove? No problem! Patty dug a pit in the backyard, filled it with rocks and put a refrigerator grate over it. She would heat those rocks every day and cook all the family meals over them. When racetrack friends would come over for dinners and offer to bring food, Patty would say, “don’t bring food, bring extra rocks!”

Patty had no problem jumping into a beat-up truck with an equally beat-up fifth-wheel camper attached to it and a daughter behind the wheel that didn’t have the skill set or ability to back the rig up, figuring that since she herself could back it up, between the two of them one could drive it forward and the other could drive it backward.

Patty, Shannon and the grandkids drove that rig all the way to Austin, Texas in the middle of the pandemic. Patty jumped in that same rig a few years later and drove to the Canadian border, all 3 grandkids on board, so they could all see the northern lights and swim to Canada (where she told them they landed when they swam from the shore of Lake Superior to a nearby sand bar.) When the rig inevitably broke down in the middle of nowhere in the Upper Peninsula, Patty, wrench and hammer in hand, jumped under the hood and fixed it right up.

Patty had three grandchildren that she adored and that she continued her magical ways with. Her first grandchild was Jackson Henry Beasley-Piatek, born to Darby and her wife, Ashley Beasley-Piatek. Jackson was followed shortly thereafter by twins Henry Edward Appleton and Alexander Keith Appleton, born to Shannon and her husband, Josh Appleton. All three boys called her Funny Grandma. Because that’s what she was. She could make everyone laugh and could laugh harder than everyone. Her laughter is one of the things her family will miss the most– along with her black tarps covered in dish soap, hoses running, sending grandkid after grandkid flying down her hillbilly slip-and-slide, pet turkeys, goats and chickens sliding behind.

Patty was the nucleus of her family, and while life will never be the same without her, she is within every fiber of the hearts of those left behind. They will carry her with them for the rest of their lives.

Patty was predeceased by her parents, Alexander and Marie Krause; her sister, Barbara Forsyth; her mother-in-law, JoAnn Beasley; her father-in-law, Donnie Beasley; her brother-in-law, Michael Kent Beasely; and her niece, Melony (Beasley) Dalby.

She is survived by her husband, Monte Beasley, her daughters and their spouses, Darby Beasley-Piatek and Ashley Beasley-Piatek and Shannon Appleton and Josh Appleton, her grandchildren, Jackson Henry Beasley-Piatek, Henry Edward Appleton, and Alexander Keith Appleton, her sister Diana (Krause) Znavor and her brother-in-law, David Znavor, her nieces and nephews, Marie Thorton (Phil Thorton), Steven Znavor, Curtis Forsythe, Keith Forsythe and Jenny Bachman, her great-nieces Katlyn (Wyant) Connors (Andrew Connors), Faith Wyant, Peyton Robinson, and Hannah Robinson (Aaron Gibson), and Tessa Thorton, great-great nephews Julian Connors and Riley Connors, Sadie Thorton, great-great niece and nephew Wynonna Gibson and Kasey Gibson, and special friends David Douin, Donna Piatek, Pam and Tom Appleton, Silas Thorton and Owen Thorton.

A special thank you to longtime friend Dr. David Szoke, the only doctor who showed her true compassion and found therapies that provided her with relief.

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

In respect of Patty’s wishes, there will be no service. Her promise her whole life was as follows: I will never go to any of your funerals, I hate those things, so you better not have one for me! We won’t, Mama. We love you. See you on the other side.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com

Carroll Lee Eubanks, 88, of Sesser, passed away on February 2, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon, IL.

She was born on March 27, 1937 in Christopher to Clyde and Altha (Darrough) Muir. She married Russell Eubanks on July 30, 1955, they were married for 55 years until his passing on July 30, 2010.

She is survived by her children Greg Eubanks and Jill (Brent) Crnokrak; sisters Jan McLeod and Norma Walters; grandchildren Whitney (Kevin) Hoffer and Nick (Chelsey) Crnokrak; great grandchildren Sawyer Hoffer, Reid Hoffer, Camden Crnokrak and Lynley Crnokrak, brothers and sisters-in-laws Garry Eubanks, Sharon Carnahan, Sandy Willis, Bruce (Connie) Eubanks, Brad Eubanks, Pam Eubanks, Doug (Becky) Eubanks and Shelley (John) Hardin and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Russell Eubanks, one sister Sandra Brown, brothers-in-law Danny Brown, Tom McLeod, Oscar Walters, Virlie Willis and Jim Carnahan, sister-in-law Barbara Eubanks, nephew Mark Eubanks and one niece Wendy Brown.

She was a member of the Sesser First Baptist Church, she worked at the Franklin County Supervisor of Assessments office for many years. She also enjoyed teaching line dancing and she loved to travel and spend time with her family.

Funeral services will be on Monday February 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Sesser First Baptist Church with Brother Chris Hottensen officiating. Visitation will be on Monday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the church. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

George L. Spotanski, 93, of Scheller, passed away on Saturday January 31, 2026 at Helia Healthcare in Benton.

He was born on March 30, 1932 in Sesser to Roman and Mary (Basso) Spotanski. He married the love of his life Wanda Lou (Keller) Spotanski and together they shared almost 75 years of marriage.

He is survived by his children Karen Miller of McLeansboro, Wayne Spotanski of Scheller and Laura (Leroy McDuffie) Page of Scheller; grandchildren Stacy (David) Webb, Cassie (Adam) Magsig, Jeremy Spotanski, Adreanna Harvey, Vanessa Leek, Mandi (Robert) Whitlow and Cody (Kyle) Levanti; great grandchildren Dalton (Lily), Dacey, Andrew, Hazel, Ransom, Presleigh, Hendrix, Lennox, M.J., Mavrick, Kayla, Lane and Bronx.

He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife, one infant daughter Mary Susan Spotanski and one brother Leonard Spotanski.

He was a veteran of the United States Army. He worked as a construction worker and a Coalminer, but his true love was farming and raising cattle and his John Deere Tractors. He loved his family and his Church. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sesser and was a deacon for almost 50 years. He loved the outdoors and especially deer hunting.

Funeral services will be on Saturday February 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Sesser with Brother Chris Hottensen officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the church. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Baptist Children’s Home or to the First Baptist Church of Sesser, envelopes will be available at the church.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

James Brice Duff, age 67, of Benton, passed away at 12:44 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Deaconess Midtown Hospital of Evansville, Indiana.

Jim’s wishes were to be cremated.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, IL. Visitation will be held Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. Masonic Rites will be honored under the direction of Frankfort Lodge #567 A.F. & A.M. of West Frankfort, IL. Following the Masonic Rites, Celebration of Life Services will we officiated by Pastor Brice Shaffer and Joyce Fogleman.

Jim was born on July 12, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska; the son of Paul Duff and Betty Jean (Leslie) Duff. He married the former Amy Purdy on May 7, 2016. Together they shared their lives together dating and in marriage for just shy of 26 years.

He formerly worked in customer service with Crownline Boats of West Frankfort. Later he would work and retire with F.B. McAfoos & Co. of Benton, where he was the parts manager. After retirement he went back to work and was currently employed with Federated Auto Parts of Marion, Illinois.

Jim was a Past-Worshipful Master with Frankfort Lodge #567 A.F. & A.M. of West Frankfort, Illinois, and currently served as Junior Warden. He was the head cook for 567 Smokers and was known for his smoked pork chop sandwiches and ribs. Jim was also an Honorary Member of Blazing Star Lodge #458 of Carrier Mills, Illinois, Akin Lodge #749 of Thompsonville, Illinois, and Hurst Lodge #1004 of Hurst, Illinois. Jim was a current board member of the Hill City Water District.

He enjoyed cooking, especially smoking meat. He and his wife enjoyed deer hunting, camping, and traveling. He loved working on cars and his family said he could fix anything.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Amy Purdy Duff of Benton, Illinois; his father and stepmother Paul Duff and wife Joleene of Onawa, Iowa, a son James Duff, and fiancée Rachel of Carterville, Illinois; four grandchildren: Mackenzie Duf, Kaitlynn Duff, Sophia Ecklund, Scylar Russell; four siblings: Jill Bauer and husband Jerry of Columbia, Illinois, Jean Huie and husband John of Coello, Illinois, Jerri George and husband Gary of Centralia, Illinois, Joe Duff of Kell, Illinois; brother-in-law Matthew Purdy and wife Melissa of Murray, Kentucky, sister-in-law Jenny Strollo and husband Bill of Christiansburg, Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother Betty Jean Duff, a brother John Duff and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Jack and Judith Purdy.
The family prefers that memorial contributions be made payable in memory of Jim, to the Frankfort Lodge #567, to be used for scholarships; and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To give online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Jim, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.

Leora Arlene (Schultz) Price, the kindest mother, best grandma, greatest great-grandma, and soon to be a great-great grandma, was called home to be with the Lord at 11:19 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Pastor John Odle officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour of 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

Leora lived a life rooted in love, faith, and quiet strength. She had a heart that served others without needing recognition. Her presence made people feel safe, cared for, and loved. She was the kind of person who showed up through daily phone calls, words of encouragement, prayers spoken out loud and those whispered silently. Loving others was not something she tried to do; it was simply who she was. She loved deeply and gave generously of her time and heart. She took pride in those she loved and never missed a chance to remind them how proud she was of them. Her love reflected Christ’s love – steady, patient, and unconditional.

She will be remembered through many memories held close by those who loved and knew her, and she will be honored through the life she lived. Her greatest work was her family. She taught them personally how to face life’s challenges, how to make hard choices, and how to stand firm with faith and integrity. Her lessons were not only spoken, but lived and will continue to guide her family for generations. Leora was a fighter coming from a long bloodline of fighters and carried both her maiden name and married name with honor and legacy. Leora grew up on a family farm in Ashley, Illinois and often talked of working hard and driving the tractor for long hours. She was the last surviving child of Fred and Eula Schultz.

On November 21, 1953, Leora married Rev. Kenneth E. Price marking 52 years of marriage when he passed in 2005. They made their home in West City, Illinois where Leora was a homemaker and a Mary Kay Consultant for over 50 years. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Benton and then of Immanuel Baptist Church of Benton. Leora was a plant enthusiast and prided herself on her lilac and rose bushes. She was also a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved watching bull riding. Leora enjoyed living close to her dear friend, Carole Rea.

Leora is survived by son Alan (Lisa) Price and their children and grandchildren; Victoria (Jeremy) Jackson, children Remington and Raelynn, and Nicholas Price; daughter Kendra (Les) Newbury and their children and grandchildren: Kendra Richelle Bigham, Melody (Matthew) Morgan, children Jayden and Kaitlyn Leora; April (James) Srna, children Jacob and Andrew; Jon (BJ) Newbury, children Tegan and Raylan; Brittany (Justin) McElroy, children Chesney and Randi; and their son Brad (Mary Lou) Price and their children and grandchildren: Amy (James Dunagan) Price Heard and children Tyler and Chase; Emily Price and daughter Lexi; adopted son Clinton Reed; and daughter Maggie (Travis) Kovach and their son Carter.

Leora was called to attend a special family reunion reunited at last with her loving husband, Reverend Kenneth E. Price; her parents Fred and Eula Schultz, her brothers, Fred Jr., Ervin, and Charles Schultz, her sisters Helen Hyde, Velma Patterson, Imogene Walker and Janice Miller, and a special aunt, Adeline Moore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Benton Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Manna Missions, and Jackson Grove Baptist Church Brown Bag Ministry and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com