Edna Fay Perkins, 86, of Benton passed away Tuesday morning January 29, 2013 at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, in Mt. Vernon.

She was born in Benton, IL on January 10, 1927, the daughter of Ed and Sarah (Mabry) Beattie.

She married Jack L. Perkins on December 6, 1947, and he survives.

Mrs. Perkins was a lifelong Benton resident, a mother and homemaker who was faithful to send cards and notes to people.

Mrs. Perkins was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church of Benton, where she sang in the choir for 28 years and helped as Sunday School secretary for eight years.

Mrs. Perkins is survived her husband, Jack L. Perkins; two sons David Perkins, of Benton, and Eric Perkins and wife Melissa of Carterville.  She is also survived by one grandson, Vincent, of Carterville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, by a brother, Bill Beattie and by two sisters, Ida Harrelson and Norma Wymer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 1 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton with Brother Bill Carter officiating.  Burial will be in the Masonic &  Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

For those who wish, memorials in Mrs. Perkins memory may be made to the First Baptist Church of Benton.

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

Judith “Judy” Eubanks, 74, of Sesser passed away January 16, 2013 at her home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 1 p.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with the Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating. Visitation will be Friday, January 18 after 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Judy was born October 11, 1938 in Springfield, IL to R.J. Daigh and Irene (Reevely) Daigh.

She worked as a registered nurse since 1950 and played the piano and organ at First Baptist Church in Sesser for more than 50 years, where she was a member.

Judy married Charlie Eubanks on July 15, 1950 in Sesser and he survives.

Also surviving are her children, Charles and Deborah Eubanks, Liberia, LA, David “Scooter” Eubanks and fiance Donna Schuler, of Mulkeytown and Janet and Robert Robbins, of Mulkeytown.

Judy is also survived by her grandchildren, Anthony and Jenn Eubanks, Nicole and J.D. Downey, Abby Eubanks, David Eubanks, Maggie Robbins, Emma Robbins and her great-grandchildren Jaylon Downey, Jarrick Downey and Aydan Joiner.

She is also survived by two sisters, Marlyn Roderick, Springfield, IL and Janice Newton, Overland Park, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

Memorials contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Roland Sidney “Sid” Burberry, 97, of Benton, passed away on Jan. 14, 2013 at Memorial Hospital, of Carbondale.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 17 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Military rites will be conducted.

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

There will be no visitation and those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.

Ronald E. Issler, 60, passed away at his home in the rural area known as Cleburne, on January 15, 2013.

Ron was born on March 24, 1952 in Rochelle, Illinois to Charles E. and Freda (Meadows) Issler.  He was the second of four children.

A 1970 graduate of West Franklin High School, later known as Zeigler-Royalton High School, Ron served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.  Following his service he worked at various jobs in Missouri and Illinois.  He spent the last several years helping to care for his parents.

Ron was preceded in death by his grandparents.

He is survived by his parents, siblings and their spouses: Charles L. Issler and wife Anna of Rainbow City, AL, Gary L. Issler and wife Liz of Herrin, IL and Paula Biby and husband David, of Mulkeytown, IL.  He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 18, at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Brother Bill Carter officiating.  Burial will be in the Mulkeytown Cemetery.  Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Lenora West, 90, of Sesser, died at 10:34 a.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at her home.

She was born on January 2, 1923 in Sesser to  Joseph Pavletich and Pierina (Chervaten) Pavletich.

Lenora helped with the family business, Eastview Grocery Store.  She then moved to St. Louis after graduating from Goode-Barren Township High school and worked for Western Union delivering telegrams and then she worked for Small Arms Ammunition Plant in St. Louis.  She also worked for Sesser Five-and-Dime, and she and her husband operated the Custard Stand in Sesser, IL for many years

Lenora was also president of the American Legion Auxiliary, past president of the Eastern Star United Methodist Church of Sesser, IL.  She was also a lifelong member of the Sesser United Methodist Church.

When Lenora and her sister would come home from school they were instructed to only speak English not Croatian, so the family could learn how to speak English.  She was a perpetual teacher she enjoyed helping her children study for tests and passing on her love for reading to her children. Her last lesson of life was how she handled her death.  Lenora was a wonderful wife, sister and mother.

She married Leon West on June 27, 1944 and she moved to Moreinci, AZ when Leon was stationed in the military to work at the copper mines. When her husband was called to the European Theater, she moved back to Sesser.  After Leon was wounded in the Argon Forrest he was sent to a hospital in London, then he was transferred to Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, CO.  Lenora joined him in Denver where she lived a block away from the hospital while he recuperated.

Lenora is survived by one son, Marvin Lee West, Sesser/Carbondale, IL; three daughters, Kathy Joann West and husband Royce Jackson, of Du Quoin, Cindy Lou Dame-Vanhorn and husband Ron, of Whittington and Melinda Sue Kelly and husband Joseph, of Sesser.

Also surviving are grandchildren Christine Leigh and husband Eul Vickers, of Scheller, IL, Aileen Grace Kelly, of Sesser/Carbondale, Il, step grandchildren Rachel Jackson, of Carbondale, Paul Russell and wife Paige Pestka Jackson, of Tallahassee, FL, and one great-grandson, Haystin Andon Vickers.

Lenora is also survived by one brother, Lawrence Joseph and wife Glenda Pavletich, of Sesser, IL and a sister, Normal Lee Martin, of Du Quoin, IL.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and two very special caregivers Glenda Fornear and Daisy Sims.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one infant sister Matilda Pavletich and one grandson, Brandon Lee Dame.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 18, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Pastor Joseph Kelly of the Eternal Friends of Christ, of Sesser, officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday, January 17, 2013 after 5 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Sesser, IL.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Marshall Browning Tree of Life, Eternal Friends of Christ, or to the donor’s choice and will be accepted at the funeral home

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

Margie Marie Chamness, 82, of Benton, passed away Friday, January 11, 2013 at her home in Benton.

She was born in Benton, IL on April 4, 1930, the daughter of Charley and Sybil (Williams) Kays.

She married Virgil Chamness in 1963, and he preceded her in death on February 1, 1990.

Mrs. Chamness was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in South Chicago Heights.  She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary.

Mr.s Chamness is survived by a daughter, Pam Ray, of Benton and two sons, Danny (Cindy) Eldridge, of Benton and Monty (Jean) Eldridge, of Manteno.

Also surviving are several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by 10 brothers and sisters.

Graveside memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 19 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Brother Gene Blades officiating.  There will be no visitation.  Those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.

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

Rabrum Vaughn, Jr., 65, of Mulkeytown, died Sunday, January 14, at Marshall Browning Hospital Emergency Room, in Du Quoin.

Mr. Vaughn was born August 7, 1947 in Christopher to Rabrum Vaughn and Ruby (Carpenter) Vaughn.  He was a truck driver for Star Trucking and attended Full Gospel Church in Buckner.

He married Susan (Price) Vaughn on June 9, 1961 and she survives in Mulkeytown, Illinois.

Mr. Vaughn is survived on a daughter, Mary (Wesley) Morse, of Mulkeytown.  Also surviving is a very special granddaughter, Hannah Mae Morse, who was much loved by her “Papa.”

Additional survivors include a sister, Carolyn Joyce (Tom) Flowers, of Zeigler; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Dorothy Price of Mulkeytown; brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-law, Victor and Brenda Maze, of Herrin; David and Candy Price, of Christopher; Paul and Paula Price, of Mulkeytown, Patty and Bernard Mack, of West Frankfort and Allen and Becky Price, of Mulkeytown.

He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Vaughn was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher with the Rev. Cecil Sullivan and Sister Bernadine Caldwell Webb officiating.  Visitation will also be Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to the time of service at 11 a.m.  Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery in Mulkeytown.

Dear will always live in the hearts of his family and will be sadly missed by Spanky.

For more information visit our website at gilbertfuneralhomes.com