Billie M. Lovelady, 90, of Sesser, went to be with her Savior Lord on Friday, March 8, 2013, from Aspen Ridge Nursing Home in Decatur, with her daughters by her side.

She was a cook for 21 years at Severins Nursing Home in Benton and was a member of West City Church of God.

She was born Jan. 28, 1923, on a farm near Benton to William Lee and Myrtle Ethel (Sweetin) LeVault.

She married George Lovelady on Dec.27, 1941, and he preceded in death Jan. 1, 1968.

Billie is survived by children, Loretta and Bill Tankersley of Argenta, Linda Overton of Springfield, Mo., Karen Lovelady of Christopher and Pam and Jerry Dare of Sesser; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a brother–in-law, James and Agnes Lovelady of Sesser.

She was preceded in death by parents; husband; daughter, Marilyn; three grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Gleghorn and Geraldine Lewis; two brothers, Hallice and Gilbert LeVault; and a son-in-law.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home Sesser with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the family and will be accepted at the funeral Home.

For more information, visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

David (POE) Witkowski, 80, of Christopher, died March 9, 2013 at Herrin Hospital, Herrin, IL.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, of Christopher.

As per David’s request, he will be cremated and a memorial serive will be held at a later date in Kouts, IN.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.

For more information visit Gilbert Funeral Home website at gilbertfuneralhomes.com

 

Ilah M. Piper, 86, of Bloomington and formerly of Sesser, died March 9, 2013 at Heritage Health Care, in Bloomington.

She was born July 1, 1926 in Williamson County, the daughter of Walter Theodore Boswell and Martha Emily (Norris) boswell.

She married Donald Lee Piper on July 7, 1946 in Sesser.

Ilah worked as an optometric assistant at the office of Dr. John Slightom, in Harrisburg. Ilah grew up in So. Illinois and lived there her entire life until 2002 when she moved to Bloomington to be closer to her family.She developed a host of friendships in Bloomington, all of which she cherished.

She is survived by one son, Tim (Lee) Piper, of Lexington, IL;one granddaughter Lori (Tony) Kaufman, of Bloomington, IL and by great-grandchildren Alyssa and Jackson Kaufman, of Bloomington.

Also surviving is one sister, Donna (Joseph) LeVault, Thomasville, PA.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband and one brother, Norris Boswell.

Visitation will be at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home in Bloomington on Monday, March 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday March 13 at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home Sesser with a graveside service to follow at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser with the Rev. Julie Smith officiating.

Memorial can be made to the American Heart Ass. And will be accepted at the Funeral Home

For more information visit our web site at gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Maxine (Taylor) Reed, 88, of Benton, passed away at 10:10 a.m. Sunday, March 3, 2013 at Franklin Hospital in Benton.

She was born in Whittington, IL on June 28, 1924, the daughter of Denzil and Velva (Spencer) Taylor.

She married Guy Reed on July 2, 1974 and he died on Sept. 30, 1992.  Mrs. Reed was a member of the Williams Chapel Church and attended the First United Methodist Church in Benton.

She is survived by one brother, Stanley Taylor, of Ewing, one sister LaWanda Mezo and husband James, of McLeansboro, a niece, Beth Hill and husband Michael, of Ewing and a great-nephew Taylor Hill, of Ewing.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by a sister-in-law Doris Taylor.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 8 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.  Burial will be in Elder S. M. Williams Cemetery, in Ewing.  Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

George Dale (Curley) Ragland, 87, of Tamaroa, IL passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013 at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.

He was born in Tamaroa, IL on Feb. 11, 1926, the son of George Franklin (Sr.) and Ora Cockrum Ragland.

He married F. Jean Plumlee, on July 3, 1949 in Piggott, Arkansas, and she survives.

He was an active member and deacon at Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church, serving as a deacon for 47 years.

He was a UMWA member, retiring from Consol No. 2.  He was a member of the Perry County Farm Bureau and his family was very important to him.

Mr. Ragland is survived by his wife, F. Jean Ragland, of Tamaroa and children Vickie (John) Hollis, of Effingham, IL; Karen (David) Harrison, of Sesser; Greg (Nancy) Ragland, of Tamaroa, IL; Nancy (George) Keith, of Tamaroa, IL.

Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Jason Ragland, Prudence (Bob) Kumming, Alyson (Brian) Lewis, Johnny (Jessica) Hollis, Doug (Diana) Harrison, Jared (Erica) Hollis, Ashley (Isaac) Miller, Paige Ragland, Alexis Keith, Colin Keith, Jordan Ragland and 11 great-grandchildren Maddie Kate, Sydney, Nolan, Ava, Sophie, Mason, Justus, Cohen, Carter, Rowen and Jaxon.

Mr. Ragland was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Charles E. Ragland, by sisters Maxine Taylor, Elaina Noward, Imogene Anderson and Verdine Ragland.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 4 at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser with the Rev. Larry Cook and Pastor John Hollis officiating.  Burial will be in the Paradise Cemetery in Tamaroa. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church and from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour on Monday.

In lieu of flowers memorial in Mr. Ragland’s memory may be made to the Mission Fund at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Mary “Pinky” Williams, 94, of Christopher, died Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Stonebridge Senior Living Center in Benton.

Mary was a homemaker and was a member of Valier First Baptist Church.

Mary was born Sept. 21, 1918, in Evansville, Ind., to Ellis and Mildred Autha (Hawkins) Pinkston.

She married Clifford Lee Williams.

Survivors include children, Tom and Geneva Williams of Valier, Bill and Jean Williams of Lincoln, Neb., Janet and Bill James of Evansville, Ind., Bonnie and Mike Porvaznik of Valier, Charlene Hampton of Christopher, Steve and Lori Williams of Christopher, Connie and Steve Cutler of Christopher, Theresa and Jay Evans of Carmi, and Ricky Jo Williams of Herrin. Mary is also survived by several grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one son, Jerry Cavins and his spouse and two daughters, Rose George and Patricia Bowers and their spouses.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 4, in Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with the Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating. Interment will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Valier. Visitation will be from 11 a.m to the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. Monday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Mary Lou Overturf, 87, of Ewing, passed away Saturday afternoon February 16, 2013 at Stone Bridge Senior Living Center in Benton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 20 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Jerry Montgomery officiating. Burial will be in Thurmond Cemetery, Ewing.  Visitation will be after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.