Gerald (Jerry) Keith Upchurch, 80, passed away Sunday morning, July 17, 2022.

He was born on October 31, 1941 at Moore’s Hospital in Benton, IL, the son of Eugene & Wilma (Kern) Upchurch.

Jerry grew up in the Palestine community in rural Benton, IL area (now part of Rend Lake) and attended Palestine one room grade school where his dad was the teacher. After High School he received his BS in Accounting at SIU and later relocated to Metropolis, IL as Administrator of the Massac County Dept. of Public Aid. Beginning in 1988 Jerry volunteered for five years as E-911 Director, along with the help of his late wife Rosie, and implemented the 911 system for Massac County in memory of their son, Carey Upchurch, who was killed in an accident on Oct. 25, 1988. He retired from Public Aid in 1991 and continued working as 911 Director, Jail Administrator and Deputy Sheriff until 2001. He married Kaye Cagle in 1999 and they enjoyed many retirement winters in south Texas and Alabama.

He is survived by his Spouse, Marilyn Kaye Upchurch; Daughters-Connie Busby; Becky Ransdell (Johnny); Sons-Bret Cagle (Jenean); Bart Cagle (Marsha); Grandsons-Logan Busby and John Ross Ransdell and four Granddaughters Ashley Tirey; Bretaney Noe (Aaron); Karissa Clark; Stephanie Cagle Johnston and a very special Sister Diana House (Ron). Also five Greatgrandchildren and many special friends made during our travels.
Mr. Upchurch was preceded in death by his Parents, 1st Wife-Rosie Upchurch, Son-Carey Ross Upchurch and Siblings-Dr. Donald Upchurch and David Upchurch.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 23rd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Minister Larry House officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Saturday at the funeral home.

For those who wish, Memorials may be made to College of Ozarks P. O. Box 17 Point Lookout, MO 65726.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

James Alan Biby, 71, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Friday June 15, 2022 at the Marshall Browning Hospital I DuQuoin, IL.

He was born on March 9, 1951 in Christopher to James L. and Norma Jean (Hertel) Biby. He married Audrey (Handkins) Biby on August 14, 1976 at the Center Baptist Church in Crab Orchard, IL.

He is survived by his Audrey Biby of Mulkeytown, IL; brothers David and Paula (Issler) Biby of Mulkeytown and Brian and Kathy (De Stefano) Biby of Portage, IN; one niece Michelle Red of Portage, IN; two nephews Will Biby of Chicago, IL and Daniel and Summer Biby of Portage, IN; two cousins Pat Bartels of Poplar Grove, IL and Sue Bartels of Poplar Grove, IL.

Alan had worked at the DuQuoin Packing Company in DuQuoin until it closed, he then went to work at the Franklin County Housing Authority in West Frankfort in the Maintenance Department and retiring as the Maintenance Supervisor in 2016 after 34 years of service.

He enjoyed traveling and hiking in the Shawnee Forest. He hiked the River to River Trail in 2018 with his friend Dan. He was a member of the Gateway to the West Coca-Cola Chapter and the St. Louis Gateway section of the Mercedes-Benz Club. He also enjoyed watching Saluki Basketball games.

Funeral services for Alan will be on Tuesday July 19, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor Guy Webster officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Roy Weldon Pinkston, III, age 48, of Benton, went to be with his Lord and Savior, at 1:23 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2022, from the Indiana University Hospital of Indianapolis, Indiana.

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

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Darrel Mark Wells officiating. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery of Sesser, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Roy was born on August 27, 1973, in Portsmouth, Virginia; the son of Roy Weldon Pinkston, Jr. and Patricia Gail (Walker) Pinkston. He married the former Debbie Louise Wyant on September 3, 2005. Together they shared almost seventeen years of marriage.

He worked a s a production foreman at Pepsi Mid-America of Marion, Illinois. His wife said, “he loved his job at Pepsi”.

Roy enjoyed playing golf with his “God-son” Tyler Ore, messing with computers, cooking (especially smoking meats). He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan. Most of all he enjoyed helping others and spending time with his family.
He was a member of the First Church of God of Benton, Illinois.

Surviving is his loving wife Debbie Pinkston of Benton, Illinois; his parents Roy W. Pinkston, Jr. and Patricia Gail Pinkston of Sesser, Illinois; God-son Tyler Ore and family of Benton, Illinois; uncles Ken “Pockets” Trybull, and Tom McClearin both of Benton, Illinois; aunts Diane Walker and husband Charlie of Tallapoosa, Georgia, Sandy Pinkston of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Patricia Williams of Benton, Illinois; two brothers-in-law: Don Wyant, and Gary Wyant and wife Billie, both of Benton, Illinois; a sister-in-law Janet Border of Benton; cousins: Barb Ore of Benton, Larry Trybull and family of Hinckley, Illinois, David Trybull and family of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Justin Borowiec and family, Tim Borowiec and family both of Benton, Christie Volkman of Benton, Stephanie Williams and Steven Williams of Benton, several other cousins and relatives; close friends Sue Ehrlich of Sesser, Eric Childers of West Frankfort, Scott and Sue McClearin of Benton; and his dog Cedar, his cat Bella; and several other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his mother-in-law June Wyant; father-in-law Uel “Punch” Wyant; three brothers-in-law Randy Wyant, Alan Wyant and David Wyant; a sister-in-law Elsie Spain; an uncle: John Pinkston; three aunts: Dorothy Trybull, Janet McClearin, Dolores Tate; and his Shih Tzu Baxter.

Memorial contributions in memory of Roy, may be made to his wife Debbie, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Victor Hugo Sauerhage, Sr., 81, of Benton passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Health in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Hurst, IL on November 14, 1940 the son of Raymond James & Bertha Mae (Ticer) Sauerhage.

He married Barbara Sue (Moore) on November 28, 1960 and she survives.

Mr. Sauerhage was a member of Steel City Baptist Church. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a coal miner for 30 years working for Old Ben #26, Inland Steel in McLeansboro and then Consol at Sesser. His greatest love was camping and the outdoors.
Mr. Sauerhage is survived by his:
Wife: Barbara Sauerhage of Benton
3 Children:
Victor Hugo Sauerhage, Jr of St. Louis, MO
Lynda Depue & husband George of Taylorville
Harry Lee Sauerhage & wife Lisa of Benton
Grandchildren:
Toni & Tod Morgan of Elkville
Tyler & Kirsten Malkovich of Henderson, NV
Ryan & Brandi Sauerhage of Akin
Ryan & Rachel Fraulini of Akin
Whitney Sauerhage & Mark Kovach of Granite City, IL
Nic & Sam Depue of Taylorville
Great-Grandchildren:
Tad & Heather Morgan of Sesser
Leah, Noah, Luc, Madeline Depue of Taylorville
Brantlee & Hadley Sauerhage of Akin
Easton & Paisley Fraulini of Akin
Brothers:
Floyd D. “Skip” & Jean Sauerhage of Frankston, TX
Rick & Patty Chick of Marion
Sister-in-law: Wilma Wagoner & husband Bud of Valier and their daughter Janaira
Several Nieces & Nephews
Special Grandchildren:
Onae Parker of Belleville
John Parker, Jr. of St. Louis, MO
Special Great-Grandchildren:
Kadyn Tucker of Belleville
Royce & Raegyn Gater of Belleville
Very Special Friend: John Parker, Sr. of St. Louis
2 Very Special young ladies in his life, his Addus workers: Lauren Thomason(parttime) of Benton & Lorie Ann Childers(giggles) of West Frankfort
Mr. Sauerhage was preceded in death by his Parents, 2 Sisters-Cordelia Owens & Doris Darnell, 1 Great-Granddaughter-Adalynn Depue, Brother-in-law-Donald Moore.
Funeral servies will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 14th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Joe Zbinden officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday and after 9:00 A.M. on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Paradise Prairie Cemetery in Tamaroa.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Larry James Reaney, age 78, of Royalton, Illinois, passed away peacefully at Du Quoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, on July 5th, 2022.

He was preceded in death by wife, Linda (Berner) Reaney, his parents Harold and Viola (Dodson) Reaney, brother Harold Wayne Reaney, and sister Emmarillis Joann Hopper. He is survived by his daughter Angela Reaney of Royalton, Illinois, Scott Reaney of Delta Junction, Alaska, and grandchildren Brooklyn Reaney, Taylor Reaney, and Phoebe Reaney. Larry was a coal miner. He enjoyed rabbit hunting, raising beagles, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

Graveside services for Larry will be on Saturday July 9, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery with Rev. Kurt Jensen officiating. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery.

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