James Donald Price – Sesser, IL

James Donald Price, 77, of Sesser, passed away on Sunday November 14, 2021.

He was born on January 27, 1944 in Lebanon, MO to Clyde Jerald and Elsie Grace (Jones) Price. He married Joyce (Bays) Price on September 16, 1967.

He is survived by his wife Joyce Price of Sesser; three sons James Phillip Price of Sesser, Donald Stephen (Lori) Price of Pennsylvania and Christopher Andrew (Cathy) Price of Florida; one special son Dan (Nickie) Winters of North Carolina; three grandchildren and one brother Jerry (Sandy) Price of Kansas City, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday November 19, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser with Brother Gowdy Cannon officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.

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

Dena R. Groves – Benton, IL

Dena R. Groves, 64, of Benton passed away Thursday morning, November 11, 2021 at her home.

She was born in Eddyville, IL on May 26, 1957, the daughter of Robert & Donna (Parson) Williams.

She married Jimmy D. Groves on October 11, 1978, and he preceded her in death on June 29, 2011.

Her grandsons were the love of her life. She enjoyed talking to her CB Buddies, her handle was Bumper. She will be greatly missed by all who knew & loved her.

Dena is survived by her:

Daughter: Miranda Williams & husband Stanley, Jr. of Benton

Grandsons: Wyatt & Waylon

Sister: Lois Schofield & husband John of Broughton
Brother: James Warren Williams
2 Nieces & 4 Nephews and Several Great-Nieces & Great-Nephews
Dena was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband and Brother-James Warren Williams.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 16th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with John Schofield officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Linda G. Summers – Benton, IL

Linda G. Summers, 75, of Benton, passed away at 6:35 a.m. on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Herrin Hospital.

She was born on May 4, 1946, to Troy and Vevia (Threewitt) Knight in Benton, IL.

Linda was an active member of the West City Church of God.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to many. Linda enjoyed singing, collecting figurines, reading, spending time with her family, and decorating for the holidays.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Troy and Vevia Knight; four sisters, Kathy Gulley, Shirley Summers, Marilyn Knight, and Audrey Gilliam; two brothers, Donnie Knight and Eddie Knight; husband, Ronald Summers; and grandson Oliver Hutchinson.

She is survived by her five loving children Kim, Tim, Kevin, Kristie and Heather; four grandchildren Andrew, Olivia, Lucus and Sydney; two great-grandchildren, Bentley and Lily; two sisters, Joyce and Judy; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Visitation will be on Monday, November 15, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held following the visitation at 3:00 p.m., at the funeral home with the Reverend Harol Whitlock, officiating services.

Burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to West City Church of God, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.patefh.com

James A. VanHorn – Christopher, IL

James A. VanHorn, 82, of Christopher, passed away on Wednesday November 10, 2021.

He was born on February 10, 1939 in Mulkeytown to Murlin Madison and Wilma (McGlasson) VanHorn.

He is survived by his son James VanHorn of Christopher and two grandsons Austin Lee VanHorn and Timothy Michael VanHorn.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Sarah Lucille VanHorn.

He was a Veteran of the United States Army.

There will be no services.

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

Marsha Hart – Mulkeytown, Illinois

Marsha Diane Hart, age 68, of Mulkeytown; passed away Saturday, November 6, 2021 at her home.

Her wishes are to be cremated with no public services.

Marsha was born in Marion, Illinois, on September 5, 1953; the daughter of Jack Orval Mangrum and Dorothy Ellen (Murphy) Mangrum. She married Orval Andrew Hart on February 12, 1971, and he preceded her in death on February 3, 2021.

Mrs. Hart formerly worked as a manager at CVS in Benton; prior to that she was a plant manager with Mark Twain Boat Factory in West Frankfort.

She was of the Catholic faith.

She enjoyed fishing, camping, being outdoors, and taking care of her cats.

Marsha is survived by two sons: David Hart and wife Shawana of Buncombe, IL, Daniel Hart of Peoria, IL; three step – children: Kathy Luke and husband John of Phoenix, AZ, Terry Hart of Tuscon, AZ, William Hart of Tuscon, AZ; twenty grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister: Glenda Mangrum of Johnston City, IL; two brothers: Bobby Mangrum of Murphysboro, IL, Buddy Mangrum of Johnston City, IL; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a step – son Michael Hart; and two brothers: Billy Joe and Donald Ray Mangrum.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance, and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, Illinois 62812.

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

Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Patricia Rose Rodgers – Mulkeytown, IL

Patricia Rose Rodgers, 74, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Sunday November 8, 2021 at her home.

She was born on April 22, 1947 to Lawrence and Rosemary Peila. She married Steve Rodgers on April 8, 1968.

She is survived by her husband Steve Rodgers of Mulkeytown; children Stephen Rodgers of Mulkeytown, Brian (Stacey) Rodgers of Fort Myers, FL and Ciara (Nick) Minor of Mulkeytown; grandchildren Tre Rodgers, Hailee Rodgers, Paige (Jailon) Rush and Alysha Rodgers; great grandchildren Kylan, Lawson, Kannon, Adeline and Quincy and one brother Lawrence Peila of Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Angie Rodgers and one son Anthony Rodgers.

There will be a private family service at the Mulkeytown Cemetery.

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

Alan Marsh – Benton, IL

Alan Thomas Marsh, age 60, of Benton, passed away Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at his home.

His wishes are to be cremated with no public services.

Leffler Funeral Home of Benton; is in charge of the cremation arrangements.

Alan was born on February 4, 1961, in Mattoon, Illinois, the son of Thomas Everett Marsh and Lilymae (Wormley) Marsh.
He was a retired truck driver last working for Tom Henley Trucking of Thompsonville, Illinois. He also formerly worked as a paramedic, and also worked for the former Mariah Boat Factory of Benton. He was a U.S. Marine veteran.
Alan enjoyed watching television programs on murder mysteries and westerns.

Surviving is his loving mother Lilymae Shaw of Benton; a sister Natalie Hall of Bonita Springs, Florida; a nephew Skylar Hall of Indianapolis, Indiana; and an uncle John Wormley of Bonita Springs, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his father Thomas Everett Marsh; his step-father Theodore “Ted” Shaw; and his maternal grandparents: John and Margaret Wormley.

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

Gwendolyn Sue McGill – Benton, IL

Gwendolyn Sue McGill, age 71, of Benton, passed away at 2:31 p.m. Monday, November 1, 2021, at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2021, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton. Burial will follow in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Sue was born on September 17, 1950, in Benton, the daughter of Homer Spain and Anna (Harold) Spain. She married Gary Edward McGill on May 7, 1993, and he survives.

She worked as a laundry aide at the Franklin Hospital of Benton; and was a member of the Eakin Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

Sue enjoyed decorating her home, cooking, and working crossword puzzles.

Surviving is her loving husband of 28 years, Gary E. McGill of Benton; two sons: George Pulliam and wife Lisa of Mt. Vernon, KY, Randy Pulliam of Benton; two step-children: Bryan McGill and wife Melinda of Ewing, Cindy Ward and husband Darren of New Berlin, IL; seven grandchildren: Misty Sullivan, Nora Pulliam, John Pulliam and wife Kaitlynn, Jacob Norris, Murphy Ward, Lenox Ward and Rogan Ward; four great-grandchildren; siblings: Helen and husband George “Itchy” Davis of Benton, Linda Taylor of Junction, IL, Charles Spain of Benton, Louise and husband Alan Minton of Christopher; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son John Pulliam; four brothers: Kenneth Lavern Spain, Paul Eugene Spain, Robert Lee “Butch” Spain; a sister Gladys Louise Spain; and her two fur babies: Zelda Mae and Foxy.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Ernest W. (Zeke) Smith – Benton, IL

Ernest W. (Zeke) Smith, 79, of Benton passed away at 12:00 noon on Monday, November 1, 2021 at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Mr. Smith was born in Benton, IL on December 14, 1941, the son of William G. & Birdie (Roberts) Smith.

Mr. Smith was an excellent horse trainer, and worked road construction. He loved hunting, fishing & animals but the most important thing to him was his family.

He leaves behind:
1 Son: Carl Smith & wife Nancy of Caseyville
Loving Companion: Mary Jane Tasky of Benton
Daughter: Crystal Balota of Benton
5 Grandchildren:
Miranda Frailey
Caylie Smith
Ashley
Nikki
Brandon
Great-Granddaughter: Stella Frailey
Mary Jane’s children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren
3 Brothers:
Jim Smith & wife Virginia
Gene Smith
Gary Smith
6 Sisters:
Judy & MIke Ward
Edna Fotheringhame
Nita Adams
Geneva Smith
Jeannette Tasky
Dorothy Cockrum
Several Nieces & Nephews to numerous to mention
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his mother & father Bill & Birdie Smith, Granddaughter-Carly Smith, brothers- Robert, Dale, John C., sisters-Eunice Conner, Mary Hobbie & Sharon Heinrich.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, November 5th at the Morton & Johnston Funneral Home in Benton with Rev. Don Colson officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Daniel Ree Martin-Sesser, IL

Daniel Ree Martin, 77, of Sesser, passed away on Saturday October 30, 2021 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born on March 16, 1944 in Shawneetown, IL to John and Mary (Seeley) Martin. He married Linda (Schneider) Martin on December 22, 2001.

He is survived by his wife Linda Martin of Sesser; children Darrin Martin of Sesser and Keith Martin of Sesser; grandchildren Kristen Martin and Caitlyn Haynes and several great grandchildren; brothers and sisters Lawrence Martin of Shawneetown, Roberta Thompson of Equality, Norma Jones of Shawneetown, Gary Flahardy of Shawneetown, Clifton Flahardy of The Villages, FL, Mike Flahardy of Thompsonville, Rex Flahardy of Harrisburg and Monty Flahardy and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Nathan Martin and two sisters Birdie Brooks and Becky Christian.

He was Vietnam veteran serving in the United States Army.

His wishes were to be cremated with no services.

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

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News