Obituaries

Jul 27, 2024

Carolyn Sue Odum, age 89, of Fuquay -Varina, North Carolina, formerly of Herrin, Illinois, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Transitions Life Care in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Carolyn was born September 23, 1934 in Herrin, Illinois, a daughter of Melvin and Thelma (Yates) Liddell. Carolyn grew up in Herrin, IL and graduated Herrin High School in 1952. She married the...

Jul 27, 2024

Jeanne Rose Walters, age 85, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Jeanne was born April 25, 1939 in Desi, France, a daughter of Rene and Paulette (Truaud) Moinard. She married the love of her life, Charles Walters on January 02, 1992 in Cook County, Illinois. Prior to her retirement, Jeanne...

Jul 26, 2024

Luther Lee Howard, age 62, of Buncombe, Illinois, passed away Friday, July 26, 2024 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Luther was born January 21, 1962 in Cape Giradeau, Missouri, a son of Junior and Shirley (Hubbard) Howard. While growing up Luther's family moved often, moving to several towns in Missouri and Southern Illinois. Luther spent most of...

Jul 26, 2024

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Ronda Rae Reitz McWilliams on July 26, 2024. Her life, marked by love, laughter, assertiveness, perseverance, and resilience, has left an enduring impression on all who knew her. To honor her remarkable journey and celebrate the life she led, a memorial service will be held in her honor at First Baptist...

Jul 25, 2024

Pamela Sue Harris, of Marion, passed away on July 25th with her loving family by her side. She was born on October 14, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Kirkwood, Missouri, daughter of Jesse and Florence (Freeman) Berry.

Pam worked many different jobs throughout her life, but she most enjoyed working at the River Boat Casino...

Jul 24, 2024

Kenneth E. "Ken" Smith, age 65, of Worden, Illinois, formerly of Marion, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2024, at his residence.

Ken was born in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Elaine McKinney & the late Kenneth Smith. Ken married Lisa (Choate) Smith in October 1983. Besides his wife, Ken is survived by his two children, Kelly Ruehl (Rob),...

Jul 22, 2024

Michael Lee Smith, age 73, of West Frankfort, Illinois, passed away Monday, July 22, 2024 at Veterans Affair Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Michael was born September 05, 1950 in Herrin, Illinois, a son of Gordon and Erma Naomi (Hornick) Smith. Michael was born and grew up in Herrin, Illinois. He joined the United States Army where he served in Vietnam....

Jul 22, 2024

Gregory Allen Cornell, age 77, of Freeman Spur, Illinois passed away Monday, July 22, 2024 at V.A. Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Gregory was born April 06, 1947 in Herrin, Illinois, a son of Richard and Dolores (Maxey) Cornell. Greg grew up in Herrin and graduated Herrin High School in 1965. He joined the US Navy from 1966-1971. He served aboard...

Jul 21, 2024

Verne Harold Ricker, age 85, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Helia Healthcare of Energy in Energy, Illinois.

Verne was born July 19, 1939 in Lisbon, Maine, a son of Howard and Alice (McIntosh) Ricker. 

Verne grew up in Lisbon, Maine and graduated High School in 1957. He attended trade school and worked with his father on his...

Jul 20, 2024

Kristy Jo Jeffords, of Marion, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024, with her loving family by her side.  Kristy was born June 6, 1976, in Herrin, Illinois. She grew up in rural Marion with her parents and siblings.

She was a graduate of Marion High School Class of 1994. She played basketball up until her high...

Jul 19, 2024

Sherman Albert Minton, age 74, of Goreville, Illinois, passed away Friday, July 19, 2024 at his home in Goreville, Illinois.

Sherman was born November 06, 1949 in Paris, Illinois, a son of Charlie and Mabel (Hickam) Minton. He married Kelly Billingsley and she survives in Goreville. A hard worker from the age of seventeen, he spent ten years working at Westernaire...

Jul 17, 2024

Mark Ryan Vandeveer, age 49, of Marion, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at his home. Mark was born October 07, 1974 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a son of Robert and Sharon K. (Morgan) Vandeveer.

Private family services are being held at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Everyone is invited to attend the Celebration of Life service...

Jul 16, 2024

Monee Lamont Nelson, formerly of Marion, Illinois passed away on July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Lamont was born December 15, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was the son of Udell and Brenda (Emery) Nelson.

Lamont was a special person.  He was a good student, and he enjoyed playing basketball from 5th grade through college,...

Jul 13, 2024

Virginia “Ginger” Louise Melton, 58, of Herrin, Illinois passed away on July 13, 2024. She was born in Peoria, Illinois on June 28, 1966, the daughter of Virginia Sue Nichols and Jackie Lee Cline.

Ginger was employed as a physical therapist assistant and rotated her workday at local nursing homes around Southern Illinois. She retired in early...

Jul 8, 2024

Brenda Darlene Wallis, age 66, of Cecil, Arkansas, formerly of Marion, Illinois, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024 at Ozark Mercy Hospital in Ozark, Arkansas.

Brenda was born July 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of Melvin and Margaret (Dempsey) Haseker. In 1968 her family moved to Marion, Illinois and she graduated Marion High School in1975. She worked as an...

Jul 5, 2024

Sandra Lorraine Early, age 77, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Friday, July 5, 2024 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Sandra was born November 18, 1946 in Shiloh, Illinois, a daughter of Theodore and Tessie (Ing) Archer. Sandra grew up and spent most of her life in Virden, IL. She attended SIU and earned a Masters Degree in Education....

Jul 4, 2024

Patricia Ann Christopher, age 72, of Marion, Illinois, beloved spouse, parent, and friend, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2024, at her home.

Pat was born September 5, 1951, in Herrin, IL, the daughter of George H. and Nora M. (Cutty) Kirkpatrick. She grew up in Marion, IL, and graduated from Marion High School in 1969. Pat went on to further her...

Jul 3, 2024

George Hamilton Wilkerson, 91, of Creal Springs, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home on July 3, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. George was born on March 26, 1933, in Richmond Heights, Missouri, the son of Floyd and Orpha (nee Hellings) Wilkerson.

Mr. Wilkerson honorably served our grateful nation in the United States Army.  He was...

Jul 1, 2024

Richard Bethel, age 64, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Monday, July 1, 2024 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Richard was born May 24, 1960 in Marion, Illinois, a son of William and Joann (Cottonaro) Bethel. He married the love of his life, Donna Colyer in October of 2006. Richard grew up in Marion and had many occupations over...

Jul 1, 2024

Marilyn Gelgut, 75, of Marion, Illinois, passed away on July 1, 2024, at Heartland Regional Medical Center.  Marilyn was born on January 29, 1949, in Centre, Alabama, the daughter of Buford and Myrtle Smart.

Marilyn graduated from Gaylesville High School in 1967.  She spent her career working for GTE as a telephone operator and in telephone sales...