All Obituaries

Bette Marian Hughes, 87, of Ewing passed away June 5, 2019 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. Funeral services will be at 2:30pm on Saturday, June 8th at Morton Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, IL. Visitation will be from 12pm to 2:30pm, with the funeral beginning at 2:30pm. Burial will be at the Thurmond Cemetery, Ewing, IL. A dinner will be hosted at the Rescue Free Will Baptist church, immediately following the burial service. Marian was born on May 30, 1932, the daughter of...

Calvin "Kim" Bigham, 74, of Benton passed away on May 22, 2019. Mr. Bigham was born on January 10, 1945, the son of Ernie Leeman & Betty (Iunerich) Bigham. Calvin was a Day Foreman with Freeman United Coal Company. Mr. Bigham is survived by his: Wife: Connie Bigham of Benton 3 Children: Chris Bigham & wife Sandy of Bradenton, FL Cassy Chapman & husband Jay of St. Peter, IL Kerrie Smith & Special Friend James Hopkins of Benton, IL Grandchildren: Nick, Megan, Erik,...

Tracie B. Willis, age 43, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 in Lexington, KY. She was born on August 29, 1975, in Benton, Illinois to Bruce and Vickie (Adkins) Willis. Tracie graduated Benton Consolidated High School in 1993. She graduated Rend Lake College in 1994 with an Associate of Science degree in Accounting. Shortly after her graduation from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting with a Minor in Finance, Tracie...

Tyler A. Gray passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019. Services will be held at 6:00 P.M. Friday, May 24th ot the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Visitation will be after 4:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home.

Virgil Mullen, 85, of Benton passed away Monday morning, May 13, 2019 at his home. He was born on April 5, 1934 in Cascilla, Mississippi, the son of Joseph Edward & Lola Mae (Mitchell) Mullen. He married JoAnn Mullen on June 9, 1957 in Joliet, IL and she preceded him in death on December 30, 2017. Mr. Mullen along with his wife formerly owned & operated the Benton Bowl & Rend Lake Storage. Mr. Mullen is survived by his: 3 Children: Dave Mullen & wife Janie of Janesville,...

Janelle Rogers, 87, of Benton passed away Friday evening May 10, 2019 at St. Louis University Hospital. She was born in Jonesboro, IL on April 6, 1932, the daughter of Benjamin & Anna (Crowell) McRaven. She married Robert E. Rogers on November 28, 1998 and he preceded her in death on November 12, 2016. Mrs. Rogers finished her career as an office assistant for Roger Clark DVM. She liked to work in her flower garden andshe enjoyed crossword puzzles. She enjoyed spending time with her...

Raymond Lipe March 3, 1925– May 7, 2019   Preceded in death by the love of his life, Vanetta, two sisters, Beulah (John) and Berniece (Tommy), his mother, Nolia and father, George. He is survived by three sons, Kenneth (Dorothy), Gary (Linda) and Gordon (Johanna), seven grandchildren, Sandra, Kenny, Kelly, Lisa, Angelique, Gordon and Sherry, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He retired from...

  Katherine K. Sanford, a long-time Benton native, passed away late Monday, April 15, 2019 at Franklin Hospital. Mrs. Sanford was born on January 1, 1931 in San Antonio, Texas to Robert D. and Elizabeth Ross Kemp. She was a 1949 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, W.Va. and received Bachelor’s degrees from West Virginia University and SIU Carbondale.  Mrs. Sanford taught GED classes for over 15 years in addition to being a long time member of Benton First...

Oveda Neal Gulley, 96, of Benton passed away Wednesday night April 17, 2019 at Heritage Woods in Benton. She was born in Benton, IL on February 23, 1923, the daughter of James & Cora Neal. She married Raymond Gulley on September 7, 1940. Mrs. Gulley was a member of the North Benton Missionary Baptist Church. She worked as a homemaker, she worked at Franklin Hospital, and as a Factory Worker. She truly enjoyed her family and her Church. Mrs. Gulley is survived by her: 2...

Birdine Neal, 98, of Belvidere and formerly of Mt. Vernon, died at 8:30 pm, Saturday March 30, 2019, at Alden Debes Center in Rockford. She was born March 1, 1921, in Jefferson County, the daughter of Harry O. and Ina, Fred, Hamilton. Birdine was first married to Richard Keelen. She later married Harley Neal on May 18, 1957. They lived for many years on their farm near Frisco. Harley died on August 19, 2005. Mrs. Neal is survived by a son Steve and wife Judy Keelen of Belvidere:...