Everett Lee Tabor, 86, of Benton, Illinois passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Saturday December 28, 2024 in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale at 2:26p.m.

Everett was born July 17, 1938 in West Frankfort, Illinois to Harry and Blanche (Edwards) Tabor. Everett was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a very giving person. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church – Benton, Illinois. Everett was a faithful servant of the Lord and had a heart for missions. He was a previous member of First Baptist Church of Milford, Ohio. Everett served in the Bearing Precious Ministry and First Bible International. Everett pastored East Fork Cemetery in West Frankfort in the early 1970’s .

He was preceded in death by his son, Keith Tabor; parents; sisters: Joyce Tabor, Marcella Felton, and Jenita Punchard; brothers, Harry Joe and Charlie Tabor.

Everett is survived by his wife, Betty Tabor who he married in 1985; son, Kent Tabor; daughters: Melanie (Tim) Norman and Kathy (Mark) Miller; nine grandchildren: Reggie (Alyssa) Norman, Leah Bailey, Jake Tabor, Chelsea (Gunner) Bailey, Natasha (Mike) Dolan, Nathan Shurtz, Nick (Lindsey) Tabor, Mitchell Bahr, and Nick Carter; fourteen great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m. Thursday January 2, 2025 in the Immanuel Baptist Church – Benton, Illinois with Minister Eddie Paul Davis officiating. Burial will be in Denning Cemetery on the Orient Road. Visitation will be held in the church from 9:00-11:00a.m. prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Bearing Precious Seed Ministry in Milford, Ohio. Envelopes will be available and accepted at the church or funeral home.

Mr. Marion Frank Powenski, age 93, of Benton, passed away at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Benton Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Benton, IL.

His wishes are to be cremated, with no public services.

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

Mr. Powenski was born on June 12, 1931, in Benton, IL; the son of Mike Powenski and Helen (Shibovich) Powenski. On May 12, 1956, he married the former Merlene Eickleman, together they shared 67 years of marriage, until her passing on February 2, 2024.
Marion worked as a meter reader with CIPS Electric (now Ameren). He enjoyed attending Benton Ranger sporting events, especially basketball. He loved visiting with people, his son Mike said, “he was a people person that enjoyed helping others”.

Marion was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Benton.

He is survived by a daughter Linda Powenski of Benton, IL; a son Mike Powenski and wife Cindy of Johnston City, IL; three grandchildren: John Gouge, Jr. and wife Rebecca of Kalamazoo, MI, Adam Gouge of Iowa, Natosha Plumlee and husband Bryan of Valier, IL; seven great-grandchildren: Ava, Aiden, Deacon, Michael, Faith, Castiel, and Nyla.

Mr. Powenski was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two sisters Rose and Ann, five brothers: John, Stanley, Mike, Louis and Leo.
Memorial contributions in memory of Marion may be made to the Benton Healthcare Resident Activity Fund, and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Raymond Leland Flannigan, 92, formerly of Christopher, IL, passed away on December 27, 2024 at The Anchor in Marion, IL.

He was born on October 1, 1932 in Benton, IL to Harry and Mary Smith Flannigan. Due to the declining health of his parents, at the age of ten years old, he was placed in the home of Bill and Margaret Haynes Mitchell of Christopher, IL. Bill and Margaret raised him as their own child to adulthood.

He married Linda Swisher, of Mulkeytown, IL, on April 6, 1957 in the First Christian Church in Mulkeytown, Illinois. She preceded him in death on January 6, 2015. He is survived by one son, Tracy Flannigan, of Thibodeaux, Louisiana, granddaughter Shana Hall, great granddaughters, Dixie Hall and Avanna Hall of White Bluff, Tennessee, sisters-in-law, Judy Swisher, Mulkeytown, IL, Janice Tilley, DuQuoin, IL and Debbie (Jerry) Stanley, Mulkeytown, IL. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and one special nephew, Donald Mason of Elkview, West Virginia who was faithful in keeping in touch with Raymond. Also surviving him are cousins from the Bill Mitchell family. He was preceded in death by sons David Flannigan, Mark Flannigan, foster parents, Bill and Margaret Mitchell, brothers Harry and John Flannigan and sisters, Hazel Mazurek and Nora Mae Mason, mother and father-in-law, Emmett “Dobber” and Verble Swisher, brothers-in-law, Charles “Dobber” Swisher, Bob Swisher, Norman Tilley and sister-in-law, Evelyn Pinkham Swisher.

Raymond enlisted in the Air Force on November 18, 1952 and completed his basic training at Parks Air Force Base, Pleasanton, California. From there he went to Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas for jet mechanic training. After completing four years in the Air Force, he returned home where he met and married his wife, Linda. He reenlisted after their marriage and subsequently was stationed at numerous bases in the states, as well as in France and England. He also served three tours in Viet Nam. He was a jet mechanic and after more than 22 years, he retired as an E7 Master Sergeant. He and Linda loved the Air Force and they met and remained friends with people from every place they were stationed. They especially loved their stay in England. After retiring from the Air Force, Raymond spent close to 15 years as a mug engineer in the oil fields in Louisiana. At the close of that job, he attended shoe repair school and he and Linda bought a shoe repair shop in Nashville, Tennessee. He spent 15 years with his sons repairing shoes for numerous country stars. Raymond led a full life and retirement was never in his vocabulary. He never met a stranger and truly loved everything he did.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Gilbert Funeral Home, Christopher, IL with Brother Donald Wright officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery, Mulkeytown, IL with full military rites. In lieu of flowers, it was Raymond’s express wishes that any memorials be made to Veteran’s Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, 10400 Terminal Drive, Suite 200, Marion, IL 62959.

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

Kenneth E. Bloom, 83, of Sesser, passed away at 1:48 p.m., on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin, IL, surrounded by his family.

He was born on February 5, 1941, to Kenneth and Helen (Plouck) Bloom in Bowling Green, OH. Kenneth was a retired coal miner. On July 6, 1960, he married Mary Tucker, and she survives.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Kenneth loved gardening, hunting and fishing, in his pasttime.

Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary, three daughters, Peggy (Kenneth) Puckett, Patty (Mike) Galloway and Carolyn (Dean) Knight; three sisters, Hazel Jones, Helen Ann Bennett and Joan Marie Galloway; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth Noal and Helen Frances Bloom, his son, Michael Eugene Bloom, two brothers, Isaac Bloom and Delmar William Bloom and his sister, Mary Rose Clark.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with Brother Bryant Harris, officiating.
Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Paradise Prairie Cemetery in Tamaroa, IL.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com

David K. Nelson, 56, of Christopher, passed away on December 24, 2024 at his home.

He was born on January 22, 1968 in DuQuoin, IL to Bob and Kay (Morgan) Nelson.

He is survived by his children Brittney Nelson of Benton, Joshua Nelson of Christopher, Matthew Nelson of Buckner and Keegan Nelson of Buckner; grandchildren Kaydence, Talon, Brylee, Teegan and Arya; two sisters Cindy Nelson of DuQuoin and Carol (Bill) Evans of Elkville and one brother Mark Nelson of Christopher.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son Dalston Nelson.

His wishes were to be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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

Bobby Wayne Furlow, 84, of Christopher, passed away on Friday December 20, 2024 at Fairview Nursing Home in DuQuoin, IL.

He was born on January 15, 1940 to Earl and Neva (Mitchell) Furlow. He married Sue (Carpenter) Furlow on September 16, 1961 and she survives of Christopher.

He is also survived by his daughters Laura (Scott) Riggs of Machesney Park, IL and Kelly (Jim) Kirchner of Mulkeytown; grandchildren Toni (Josh) Anderton, Kasey (Landon) Pyron, Ryan (Erin) Kirchner, Evan (Erin) Riggs, Lacey Riggs, Kyle Furlow and Nick Furlow; great grandchildren Hudson Anderton, Cooper Anderton, Layne Pyron, Maura Pyron, Jessa Pyron, Kaylee Riggs and Jaxon Riggs; one great great grandchild Knox Riggs-Eyre; two sisters Pauline Scott and Wilma Macari and one sister-in-law Patty Johnston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Danny Furlow, brothers-in-laws Don Scott and Dom Macari, two brothers Ronnie (Florence) Furlow and Eugene Furlow.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday December 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Harrison Cemetery in Buckner. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Whittington Church, envelopes will be available at the cemetery.

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

Donald Allen Loucks, 64, of Sesser, passed away on Wednesday December 18, 2024 at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, IL.

He was born on August 22, 1960 in Benton, IL to Carson Leroy and Nellie Dean (Stotz) Loucks.

He is survived by his children Ashley (Joshua) Qualls of Sesser and Derek (Melissa Mitroka) Loucks of Royalton; grandchildren Carson Loucks, Lily Qualls and Ryder Loucks; and the mother of Ryder and Carson Jessica Loucks of Christopher; two sisters Elizabeth (Paul) Roberts of Sesser and Resa (Glenn) Gulley of Sesser and two brothers David (Debbie) Loucks of Herrin and Paul (Becky) Loucks of Pinckneyville and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter Leslie Loucks.

Donald was a family man and loved his grandkids dearly. He also enjoyed going to church, hunting and fishing and especially loved to go on walks with his dog.

Funeral services will be on Monday December 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Sesser First Apostolic Church with Pastor Carlo Dial officiating. Visitation will be on Monday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM at the church. Burial will be at Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the family, envelopes will be available at the Church.

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