Mrs. Cynthia Marie McGuire, age 93, of Benton; passed away at 9:50 a.m. on Christmas Day surrounded by the love of her family.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 3, 2021 at the Brady Cemetery East of Akin, with Rev. Bill Hottensen officiating.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Phase 3 of the Coronavirus Mitigation suggests no more than ten people, social distancing and wearing a mask is required. If you are sick, please stay at home.

Cynthia was born on November 16, 1927 in Bessie; the daughter of Jim Branson and Essie (Dial) Branson. She married Jack D. McGuire and he preceded her in death on January 31, 1993.

Her working career consisted of working in the laundry department at the Franklin Hospital for 20 plus years, as a seamstress with the Joan Claire Dress Factory, a former laborer at the Olin Ammunition Plant at Crab Orchard, and she also formerly worked at Mark Twain Boat Factory of West Frankfort.

She was a member of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Benton.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, attending ballgames, especially softball and basketball games. She looked forward to and enjoyed her daily trip to McDonald’s, and she liked playing BINGO and going dancing.

Surviving are four children: Larry McGuire(Bertha) of Mulberry, FL, Michael McGuire (Vicki) of Benton, Terry McGuire(Debbie) of Benton, Jane Millikan of Benton; eight grandchildren: Tracie Adler(Brian), Kelly Bennett (Jamie), Michael McGuire(Suzanne) Tyler McGuire, Derrick McGuire(Mendy), Timothy McGuire(Laci), Lindsay McGuire(Jennifer), Eric Millikan(Mary); great-grandchildren: Mark Malesky(Samantha), Sarah Rosendal(Justin), Jamison Bennett, Kelsie Bennett, Madison Hungate(Grante), Landyn McGuire, Haighdyn McGuire, Parker McGuire, Taylor McGuire, Molly McGuire, Rebekah Wintz, Thomas Wintz, Michael Spiller, Hunter Spiller, Taylor Ray, Kaden Millikan, Levi Millikan; great-great-grandson Caleb Nation; several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. McGuire was preceded in death by her parents, husband; a son-in-law Clarence Millikan; a brother George Branson; and a sister Madge Carney.

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

Richard E. Herrin was born in West Liberty, IL to Florence Ellen (Heckler) and Homer Ralph Herrin on April 6, 1933. Being the son of a Methodist minister, Rich’s family lived in a number of small towns in southeastern Illinois, Flat Rock, Friendsville, Cisne, and Bridgeport. Rich had one sibling, his beloved big brother, Ron, whom he idolized and adored. They grew up in a home whose activities mostly involved church and basketball. Besides their families, basketball was the center of both Rich and Ron’s lives until the end.

On December 21, 1957, Rich wed Martha Sue Cooksey of Marion, IL whom he met accidentally at an SIU football game in the fall of 1956. From this union, four wonderful children were born, Dr. Rodney Jay Herrin of Springfield, IL, Randal Todd Herrin (David Elliott) of Greenfield, WI, Kyle Clifton Herrin (Tina) of Carterville, IL and Kristy Lynn Allardyce (Shawn) of Carterville, IL. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Britton Kyle Herrin, Madison Elizabeth Allardyce, Reese Kylee Herrin, Jake Randal Herrin, Kate Kristin Herrin, Rachel Ann Herrin, McKenzie Pfister (Matt), Mallory Clark (Kyle Brown), Hunter Clark (Rachel) and three great grandchildren, Drew, Gage, and Parker. Other survivors include sisters-in-law Jennie Lee Zilmer of Bloomington, IL, Linda Lou Richey of Dallas, TX and Mary Lou Herrin of Benton, IL and brother-in-law Stephen Benjamin Cooksey of Houston, TX. Rich also left behind many beloved nieces, nephews, friends and former players as well as his best buddy, Dolly. Rich was preceeded in death by his parents, brother Ron, mother and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Ben Cooksey, and brothers-in-law Glen Zilmer and Jack Richey, niece Tara (Zilmer) Kaiser and great nephew, Cameron Herrin Vennard.

Rich attended several grade schools and graduated in 1951 from Bridgeport High School and from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL in 1956. While at McKendree he earned 11 varsity letters in basketball, track, golf and baseball. He received his Master’s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the summer of 1962.

Rich’s career began in the small community of Okawville, IL in the fall of 1956. He taught and coached the “Rockets” for four years, where he had great success with a team of talented and dedicated young men. Rich, Sue and Rodney moved to Benton, IL in the summer of 1960. This began a 25-year span of exciting and successful teaching and coaching, compiling an astonishing record number of wins that led to 21 regional tournament wins and 5 trips to the state tournament. In 1982, the Benton High School gymnasium was named the Rich Herrin Gymnasium. Rich began his college coaching career at SIU in 1985 leading the Salukis for 13 years. During this time, he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1990. He also led the Salukis to the first and only “3-peat” by winning the MVC Tournament three times in a row, which allowed the Salukis to play in the NCAA tournament three times in 1993, 1994 and 1995. In 2002, Rich began coaching for the Marion Wildcats for five years. Rich finalized his 52 year coaching career at Morthland College in West Frankfort, IL, coaching five more years, where he won the Christian College National Invitational Tournament Championship in 2016. By the end of his career, Rich had amassed an amazing total of 981 victories. Many of his players earned college scholarships and a numerous number of his players became basketball coaches. Several of his players went on to play in the NBA. Besides his loving family, the impact he had on so many young lives is one of Rich’s greatest legacies.

Rich received many honors during his illustrious career. He was honored to be inducted into several hall of fames; McKendree University, SIU, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri Valley Conference, and the Southern Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame.

A private family service will be held at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, IL on Wednesday, December 30th. Immediately following at 1:00 pm, a graveside service will be held at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, IL for those who wish to attend. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Ron Herrin and Homer R. Herrin Memorial Scholarship. Memorials can be mailed to McKendree University, Attn: Office of Development, Alumni and Parent Relations, 701 College Road, Lebanon, IL 62254, Re: Ron Herrin and Homer R. Herrin Memorial Scholarship Fund or to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. 204 Halfway Road, Marion, IL 62959.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Micheal “Mitch” Crnokrak, 87, of Coello, IL, passed aay on Wednesday December 23, 2020 at Helia Healthcare in Benton, IL.

He was born on February 24, 1933 in Coello, IL to Bob and Anna (Susa) Crnokrak.

He is survived by his brothers and sisters Danny Crnokrak of Coello, Janette Robinson of Coello, Robert Crnokrak of Benton and Angeline Crnokrak of Coello; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

There will be a visitation for Mitch on Monday December 28, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. His wishes were to be cremated after the viewing and a private graveside service will be held at a later date at Harrison Cemetery in Buckner. Face coverings and social distancing is required for attendance at the visitation per CDC guidelines.

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

Mrs. Judith Rae Cockrum, age 79, of Benton; passed away surrounded by her loving husband and son, at 12:03 a.m. Sunday, December 20, 2020 in the Herrin Hospital.

Mrs. Cockrum’s wishes are to be cremated with no public services.

She was born on December 23, 1940 in Benton; the daughter of Dale A. Moore and Lois (Chaplain) Moore. Judy would marry William Robert Cockrum on July 3, 1960, and he survives.

Judy formerly worked as an optician and a hairdresser.

She was a life-long member of the Church of Christ.

Judy enjoyed singing and was a member of the “Sweet Adelines”; most of all she loved her family.

Mrs. Cockrum is survived by her loving husband of 60 years William Robert “Bob” Cockrum, Sr. of Benton; a son William Robert “Bill” Cockrum, Jr. of Knoxville, TN; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Linda Davis and husband Gary of Benton, Betty Vick of Belleville, IL, Kathy King of Benton, Curtis Cockrum and wife Rhonda of Oak Ridge, TN, and Kenneth Cockrum and wife Amy of Benton; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Sharon Bolen.

Memorial contributions may be made In Memory of Judy Cockrum to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Mrs. Judith Rae Cockrum; visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.