David Mark Shurtz, 64, of Christopher, IL went to be with the Lord Wednesday morning August 26, 2020 at 9:02 A.M. in Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

David loved his family and was particularly proud of his four grandchildren. He also enjoyed Ham Radio, electronics, fishing, reading & animals. He was a Free Mason and belonged to Sesser-Goode Lodge #744 AF & AM.

He was born December 22, 1955 in Corpus Christi, TX on the Naval Base to J.D. and Donnie (Roberts) Shurtz.

He married Nancy Elaine Quillman on June 9, 1979 at their home in Sesser, IL. David is survived by his father, J.D. Shurtz; wife Nancy; daughters Sarah Ranzinger, and husband Benjamin, Elizabeth Patalano; grandchildren Frankie III (Buster) Patalano, Emma Patalano, Reeve Sanders and Arwyn Ranzinger; brother Bruce Shurtz, and wife Sandy; nieces Rachael Thornquest, and husband Dru, Charla Fulkerson, brother-in-law Dan Quillman; several cousins, family and friends. Mr. Shurtz was preceded in death by his mother, Donnie Shurtz, son-in-law-Kevin Sanders and his grandparents.

Funeral services will be held at 5:00 P.M. Saturday, August 29th at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina with Bro. David Shores officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday immediately preceding the funeral.

Burial will be in the Dryden Cemetery in Scheller, IL. Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may made to the family to assist with medical expenses.

We ask everyone attending the services to practice social distancing. We are limited to 50 people in our building at a time, and everyone attending is encouraged to wear a mask.

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

Loretta Sue Harvey Adams, 85 years old went home to be with the Lord, Sunday afternoon August 23rd, 2020. She was born on the family farm in Benton, Illinois on June 3, 1935 to parents Warren Harvey & Lillie Mae Thomas Harvey. She was a member of the Sesser Church of Christ.

Loretta worked many years at Slankard Publishing Company in Sesser, but her real joy was in raising her family, serving the church and enjoying her many friends. She spent the last 5 years living at Waterview Independent Living in Granbury, TX.

On May 29th, 1953 she married Robert D. Adams and they had four children. She devoted herself to being a loving and supportive mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was lovingly called “Nana”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob and her loving sister, Loranna Gray. She is survived by her children, Dana (Jim) Gardner of Lipan, TX; Robert (Lorrain) Adams, of Springhill, TN; Tami (Ken) Maynard, of Brownsburg, IN; Becky (Anthony) Barnouski of O’Fallon, IL. 10 grandchildren: Bekah Weatherford (William) Lipan, TX, Chase Gardner (Denisse) Weatherford, TX, Jared Gardner (Sarah) Ft Worth, TX, Jordan Gibson (Skeet) Weatherford, TX, Mitch Maynard, North Little Rock, AR, Renee Maynard, Brownsburg, IN, Taylor and Addison Barnouski, O’Fallon, IL, Jack and Grace Adams, Springhill, TN. Eight great-grandchildren: Stella, Fisher, Louisa, Betsie Weatherford, Eleonor & Roberto Gardner, Job & Ruth Gibson.

Graveside services will be on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 12:30 PM at Knight Cemetery. Visitation will be on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, IL. Donations may be made in Loretta’s memory to the Sesser Church of Christ, 602 South Locust Street, Sesser, IL 62884 or will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Flora Maxine Helton, 89, of Christopher, passed away on August 20, 2020 at her home.

Maxine “Nan” was born on July 5, 1931 to Almus and Mary Kirkpatrick.

Maxine met her future husband while working in a café in uptown Christopher. James was a driller for the mines working in this area. He came in the café and she waited on him. They dated for three months when he asked her to marry him. They married March 27, 1948. And that was the beginning of a 56 year marriage and a lifetime of family and friends. Maxine loved her family and it showed through her actions. The family moved back here in 1967 so they could take care of her mother. And that snowballed into not only taking care of her own family but her siblings, grandkids, neighbors and friends. She always wanted everyone to be taken care of and fed, even to the last weeks telling everyone to have some food and drink and to be careful on their way home. Maxine’s years were filled with service and love. Rest “Nan”. You’re finally to your eternal home. We will see you soon.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Douglas) Wuellner of Springfield; one son Mike (Kathy) Helton of Christopher; daughter-in-law Priscilla Helton of Christopher; grandchildren Brian Wuellner, Jeremy (Christy) Wuellner, Rachel (Bryan) Galloway and Ronnie Tochtrop; great grandchildren Austin Wuellner, Rebecka (Chase) Chastain, Jaylynne Wuellner, Madilyn Helton and Chloe Galloway; one special nephew Tom Calloni of Buckner and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James E. Helton, one son James E. Helton Jr., one grandson Matthew Helton and ten brothers and sisters Ezra, Paul, Roy, Grace, Dorothy, Millie, Lloyd, Marie, Earl and Dale, and one special nephew Charles Calloni.

Funeral services for Maxine will be on Tuesday August 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor Greg Shelton officiating. Visitation will be on Monday August 24, 2020 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM and on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Valier.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

John Jacob “Jake” Seymour, 80, of Benton, passed away at 4:25 p.m., on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at Helia Healthcare of Benton.

John was born on June 6, 1940, to Eldred and Ruth Ann (Webb) Seymour.

Jake graduated top of his class from Benton Consolidated High School and the University of Illinois. He retired as the Chief Probation Officer and Director of Court Services over the Second Judicial Circuit. John enjoyed being a radio broadcaster and investigative journalist for 10 years. He served 16 years as President of Benton Civic Center, a former member of the Benton City Council, former member of the Benton Library Board, and member of the First Christian Church since 1953.

John was an avid gardener, and advocate for the community and the juvenile justice system. He loved watching baseball especially the St. Louis Cardinals. John was very active in the civil rights movement, woman’s liberation and freedom writer. He enjoyed listening to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead. Most of all, he loved and enjoyed his grandchildren and creating stories and reading to them.

Mr. Seymour is survived by his son, Jason (Lanon) Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; daughter, Kelley (Richard) Eubanks of Whittington, IL; three granddaughters, Chandra (Nicholas Degler) McDevitt, Abbie Eubanks of Benton, IL, and Kennedy Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; a grandson, Kole Clark of Mission Viejo, CA; two great-granddaughters, Gillian Eubanks and Tenyson Eubanks; sister-in-law, Jean Seymour of Ramsey, MT; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and his former wife, Jeanette Seymour.

John was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Meleir and Marian Hilgenberg and two brothers, Jim Seymour and Joe Seymour.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Library and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences maybe left at www.patefh.com

April Dawn (Stubblefield) Miles, age 49, of Benton, passed away at 5:45 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2020 at Barnes Jewish Hospital of St. Louis.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2020 at the Leffler Funeral Home with Rev. Andrew Jones officiating. Private family burial will be in the Franklin Cemetery of Whittington. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Due to Health Concerns related to COVID-19: Visitation and Funeral services are limited to 50 people at one time; facial coverings are required; and social distancing should be observed. If you are sick, please stay at home.

April was born on July 15, 1971 in Benton, IL; the daughter of Ronald Stubblefield and Stella (Basham) Stubblefield.

She was a BCHS graduate of the Class of 1989; and a graduate of Rend Lake College with an Associates in Science Degree in Medical Coding. She worked as a Registration Clerk at the Franklin Hospital of Benton; and formerly worked with Flowers By Dave of Benton.

April enjoyed taking naps, watching criminal television programs, camping, going for joy rides, dancing at home with her daughter Taylore. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving is her daughter Taylore Miles and fiancée Warren Smothers of Benton; her boyfriend Scot Barnfield of Cookeville, TN; a sister Stephanie Watkins and husband Bill of Herrin; a brother Darren Stubblefield of Benton; her grandmother Jackie Stubblefield of Benton; her ex-husband Craig Miles of Benton; three aunts Carol Sieveking and Roberta Lenard both of Benton, and Karen Toms of Logan; a niece Kylie Watkins; two nephews Eli Watkins and Dylan Stubblefield; her adopted daughter Kyrie Dial of Nashville, TN; and numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

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

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