Shirley Mae Yon, 82, of Benton passed away Monday afternoon August 3, 2020 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

She was born in Chicago, IL on April 17, 1938, the daughter of Jerry & Mae Yon.

She was married to George Ray Bouer, and he preceded her in death on October 4, 2012.

Shirley is survived by:

A Nephew, a Cousin and her Church Family who she dearly loved
Shirley was a faithful member of the Faith Baptist Church in Benton.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, August 8th at the Faith Baptist Church in Benton with Pastor Steven Flach officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemtery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the Church.
In lieu of Flowers, Memorials may be made to the Faith Baptist Church.
The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Beverly Jean Berner, 82, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Wednesday July 29, 2020 at her home.

She was born on April 4, 1938 in Christopher, IL to Roy and Violet (Hastings) Moyers. She married Carl Edward Berner on September 13, 1958 and he survives of Mulkeytown.

She is also survived by her daughter Shari (Mike) Carpenter of Mulkeytown; two grandsons Matt (Allison) Carpenter of Effingham, IL and Todd (Loryn) Carpenter of Scheller; great grandchildren Adalyn, Zayden, Cole and Cain; one sister Elaine (Steve) Furlow of Mulkeytown; three brothers Jim (Mary) Moyers of Mulkeytown, Wayne (Sue Ann) Moyers of Mulkeytown and Bob (Shelley) Moyers of Coello.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister Shirley Donelson.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Mulkeytown Christian Church.

Funeral services will be on Saturday August 1, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Preacher Kurt Jensen officiating. Visitation will be on Friday July 31, 2020 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Mulkeytown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the West Franklin Historical District or to the Mulkeytown Christian Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

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

Marie Valentina Sapinski, 98, of Christopher, passed away on Monday July 27, 2020 at her home.

She was born on February 14, 1922 to Don and Constance (Mordini) Cima. She married Mike Sapinski and he preceded her in death on September 18, 1974.

She is survived by one daughter Cheri Sapinski of Christopher; one granddaughter Tasha Sapinski of Christopher; three great grandchildren Krystal Sapinski, Jonathan Sapinski and Calista Stangle; one great great grandson Khalil Brown and one very special friend Sam Aiello.

Marie was a very loving person and was a member of the First Christian Church of Christopher and was a former member of the Eagles Auxiliary and the Christopher Senior Citizens.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son Russell Wayne Sapinski; one granddaughter Crystal Lea Sapinski and one sister.

Funeral services will be on Friday July 31, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Masonic and IOOF cemetery in Benton.

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

Farrell “Tom” or “Tom Cat” Dale Atkins, 77, of Marion formerly of Sesser went to be with Lord surrounded by his family and his precious fur-baby Candy that never left his side.

He was born on May 25, 1943 to Leonard and Cora (Risley) Atkins.

He is survived by his children Robin (Brent) Foster of Benton, IL, Regina (David) Owens of Sedalia, MO, and Thomas (Joann) Atkins of Marion, IL; grandchildren Dustin (Rachel) Martin, Jenna (Cody) Webb, Joshua (Rachel) Owens, Tim (Megan) Owens, Benjamin (Brittney) Owens, Ashley Atkins, Brittany Atkins and Christian Goldsberry; 6 great grandchildren; one brother Chuck Atkins of Sesser; two sisters Jean Jones of Sesser and Theresa (Harry) Poole of Mascoutah, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Don Atkins and one sister Glenda Fornear.

He had worked as a coal miner with Inland Steel and Consol Mine. He retired from Taylor Brothers Welding. He was an avid fisherman.

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

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Norman Davis Smith, 90, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Saturday July 25, 2020 at his home.

He was born on February 12, 1930 in Christopher to Lester and Dora (Montgomery) Smith. He married Eleanora (Williamson) Smith on August 29, 1954 and she survives of Mulkeytown.

He is also survived by his three daughters Tracy Dawn Smith of Energy, Denise Tanner of Cape Girardeau, MO and Renee Melody Lampley of West Frankfort, IL; 8 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren and one brother James Monroe Smith of Granite City, IL.

He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a member of the UMWA. He loved to hunt, fish and gardening, but his passion was to raise and train Beagles.

He was preceded in death by his father Lester Smith, mother Dora Colp, step-father Elmer “Preach” Colp who raised him from a small age, three sisters and two brothers.

Graveside services will be on Wednesday July 29, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery in Mulkeytown with Pastor Zip Biby officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

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

Diane Pemberton Keith, 76, of Benton, IL, passed away at 1:30 p.m. on July 22, 2020, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL.

She was born on September 12, 1943, to Stanley and Geneva (Williams) Pemberton in Benton, IL. Diann married Robert Merrill Keith on August 10, 1968 and they were married for 51 years. She loved him infinitely.

Diann’s purpose in life was to love, care for, and educate children. She obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She fulfilled her purpose each day of her life through her love and support for her children, nieces and nephews and the many children whose lives she changed for the better during her 34 years as an educator.

Over those 34 years, Diann taught school in Rantoul, IL, Austin, TX, and Benton, IL. She served as a teacher of Special Education students, Kindergarteners, and First Graders, among other assignments.

Diann is survived by her loving husband Robert and her beloved dog Pepper, both of Benton, IL; a daughter, Heather Keith of Findlay, OH, a son, Dan Keith and his partner Caitlin Crolley of Asheville, NC; brothers-in-law Robert Gariepy of Benton, IL, Kevin (Kristi) Josephson of Onalaska, WI, Scott (Roberta) Josephson of Minneota, MN, sisters-in-law Kindra Pemberton of Macendonia, IL, Deanna (Ron) Graham of Fergus Falls, MN and Jyl Josephson (Jim Nelson) of Jersey City, NJ. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, whom she was very proud of and loved deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Geneva Pemberton, her brother, John Pemberton, and her sister, Norah Jane Gariepy.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St. Benton, Il.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2020, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, July 27, 2020, at Pate Funeral Home, with Rev. Kurt Sanders officiating.

Burial will take place following services at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, IL.

Phase 4 guidelines will be in effect. We are limited to 50 people in our building at a time. We ask that everyone wears a mask and please use social distancing guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Benton West City Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, and can be collected at the funeral home, or mailed to BWCMA, P.O. Box 934, Benton, IL 62812.

Online Condolences can be given at www.patefh.com