Douglas John Behm, 66, of Christopher, passed away on Thursday April 9, 2020 at his home.

He was born on March 3, 1954 in Nevada, Iowa to John Matthew and Juanita Ann (Warren) Behm. He was married to Cheri (Saul) Behm and she survives of Christopher.

He is also survived by his two sons Scotty Behm of Christopher and Warren (Amanda) Behm of Christopher; two grandsons Ian Behm and Wyatt Behm; one sister Wanda Underwood of Christopher; three brothers Rodney (Gail) Behm of Coello, Stanley (Lisa) Behm of Hopkinsville, KY, Wayne (Michele) Behm of Mulkeytown.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Peggy Ann Dollins.

The family will have a private Graveside Service at the Zeigler Cemetery.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is handling arrangements.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Madaeious Evander Labrie, 2-day old son of Malachi and Machaela Labrie, left this world to live forever in Heaven on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

Cremation arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Madaeious Evander Labrie was born on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at the SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, the son of Malachi Labrie and Machaela (Holly) Labrie.

Baby Madaeious is survived by his parents Malachi and Machaela Labrie of Thompsonville; paternal grandparents: Robert Labrie of West Frankfort, IL, Jamie Pepple of West Frankfort, IL, maternal grandparents: Carrie Holly of West Frankfort, IL, Joe Holly of West Frankfort, IL; great-grandparents: Denise Ragsdale of West Frankfort, IL, Debra Page of West Frankfort, IL, Caryl Ward of West Frankfort, IL; aunts: Emily Labrie, Carrie Labrie, Zoie Bryant, Micah Bryant; uncles: Lucas Holly, Joran Labrie, Johnathon Pepple; and several cousins.

Baby Madaeious joins in Heaven with paternal great-grandpa Bob Labrie; maternal great-grandpa Wayne Seagle; maternal great-grandparents Raymond and Joy Holly; and uncle Jonathon Wheeler.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Madaeious Evander Labrie and can be mailed to the parents Malachi and Machaela Labrie, 16693 Droit City Road, Thompsonville, IL 62890.
To leave online condolences to the family, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Due to the limitations in groups of more than 10 people, and suggested private family only services, all due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic; the family chose to cremate. There will be a Memorial Celebration of Life Service at a later date when things get back to normal.

The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton; is in charge of the arrangements.
Theodore Thomas Lemons was born on January 9, 1966 in Benton, IL, the son of Lloyd Lemons and Margaret Sue (Baxter) Lemons.

Theo, as he was known at work, worked out of the Laborer’s Local #773.

Jed, as he was known to his family, enjoyed bass fishing, deer hunting, St. Louis Blues hockey, Washington Redskins football, and riding 4-wheelers.

Theodore is survived by his son Mykul Lemons of Crete, IL; a sister Tena Collins of Sesser, IL; a niece Lindsay Smith and husband Dakota of Valier, IL; a nephew Jeremy Young of Pinckneyville, IL; great-nieces and nephew: Paisley Smith, Colton Smith, Gracie Smith, Mary Ann Young, and Charlotte Fowler; his special friends: Patrick and Kristen Buza and sons Garrett and Connor; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Theodore Thomas “Jed” Lemons, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

The Rev. James Aiken, 88, of West Frankfort passed away Sunday morning, April 5, 2020 at his home.
He was born in Benton, IL on November 29, 1931, the son of Raymond & Ida (Launius) Akin.
He married Rosalie Marie (Brookshire) on October 14, 1954, and she preceded him in death on September 5, 2005.

He served in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1951-1955.

Rev. Akin is survived by his children, James Allen Akin, West Frankfort, Pam Duncan, and husband Terry, of Centralia, Lisa Filkins, and husband Tom, of West Frankfort, Julie Howard, and husband Ron, of West
4 Children: James Allen Akin of West Frankfort; grandchildren Angie Crocker, James Wayne Akin, Matthew Filkins, Nichole Lambert, Justin Howard and Aaron Howard; 11 grandchildren; brother Gary Akin, and wife Barbara, of Benton.

Rev. Akin was preceded in death by his parents, wife, by a sister, Betty Hammond and by four brothers, William, Clifford, Chris and Leroy.

Private family services will be held. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Anneta Ingle, 82, of Pekin, IL, formerly of Christopher, IL, passed away on Thursday April 2, 2020.

She was born on November 12, 1937 in Christopher to Edward and Annie (Rogers) Hodge. She married Lloyd “Skip” Ingle on December 23, 1956 and he preceded her in death on February 28, 2001.

She is survived by her daughters Denise (Phil) Baker of Pekin, IL and Mary Crawford of Christopher; grandchildren William (Jennifer) Baker, Adam (Stephanie) Baker, Jessica Crawford and Sarah Sisney; great grandchildren Laken, Emery, River, Kylie, Brooklyn, Kynlee, Bentley, Jake, Madison, Katie and Natalie and one step-brother Dr. Arthur Basso of Mulkeytown.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Attilio Basso, husband, one sister Maxine Allen and one great grandson Logan Baker.

She had worked in accounting for Burlington-National Railroad.

The family will have a private Graveside Service at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date, when the shelter-in-place order is lifted.

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

Scott Eric Deaton, age 36, of West Frankfort, IL, passed away Friday, April 3, 2020 at his home.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, the family chose to cremate, and there will be a Memorial Celebration of Life Service at a later date.
The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton; is in charge of the arrangements.
Scott Eric Deaton was born on April 12, 1983 in Marion, IL, the son of Carl Raymond Deaton and Gwenda Faye (Fletcher) Deaton.

Scott formerly worked at Game Stop and Advanced Auto in Marion, IL, and at Radio Shack in Mt. Vernon, IL, and also formerly worked at the Mt. Vernon airport.

He attended Soul’s Harbor House of Prayer in West Frankfort, IL. He also enjoyed volunteering and assisting with clients of Life Recovery Ministries, and he cared about sharing Jesus with those he met.

He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, motorcycles, video games, animals, fast import cars, joking around and making people laugh.

Scott is survived by his four siblings: James Heusner and wife Lori of Thompsonville, IL, Mark Heusner and wife Tammy of Thompsonville, IL, Diana Deaton and companion Bobby Shreve of Creal Springs, IL, and David Deaton of Peoria, IL; his special friend Sarah Elizabeth (Howell) Brown of West Frankfort, IL; and several nieces and nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Soul’s Harbor House of Prayer, 10468 Highway 149, West Frankfort, IL 62896.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Scott Eric Deaton, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Shirley Ann Taake Chester, of Benton, IL., departed this life on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the Franklin Hospital, Benton, IL. She was 89 years old at her time of passing and had recently been in poor health.

Shirley was born in Zeigler, IL., on September 23, 1930, the second child of Howard and Clara (Will) Taake. Her sister, Billie Cover-Chamblin and her brother, Frederick Taake preceded her in death. Her sister, Mary Beckemeier, survives. She was married to Tom (Walter T.) Chester, now deceased. They were parents of six children, all surviving, Marcia (Larry) Hoffman of Centralia, IL., Betty (Jerry) DeCoursey of Energy, IL., Debbie (Bryan) Cadle-Foster of Evansville, IN., Brenda (Rick) Stroer of Jackson, MO., Philip Chester of Centralia, IL., and John (Carol) Chester of Marion, IL. She had seventeen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She was a loyal and devoted daughter, sister, aunt and cousin. This family was her joy.

She graduated from Christopher High School, a member of the Class of 1984, and until recent years, faithfully kept the scrapbooks and attended their annual class reunion. She attended Southern Illinois University and was a member of the University Orchestra. She became a Christian at an early age and was most recently a member of Marion Third Baptist Church. She was a member of the Order of the Easter Star for more than sixty years.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

According to her wishes, Shirley’s remains were cremated. Interment will be at the Masonic and Oddfellow’s Cemetery in Benton, IL. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society, and can be mailed to the funeral home.

The family thanks the caregivers at Helia Healthcare of Benton, Ambulance and Emergency Room Personnel at Franklin Hospital, and Pate Funeral Home, for their compassion and care.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.patefh.com