Ina Mae Neal, age 86, of Benton, passed away at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at her home at Heritage Woods of Benton.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton with Bro. Larry Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Ina Mae Neal was born on June 14, 1933 in Thompsonville, Illinois, the daughter of Carlos Ing and Mabel (Clinton) Ing. She would marry Bennie J. Neal on August 26, 1950, and he preceded her in death on August 3, 2006.

Her working career was as a seamstress with the Joan Claire Dress Factory in Benton.
Ina Mae enjoyed antiquing, going to flea markets, yard sales, and watching her St. Louis Cardinal Baseball team.

She was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews; special close nieces and nephew include: Linda and Ronnie Baumgarte of Benton, Edie and John Jones of Benton, Norma Tate of Ewing, Jeanie and Don South of Dike, TX, Susan Danks of St.Louis, MO, Barbara and Mike Shoenberger of Fayetteville, NC, and Michael Fields and partner Dr. John Empkey of Festus, MO; and several great-nieces and nephews and their families; and her friends and neighbors at Heritage Woods of Benton.

Ina Mae was preceded in death by her parents; husband, two brothers Carl Dean Ing and Clinton Ing; five sisters: Lavora, Deloris, Alene, Audrey and June; and a sister-in-law Mona Lea Powell.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation and will be accepted at the funeral home. For more information about the Scleroderma Foundation, visit scleroderma.org

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Ina Mae, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
Her family said “She was a Port in the Storm”

Betty Jean Williams, 94, of Benton, passed away on Tuesday December 17, 2019, at her daughters home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on September 29, 1925, to Alexander and Estella (Furlow) Van Zandt in Mulkeytown, IL.

Betty was of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading and crocheting. Betty was a 50 year member of OES and was a foster parent for many years . She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

Betty is survived by her children, Barbara Mae Ziems, Michael Lee Williams and wife Susan Jane, Carolyn Sue Busse, Melissa Fae King and husband Dale and Matthew Rae Williams and wife Karen; one daughter-in-law, Reba Williams; one sister, Ruby Bernice Tindall and 27 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander Ferguson and Estella Van Zandt, 2nd Husband, Oliver Lee Williams, 1st Husband, Gilbert “Gay” Hicks, a son, Stewart Jae Williams, two sons-in-law, Dale Ziems and Bradley Busse, brother-in-law, Everett Tindall, and sisters and brothers, Gladys, Gena, Edith, Lester, Irma, Delora, Clifford, JoAnn, Lola, Infant brother, Cleda, and Richard, and many brothers & sister-in-laws.

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

Visitation will be held Friday, December 20, 2019, from 11:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 20, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Rev. Michael Lee Williams Jr., officiating.

Burial will take place in the Mulkeytown Cemetery, Mulkeytown, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Mulkeytown Cemetery or the West Franklin Historical Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Mary Annette Lynch, age 78, of Benton, passed away at 8:03 p.m. Monday, December 9th at her home in Benton.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 12, 2019 at the First Christian Church of Benton, with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. Burial will be in the Brady Cemetery, East of Akin. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Mary Annette Lynch was born on January 9, 1941 in West Frankfort, the daughter of Walter Dennis Frailey and Mary Lucille (Shanks) Frailey. She married Alfred “Whitey” Lynch on February 25, 1961, and he survives.

Annette was a homemaker and stay at home mom. She enjoyed spending time with her family, and most of all enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was an active member of the First Christian Church of Benton, where she played the organ for 50+ years, sang in the choir ever since her freshmen year of high school, was involved in the Gertrude Fitzgerrell Ladies Group/CWF, and former director of the youth choir.

She enjoyed gardening, and was an avid flower gardener and bird watcher, and was a former member of the Benton Garden Club.
Annette is survived by her husband Alfred “Whitey” Lynch; four children: Susan Elizabeth Mann of Benton, Ross Allan Lynch and wife Susie of Fenton, MO, Daphne Ann Mitchell and husband David of Benton, Stephanie Renee Galloway and husband Darren of Benton; seven grandchildren: Tyler Mann, Dominic D’Addezio and wife Laura, Savannah Rae Lynch, Alexandria Markel and husband Kyle, Andrew Mitchell, Curtis Galloway and Spencer Galloway; four great-grandchildren: Jaice Andrew Mann, Trinity Marie Mann, Mia Rane Markel, Olivia Jo Markel; three sisters: Patricia Colombo of St. Louis, Carole Sue Hungate and husband Randy of Benton, Nancy Frailey of St. Louis; and numerous nieces and nephews; and her church family at First Christian of Benton.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church Fellowship Center.

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

Bobby R. Pool, 72, of Sebring, FL (formerly of Valier, IL) passed away at 5:21 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at his home, following an eight-year battle with cancer.

He was born in Herrin, IL to Charles and Nona Pool. He was married to his wife Glenda, for 39 years.

Bobby was a retired 22-year veteran, Sergeant First Class, of the U.S. Army where he served in Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a UMWA member who worked at Freeman 6 Mine, near Waltonville, IL. He also retired from the State of Illinois, Department of Corrections with 24 years of service.

Bobby was a member of the First Apostolic Church of Sesser and after moving to Florida, he attended the New Life Fellowship Church in Sebring. He loved the Lord and his church families.

Bobby is survived by his wife Glenda; sons Charles Pool, Darrell (Jennifer) Pool and Jody Shaw, of Sesser and Jim (Staci) Hood, of Valier. He was loved greatly by his grandchildren, Danielle (Jon) Porvaznik and Suzette Aiello and James Pool, of Sesser, Derek Hood, of Valier and Courtney Hood, of Denver, CO. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Hannah, Jocelyn and Delcan Porvaznik, of Sesser; brother-in-law James (Helen) Rusher, of Sesser and sister-in-law Doris Stewart, of Beecher, IL. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews that he loved very much and by special friends, Kim and Lois Hamilton and Riley and Carol Farmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Nona Pool and by his sisters, Vada Denham, Minnie Bell Dunning, Betty Jo Waugh and Nadine Darrigo.

Per his request, there will be no public service. A gathering of his family will be held in the Spring. He requests that his family and friends celebrate the life he lived and enjoyed.

Memorials may be made in his honor to Good Shepherd Hospice, 1110 Hammock Road, Sebring, Florida, 33870.

David E. Tollison, age 75, of Benton, passed away Thursday afternoon of December 5th at his home in Benton.

Masonic Rites will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral
Home in Benton. A Shriners Walk Thru will take place at 12:45 p.m. prior to the Masonic Rites. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

David Ellis Tollison was born on July 25, 1944 in Memphis, TN, the son of Lawrence David Tollison and Syble Lorraine (Goode) Tollison. He married the former Louetta (Moss) Miller of Benton on May 29, 1992, and she survives.

Dave was the current sexton at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. He formerly owned and operated Dave’s Taxi, and prior to that he manufactured boat trailers.
He was a member of the Benton Masonic Lodge #64 A.F. and A.M. where he served as Worshipful Master in 2001, 2010 and 2011. He was the President of the Franklin County Shrine, Chairman of the Ainad Shriners Bass Tournament, a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Southern Illinois, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2898.

Dave enjoyed fishing, playing golf, cooking, spending time with his two daughters and visiting with grandkids.

Surviving is his loving wife Louetta Tollison of Benton; his mother Syble Lorraine Tollison of Benton; two daughters Tracey Brewer and husband Mark of St. Louis, Lisa Wagner and husband Scott of St. Louis; a step-daughter Jean Ann Williams and husband Stanley of Benton; a step-son James “Red” Miller of Benton; twenty grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father; a sister Geneva; three step-sons John Alden Miller, Jr., Jerry Allen Miller, and Jack Ashley Miller.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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