Earl E. Parkhill, “Gene”, age 93, of Benton, IL, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 15, 2019.

Gene was born on February 13, 1926 in Benton, Illinois, the son of Earl and Grace Smith Parkhill. He grew up in Southern Illinois before joining the Navy in 1944. Gene served in the Philippines at Subic Bay Naval Base during World War II. After the war, he married Geneva Barnfield and moved to Carbondale, Illinois to attend school. At SIU, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and a Master of Arts in Journalism. Children Janet Lynn and Dennis Eugene were born in Carbondale.

Gene accepted Jesus as his Savior at a young age. He was a devoted member of several Baptist churches across the country including University Baptist in Carbondale and, most recently, Immanuel Baptist in Benton.

Gene is proceeded in death by his parents, Earl and Grace Parkhill; Geneva Barnfield Parkhill; Bonnie Johnson Parkhill and son, Dennis Eugene Parkhill.

He is survived by is daughter, Janet Parkhill Miller; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Parkhill; stepson Kevin Johnson; grandchildren Alex and Zac Parkhill; David and Jon Miller and Max Johnson. Great grandchildren Aurora Parkhill; Danielle, Cate, Becka and Hayden Miller, Alissa and Callie Moses; brother, Harry D. Parkhill and sister, Ruth Parkhill Penrod.

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

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 18, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Immanuel Baptist Church, 516 N. Main St., Benton, IL.

Funeral services will follow visitation at 2:00 p.m., at Immanuel Baptist Church with Rev. Eddie Paul Davis, Officiating. Burial will be held at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL., with military rites by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the United States Navy Honors.

Condolences may be given online at www.patefh.com

Mrs. Phyllis Jean Malkovich, age 91; passed away at 5:59 a.m. Friday, July 12, 2019 at the SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Phyllis was a lifelong resident of Benton, Illinois. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 2, 1927, and was raised on a farm south of Benton by her paternal grandparents, John and Rosa Marie (Schrade) Minier.

Phyllis graduated from Benton Township High School in 1944. She married Joseph (Joe) Malkovich on December 10, 1946. They had six children during their marriage.

Phyllis spent much of her time as a wife, mother and homemaker, staying at home and caring for her family. Phyllis would sometimes work outside of the home as a waitress and cook to assist with the family’s financial obligations.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Joe Malkovich, two children, Jan Williams and Michael Malkovich, and a daughter-in-law Diana Malkovich.

She is survived by four children, John Victor (Tracey) Malkovich, Mark (Apryl) Malkovich, Tony Malkovich and Tom Malkovich, son-in-law Guy Williams, along with eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Phyllis requested to be cremated through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Visitation services will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton. Private family graveside services will take place on Monday, July 15, 2019 in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton.
The family requests that Memorial Donations, be made in lieu of flowers to the Benton Ministerial Alliance or the Salvation Army and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Ruth Ann Yunker, 84, of Benton, passed into eternal life at 12:17 a.m., on Friday, July 12, 2019, at her residence.

She was born on December 23, 1934, to Harry and Viola (Roberson) Durham in Whittington, IL. In 1960, she married Eugene J. Yunker of Orland Park, IL. Ruth Ann was a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She was an educator, teaching music and elementary education.

An accomplished musician, Ruth Ann started playing the piano and organ at age four. She had many talents but her biggest joy was being a mother to five, grandmother to thirteen and great grandmother to eight.

She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church of Orland Park, IL., First United Methodist Church of Benton, IL., long time member of Mary Circle and Suzanna’s Piecemakers.

Ruth is survived by her five children, Pamela (Edward) Mack of Darien, IL, Sidney (Mark) Czynski of Mundelein, IL, George Yunker of Mooresville, NC, William Yunker of West Frankfort, IL, and John Yunker of Benton, IL; grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene J. Yunker; father, Harry S. Durham; mother, Viola Florence Durham.

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

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2019, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Rev. Chuck Smith officiating.

Memorials contributions may be made to SSM Hospice Good Samaritan, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com

Roscoe Webb Neal, age 97, went home to the Lord July 7th surrounded by his loving family.

He was born March 28, 1922 the youngest son of Aaron and Nobia Otterson Neal. He is survived by wife Marjorie Sullivan Neal, daughters Karen (husband Keith) Duckworth, Kathy Essary (fiancé Jim Lambert), Kendra (husband David) Clark and sister Dorothy Biegler. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son, Russell, infant daughter, Janice, four brothers Okley, Eual, Jim, Harvey and one sister Goldia Neal Braden.

He served in World War II, 1942-1945, as Private 1st class in the 82nd fighter control squadron as a plotter/coder with the Army-Air Corps. He earned three overseas gold bars. He served in Versailles, France, Corsica and Italy.

Visitation is at 10 am Thursday, July 11 at Morton-Johnston. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Neal Cemetery, Logan.

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

Mary J. Boyd, 81, of Benton, IL passed away at 2:07 p.m., on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at Franklin Hospital, Benton, IL.

She was born on January 10, 1938, to Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Cassville, WI.

Mary is survived by her three children, Mary E. Bartlett and husband Joseph, Charles J. Boyd and wife Julie, and Thomas W. Boyd and wife Paula; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings.

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

Per Mary’s wishes cremation was held.

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

Mrs. Lavina Mae Gibbs, age 87, of Benton; passed away at 7:00 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the Helia Healthcare of Benton.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Karl Barnfield officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Lavina was born on May 18, 1932 in Benton, IL, the daughter of Rev. Clyde Gulley and Leona Fern (Gant) Gulley. She married Clarence Herb Gibbs on May 28, 1955, and he preceded her in death on October 11, 1995.

Lavina was a Certified Nurse’s Aide at the Franklin Hospital, where she worked for 25 years.
She was a member of the Steel City Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Gibbs is survived by her children: Cheryl Ann Norris, Clyde Herbert Gibbs, and David Aaron Gibbs and wife Brandie, all of Benton; two sisters: Arlene Davis and husband Rev. Eddie Paul Davis, Kathryn Crawford, of Benton; two brothers: David Gulley and wife Peggy, Danny Gulley and wife Jackie, also of Benton; a sister-in-law Gladys Thompson of West Frankfort; several nieces and nephews; and her four-legged family Annie and Lucy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a sister Clydean Rodriguez; two brothers-in-law: Ray Wilburn and Jimmie Dale Crawford; and a niece Amanda Kay Gulley.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Lavina Gibbs to the Steel City Missionary Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Lavina, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com