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

Shirley L. Summers, 83, of Troy Grove, IL passed away Friday morning, June 28, 2019.

She was born in West Frankfort, IL on August 14, 1935, the daughter of Ransom & Fern Hewlett.
She married Warren Summers on June 2, 1956, and he preceded her in death on November 7, 1999.

Mrs. Summers was a member of the Moose & Elks Lodge.

She is survived by her children, Diana Summers, Troy Grove, IL, Gwen Voss, and husband Greg, of Lombard, IL, Kenneth Summers, and wife Marsha, of Minnesota, Paula McDonald, of Mendota, IL and Larry Summers, and wife Debbie, of Plainfield, IL; grandchildren Sheila Voss, Kaitlyn Summers, Nicholas Summers, Valerie Drewel, David McDonald and Madison Summers; sister Maxine Page, of Benton, IL; brother Lowell Hewlett, of West Frankfort, IL

Mrs. Summers was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 2nd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Phillips Cemetery in Ewing. Visitation will be after 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Dale Allen, 68, of Sesser, passed away on June 29, 2019.

He was born on September 9, 1950 in DuQuoin, IL to Robert “Fuzz” Allen Sr. and Billie (Bowlin) Allen.
He is survived by his mother Billie Allen of DuQuoin, IL; his children Greg (Leigh) Allen of North Palm Beach, FL, Jonathon (Jeni) Allen of Naples, FL and Kaylee Allen of Herrin, IL; four grandchildren London Allen, Kelsi Epplin, Talion Miller and Blaine Bradley; one sister Kandy (David) Porter of DuQuoin; and one brother Bobby Allen of Sesser.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Dale enjoyed gardening, canning vegetables and playing tennis. He was an avid follower of all aspects of horse racing, including western pleasure show horses and cutting horses.

Dale loved living life and never met a stranger.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday July 2, 2019 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Chris Hottensen officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuenralhomes.com

Jimmie Dale Crawford, 79, of Sesser, IL passed away Friday, June 28, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born in West Frankfort, IL on January 1, 1940, the son of James and Charity (Culpepper) Crawford.
Mr. Crawford married Kathryn Gulley on May 9, 1964 and she survives.
Mr. Crawford was a member of the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church. He was a member of the UMWA. Mr. Crawford served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Crawford, of Sesser; two sons, Tim Crawford, of Sesser and Mark Crawford, of Miami, FL; grandchildren Matthew Crawford, of Sesser, Elizabeth Crawford, of Sesser, Sydney Crawford, of Benton, Michael Crawford, of Benton and Gabrielle Reed, of Carbondale. He is also survived by three sisters and five brothers.

Mr. Crawford was preceded in death by his parents and by three brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, July 1, 2019 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Bro. Larry Cook officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Post and the National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 10:00 A.M. on Monday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Betty Jean Stevens, age 84, of Benton; passed away at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at the Helia Healthcare of Benton.

Mrs. Stevens wishes were to be cremated. Private Family Celebration of Life Services will take place at a future date.
Cremation arrangements have been entrusted with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Betty was born on October 20, 1934 in West Frankfort, IL, the daughter of Michael and Florence Elieff. She was last married Sheril O. Stevens and he preceded her in death.
Mrs. Stevens was a retired Rehabilitation CNA, having worked for Severin Intermediate Care, Benton Healthcare, and Helia Healthcare, all of Benton.

She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, working, and shopping at Wal-Mart and the Dollar Tree.

Betty attended the New Life Church of God in Benton.
Surviving are her children: Harold W. Lowery of Peoria, IL, Tammy Piercy of Benton, Brandie Haselden and fiancée Dennis Kellermeier of Benton; four grandchildren: Tia Booker of Las Vegas, NV, Myracle Piercy, Alexandra Quillman, Sheyanne McMahon all of Benton; a great-granddaughter Addyson Quillman of Benton; a sister Shirley Toms and husband Lamont of Benton.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four husbands; a son David Patterson; one sister Mildred Wiggs.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Betty, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Ray Galloway, 74, of Sesser, passed away on June 25, 2019.

He was born on May 10, 1945 in West Frankfort, IL to Stanton and Irene (Joiner) Galloway. He married Beverly (Grafton) Galloway on May 24, 1975.

He is survived by his wife Beverly Galloway of Sesser; his children Clint (Patty) Galloway of West Frankfort, IL and Christopher Wayne Anderson of Benton; eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Kevin Ray Galloway, one daughter Robin Ann Galloway; one grandson Dustin Galloway, two sisters and two brothers.

He was a member of the Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser.

Graveside services will be on Saturday June 29, 2019 at 3:00 PM at the Hammond Cemetery in Sesser with Brother Larry Clyatt officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the family to help with funeral expenses.

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