Patricia “Pat” Kay Szczeblewski, 75, of Mulkeytown, IL., passed away at 1:32 p.m., June 9, 2019, at her residence.

Pat was born on December 19, 1943, to Bill and Winnie (Scott) Bailey. She married Richard Szczeblewski on August 5, 1960, and became in her words, a “Kept Woman.”

She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years; parents; and one brother, David Bailey.

Pat is survived by her children, Tracey (Michael) Vandekerkhove of Mulkeytown, Jamie Donovan of Mulkeytown, and Steven (Deb) Szczeblewski of West Frankfort. Her grandchildren, Stormi (Brandon) Dilliner, Ty (Abbey) Vandekerkhove, Treg (Faith) Vandekerkhove, Shad Donovan, Remy Vandekerkhove and special friend Caleb Miner, and Nathan (Jodi) Robasse; her great-grandchildren, Shayne Dilliner, Bentley Donovan, Sloane Vandekerkhove, MaKaiden Robasse, and Taylor (Tayler) Ellison; and great-great grandchildren, Dylan and Rhett Ellison.

She took great joy in life. Pat was a dedicated and loving wife and mother. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Room Mother/ Parent Volunteer, the first woman to hold a seat on the Sesser-Valier School Board, attended the Greenwood United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday School Teacher and led a kids Saturday program when her grand-children were young. Pat loved life and brought laughter wherever she went. She was always up for a good time.

She will be remembered for her witty sayings and her dedication of sending cards for any and all occasions. Pat loved to play games (especially Pinnochle) and spent many hours playing with family and friends.

After a battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer and COPD she entered peacefully into God’s Kingdom at home surrounded by her family. Her big heart and generous spirit will be greatly missed. Mom, Grams, Weezer you are forever in our hearts. We love you!

Pat and her family want to thank all the friends and church family who visited and brought food for her to enjoy while she was alive (per her request), the cards, flowers and many prayers sent her way. Thank you to the SIH Cancer Institute of Southern Illinois for their kindness and care, the friendly staff of Medicine Shop that always took care to deliver her medical supplies, and Hospice of Southern Illinois for their wonderful care.

Words Pat lived by: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, “Wow, What a Ride!”

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

There will be a celebration of life for Pat on Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Greenwood United Methodist Church, 2638 Park Street Road, Mulkeytown, IL., Starting at 1:00 p.m. with a brief service at 3:30 p.m., with the Rev. Bill Wiggs officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Pat requested donations be made to the Greenwood United Methodist Church, Hospice of Southern Illinois, or the charity of your choice.

Praise God for his goodness. Pat loved the Lord with all her heart!

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

Bette Marian Hughes, 87, of Ewing passed away June 5, 2019 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.

Funeral services will be at 2:30pm on Saturday, June 8th at Morton Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, IL. Visitation will be from 12pm to 2:30pm, with the funeral beginning at 2:30pm. Burial will be at the Thurmond Cemetery, Ewing, IL. A dinner will be hosted at the Rescue Free Will Baptist church, immediately following the burial service.

Marian was born on May 30, 1932, the daughter of Earl, Sr. and Mildred (Warren) Smith of Benton, IL. She graduated Benton High School in 1950, married James Ernie Hughes on September 3, 1950, and after two years of following Ernie as he served during the Korean Conflict, returned to the farm in Frisco, IL. She obtained her Registered Nursing degree and began her career as an RN Nurse and farm wife. She spent her life caring for others.
Marian was preceeded in death by her husband Ernie, her parents and three brothers, Jackie, Jim and Earl, Jr.

Marian is survived by her daughter, Marilee Clark and husband John of Ewing; son, James Earl Hughes and wife Anjanette of Benton; two sisters, Evelyn Fiala of Schaumburg and Francis Glover of South Roxana; four grandchildren, Sarah Lowery and Daniel Fairchild, both of Ewing, James Ethan Hughes, Owensboro, KY and Anna Hughes, St Louis, MO; three great-grandchildren, Sebastian Fairchild, Tamrah and Lauren Lowery and a number of Neices and Nephews.

Special thanks to Lynn Mathis, Joyce Kelso and Marci Buck, caregivers who made it possible for Marian to spend her final years at home.
Memorial contributions can be made for the benefit of Thurmond Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Merwin Henry Eaton, age 92, of Thompsonville, passed away at 11:49 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at VA Community Living Center of Marion.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery of DuQuoin. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, where Masonic Rites will be observed at 11:00 a.m.

Mr. Eaton was born on October 5, 1926 in DuQuoin, Illinois, the son of Irl Eaton and Celia (Wheeler) Eaton. He married the former Marilyn Zoe Margenthaler on August 29, 1951, and she survives.

He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II; and was a member of the Benton American Legion Post #280 and the Benton V.F.W. Post #2671.

Merwin was a farmer and a retired coal miner. His coal mining career was with the Freeman United Coal Company, where he worked at Freeman #11 in DuQuoin. He was a member of the U.M.W.A.

Mr. Eaton was also a member of the DuQuoin Masonic Lodge# 234 A.F. and A.M. of DuQuoin; the Franklin County Shrine, Ainad Temple of the Shrine; Scottish Rites Body of Southern Illinois; and was a member of the Liberty United Methodist Church of Thompsonville until it closed.

He enjoyed hunting; which he did all of his life. He especially enjoyed training Beagle Hounds; and participated and won many Field Trials. He also enjoyed hunting quail and squirrels. He also enjoyed raising cattle.

Most of all he was proud of his grandson and loved to spend time with him.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years: Marilyn Eaton of Thompsonville; two sons: David Allen Eaton and friend Linda Paris of DuQuoin, James Lee Eaton and wife Linda of Thompsonville; a grandson Charles Jacob Eaton and wife Haley of Oregon, OH; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Eaton was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters: Wanda Lows, Ruth Wright, Ann Wright, and Helen Taylor; and a brother Irl Wilson Eaton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Shrine Club or the Benton American Legion and V.F.W. Honor Squad; and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Jay A. Cavender, 59, of Sesser, passed away at 10:31 a.m., on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at his residence.

He was born on July 29, 1959, to Thomas and Juanita (Mitchell) Cavender in Washington, IN. Jay had worked as a Service Manager for Goodyear Tires.

Jay enjoyed fishing and watching sports on ESPN.

He is survived by his brother, John Kelly Cavender and wife Tina of Sesser, IL; two nieces, Lacye Renee Phelps and husband Rodney, and Courtnye J.S. Cavender and husband Dalton; and a nephew, John Kelly Cavender and wife Reanna.

Jay was preceded in death by parents, Thomas Waldo and Juanita Sue Cavender.

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

Jay’s wishes was for cremation to take place.

Memorials contributions may be made to the donor’s choice, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Calvin “Kim” Bigham, 74, of Benton passed away on May 22, 2019.

Mr. Bigham was born on January 10, 1945, the son of Ernie Leeman & Betty (Iunerich) Bigham.
Calvin was a Day Foreman with Freeman United Coal Company.

Mr. Bigham is survived by his wife Connie Bigham, of Benton; three children, Chris Bigham, and wife Sandy, of Bradenton, FL, Cassy Chapman, and husband Jay, of St. Peter, IL and Kerrie Smith, and special friend James Hopkins, of Benton, IL; grandchildren Nick, Megan, Erik, Natalie and husband Ethan, Emily and fiance’ Lane and Jesse and fiance’ Alli.

Mr. Bigham was preceded in death by his parents and by one daughter, Jamie Brown.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 31st at the First Christian Church 302 South Main Street in Benton with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. Church doors will open at 10:30 A.M.
Memorial may be made to First Christian Church Fellowship Center Building Fund or Food Pantry.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Marsha Darlene Niehoff, 69, was born on January 16, 1950, in Gibson City, Illinois, and flew away to begin her new journey on May 27, 2019.

She was a daughter, a sister, and a fierce friend. Above all else, she was a devoted mother. When Marsha turned 18, she moved to Oklahoma. She married soon after and began raising a family upon the birth of her first son in 1972. She gave birth to her second son in 1978. She met her best friend, Wanda, in 1979 and they shared forty years of friendship and laughter together. In 1988, she took on the role of single parent after giving birth to a third son. She could be seen effortlessly balancing jobs as a waitress and a CNA as well as babysitting neighborhood children to make ends meet, often going without so her children wouldn’t have to. She will be remembered for her quiet strength and thunderous laugh that could light up a room. Her body may be gone but she is not. A mother’s love never dies. It sticks for eternity.

Our mother leaves behind her three sons; Paul Niehoff and wife Stephanie, Kevin Niehoff and wife Jennifer, and Kristopher Niehoff as well as one adopted daughter, Amanda Wilson and husband Cody.

She also leaves behind three sisters; Linda Van Zandt, Barbara Creveline, and Sheila Ecker as well as one brother, Randall Roy and several nieces and nephews.

She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as extended family members, Rhonda and Red Singleton; close friends Tammy and Dave Schoolcraft; and friend, Tony Leone, who was by her side when she left this world for the next.

She flies to the stars to join those who went before her: her mother and father, Marjorie J. and Avery F. Roy; one sister, Carolyn Creech; and best friend of 40 years, Wanda Lackey and husband Kenneth.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2019 at the Elkville First Baptist Church, with Pastor Scott Slone officiating.

Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

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

LaVeda Lucille Warren, age 82, of Benton, passed away at 2:50 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019, at the Stonebridge Nursing and Rehab Center of Benton.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 27, 2019 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Rod Joplin officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

LaVeda was born on October 24, 1936 in Benton, IL, the daughter of Raymond Roscoe Smith and Rachel Eva (Hicks) Smith. She married Raymond Monroe Warren on June 18, 1955, and he preceded her in death on March 25, 1993.

Mrs. Warren worked for 30 years as a Guidance Secretary at Benton Consolidated High School.

She was a member of the Logan Church of God.

LaVeda enjoyed sewing and quilting, camping and cooking. But her favorite thing she enjoyed to do was spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters: Janice Dudek of Marion, IL, and Lisa Smothers and husband Allen of Benton; six grandchildren: Melissa Dudek, Kyle Dudek, Jennifer Dudek, Joshua Dudek, Raymond Smothers, and Warren Smothers; two great-grandchildren: Maddix Dudek and Laythan Bowling.

Mrs. Warren was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son Ray Warren; two great-grandchildren: Alayna Rachel Dudek and Wesson Anthony Ken Dudek.

The family would like to extend a thank you to the staff of the Stonebridge Nursing and Rehab Center for giving their care and love to LaVeda. To show their gratitude, memorial contributions may be made to the Stonebridge Nursing and Rehab Center; and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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