James M. Vise, 92, of Benton passed away Thursday afternoon, November 15, 2018 in Benton.

He was born in Macedonia, IL on June 17, 1926, the son of Evan H. & Goldie (Moore) Vise.

He married Clara Lu (Keener) on July 24, 1955 at the First Christian Church in Benton.

Mr. Vise served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Benton.

Mr. Vise is survived by his wife, Clara Lu Vise, of Benton; daughters Linda Maddox, and husband Keith, of Chesterfield, MO and Susan Brookins, and husband Ron, of Marietta, GA; five grandchildren, Emily (Maddox) Wissmann, and husband Taylor, Lindsey (Maddox) Gross and husband Ryan, Whitney (Brookins) Pulliam, and husband Christopher, Tyler Brookins and Chandler Brookins; four great-grandchildren Koa and Hudson Wissmann and Cohen and Maevry Gross.

Mr. Vise was preceded in death by his parents and by two brothers, Harvey and Hosea Vise.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, November 19, 2018 at the First Christian Church in Benton with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Monday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Fellowship Center.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Larry B. Townley, 59, of Thompsonville, IL passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2018 in Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

Larry was born in Chicago, IL on November 13, 1959, the son of Jack L. & Helen (Adams) Townley. He married Deloris Beyreis on July 16, 2017 and she survives.

Mr. Townley served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 Years retiring in 2000. He served as Federal Agent U.S. Border Patrol. He taught EMT courses. He liked woodworking. He enjoyed feeding the birds.

Mr. Townley is survived by his wife, Deloris Beyreis-Townley, of Thompsonville, parents Jack and Helen Townley, of Ewing, IL, two children, Stephanie Nunez and husband Christopher, of Yuma, AZ and Jesse Townley and wife Kristina, of Yuma, AZ; three granddaughters, Samantha, Chloe and Allison; one brother Jack Kevin Townley and wife Jill, of Ewing; four step-children and Fiorella Bryan, the mother of his two children.

 Mr. Townley was preceded in death by a brother, Jeffery Townley.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 16th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Rev. Ron Cremeens officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts & the National Guard Honor Team will be in the Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Friday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Jack W. Davis, 66, of Benton passed away Monday afternoon, November 5, 2018 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Christopher, IL on September 14, 1952, the son of Robert and Rosie (Gostowski) Davis.

Mr. Davis worked at Taylor Motors for several years, then for Redi-Mix for several years. He was a member of the Benton Eagles & Boccie Ball Club.

Mr. Davis is survived by one son, a brother Robert “Bob” Davis, of Texas and a special friend, Carol Scott, Benton, IL.

Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Sharon Davis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Jackson Grove Cemetery in Akin. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

David S. Colliton, age 67, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Memorial Celebration of Life Services will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the First Christian Church, 302 South Main Street, Benton, IL 62812, with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. Burial will take place in the Mt. Etna Cemetery near Akin.

Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is assisting the family with local services and arrangements.

David was born on August 13, 1951 in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Edward F. Colliton, Sr. and Barbara J. (Sheely) Colliton.

He was a retired Kids Program Director, having worked at the Cincinnati Children’s Museum.

David loved his children and grandchildren. He was an accomplished artist and musician, and he loved the outdoors.

He is survived by three children: Mark Colliton, Michayla Colliton, and Sean Colliton, all three of Cincinnati, Ohio; six grandchildren; three sisters: Connie Colliton of Fayetteville, NC, Kathy Summers and husband Les of Thompsonville, IL, Edith Gostowski and husband Paul of Benton, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

David was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother Edward F. Colliton, Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church building Fund.

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

Ronald Lee Dollins, age 85, of Benton, went to his reward in Heaven at 10:48 p.m. Monday, November 5, 2018.

Visitation services for Mr. Dollins will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.  Private graveside services will follow the visitation.

Mr. Dollins was born on November 17, 1932 in Benton, the son of Paul Virgil Dollins and Mary Madeline (Rone) Dollins.  He married the former Marilyn Jane (Harvey) Dollins on December 24, 1958.  They would spend 54 years in marriage, until her death in March of 2013.

Ron would proudly serve his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, where he was an Aircraft and Engine Mechanic with the 15^th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. While serving his country, his father would tragically die in the Orient 2 Mine explosion on December 21, 1951, therefore Ron would be discharged in March of 1952 to come home to Benton and support his mother.

Mr. Dollins earned a master’s degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  He retired from the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services.   

Ron is survived by three sons: David Dollins of Paducah, KY, Michael Dollins and wife Amy of Benton, IL, Stephen Dollins and wife April of Marion, IL; eight grandchildren: Nathan of Pasadena, CA, Abigail and Jared of Paducah, KY, Michaela and MacKenzie of Benton, IL, Jessica, Victoria, and Ava of Marion, IL.

Mr. Dollins was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; an infant brother; and a brother Paul Dollins.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Benton Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry,         and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

David Brent Toney, 64, of Bloomington, IL passed away on October 31, 2018.

He was born on December 5, 1953 in Franklin County, IL to Jack and Shirley (Arterberry) Toney.

He is survived by one uncle and two aunts Don and Barbara Toney of Ankeny, Iowa and Mary Lou Toney of Leroy, IL, and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Graveside services will be on Saturday November 3, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery.  Friend and family are asked to meet at the Cemetery.

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

Phyllis Jean Johnson, age 82, of Benton, passed away at 9:50 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018, at the Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.

Phyllis was born on June 7, 1936 in Marion, Illinois, the daughter of Edward Monroe Brumit and Janie Jewell (Williams) Brumit.

She was an LPN, and last worked and retired from the VA Medical Center of Marion.

Phyllis was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Iuka, Illinois.

She formerly was a member of the Eastern Star, and the Red Hatters.

Phyllis is survived by three children: Rhonda Hefner of Mt. Vernon, IL, Terri Doughty of Pensacola, FL, and James Cooper of Benton; ten grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. For more information about making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, visit Alz.org

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

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