Melvin “Red” Neal, 78, of Whittington, IL passed away Wednesday morning  August 29, 2018.

He was born in Franklin County, IL on July 20, 1940 the son of Ralph and Clara (Stone) Neal.

He married Sandy Crisp on September 26, 1958 and she preceded him in death on August 18, 2015.

Mr. Neal was one of the founding members of the Ewing-Northern Fire Department. Mr. and Mrs. Neal loved and were very active in the Fire Department.

Mr. Neal is survived by two daughters, Beth Roberts and husband Jeff, of Whittington and Sherry Richardson and husband Stephen, of Benton, IL; grandchildren Jason Richardson, of Benton, Brittany Davis and husband Clay, of Cape Girardeau, MO and Ethan Roberts, of Peoria, IL and a great-grandson, Brody Neal Richardson, of Christopher, IL.

Mr. Neal was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, Phyllis Gray and Betty Neal and two brothers, Tom Neal and Richard Neal.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 1st at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Mr. David Goss officiating. Burial will be in the Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ewing-Northern Fire Department Fund.

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

Steven Jay Tennenbaum, age 65, of Benton, IL passed away at 8:01 a.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at the Franklin Hospital emergency room.

Mr. Tennenbaum’s wishes were to be cremated.

A memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2018 at the Faith Baptist Church of Benton, with Rev. Steven Flach officiating.

Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Steve was born on May 25, 1953 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Immanuel Robert Tennenbaum and Mary Ruth (Bierman) Tennenbaum. He married the former Karen Phalen on July 15, 1985, and she preceded him in death on May 12, 2011.

Steve was a general laborer and former salesman.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Tennenbaum enjoyed going to church, currently was worshipping at the Faith Baptist Church of Benton.
Steve enjoyed mowing lawns, sitting outside visiting over a cup of coffee with his friends and neighbors.
He is survived by his daughter Stephanie Tennenbaum of Benton; two adopted sons: Jesse Cutter and Kevin Goetz both of Benton; two special friends: Mike Maceri and John Overturf, both also of Benton.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the family to assist with the cremation expenses, C\O Leffler Funeral Home.
To leave online condolences to the family or to share memories of Steve, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Calvin Mabry, 90, of Belleville, and a former Benton resident passed away on August 20, 2018 in Columbia, IL.

Mr. Mabry was born in Benton, IL on October 13, 1927, the son of Calvin Ray & Vina (Robinson) Mabry. He married Patsy R. Williams on May 30, 1949.

Mr. Mabry served in the Marine Corp during World War II. He was the retired owner of Mabry Home Improvement.

He is survived by his daughters, Lynette (David) Rienbolt and Pam Tullous; grandchildren, Zac Rienbolt, Jenna (Sande) Zander, Ben (Chelly) Parish, Dustin (Kelly) Parish, Michael Parish; great-granddaughter: Diedre Zander; sisters-in-law Doris Mabry and Betty (Spank) Bowman and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Mabry was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years Pat Williams Mabry, father and mother – Calvin and Vina Mabry, brothers and sisters: Freda (Barney) Shaw, Ray (Wilma) Mabry, Jim Mabry, Lou (Red)Conner, Eva (Nick) Shapkoff, Wanda (Paul) Wayman and by Son-in-law Charlie Tullous.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Post and the National Guard Honor Squad will follow in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery. There will be no visitation, those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Belleville Family Hospice – familyhospice.org

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

 

 

Patricia Brown, 84, of Christopher passed away on August 21, 2018 at Integrity Healthcare of Marion.

She was born on February 24, 1934 in Urbana, IL to Daniel and Hollie (Atterbury) Shipps. 

She is survived by her children Teresa Lain of Marion, Jonathon Brown of Chicago, Nancy (Ralph) Loeschen of Mahomet, IL and Gerald Brown of Urbana,IL; grandchildren Daniel Brown, Jennifer Brown, Tabitha Lewis, Sally (Steve) Jamerson, Ralph Loeschen, Jason (Heather) Brown, and Charles (Angela) Loeschen.

She was the past president of the Bellflower American Legion Auxiliary.  She had worked at State Farm and the University of Illinois.  She was also the former director of the Christopher Library and a member of the First Christian Church in Christopher.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers Sonny Shipps and Phillip Erwin.

Funeral services will be on Saturday August 25, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Jerry Aken officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday August 24, 2018 from 5:00 Pm until 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Christopher Library. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

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

Charles ‘Peanuts” Lutes, 91, of Christopher passed away on Saturday August 18, 2018 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon. 

He was born in Christopher on September 11, 1926 along with his twin brother Carl, whom he would often jokingly remind that he was five minutes older. He was a graduate of Christopher Community High School and was inducted into the U.S. Navy during World War II, stationed in Hawaii, and returned afterward to spend the rest of his life in his hometown, where he was an employee for many years at Bione Truck Line. 

He was dedicated to public service and the community that he loved.  A member of the Christopher Fire Department at an early age, Peanuts, as he was affectionately called, went on to serve for many years as Fire Chief of the Christopher Fire Department. 

He was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 65 years Loretta (Mangin) Lutes on May 3, 2015.  He was also preceded in death by his parents Bessie and Charlie Lutes, Sr., a sister Laura Hicks and a brother James Lutes.  He is survived by a sister Emma (Lutes) Smith, a longtime Carbondale resident, now living in Effingham, his twin brother Carl Lutes of Carbondale, a dear friend Mary Gant of DuQuoin and many, many special friends and family. 

Funeral services will be on Thursday August 23, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Jeff Troutt officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park in DuQuoin.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Christopher Fire Department, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.