Elmer Ray Loucks, 57, of Mulkeytown, IL passed away on June 1, 2018 at Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis.

He was born on March 25, 1961 in Benton, IL to James and Mona (Ingersoll) Loucks.  He is survived by his children Natalie (Trevor) Joiner of Valier, Nathan (Roxie) Loucks of Mulkeytown, Bobbie Benedict of Herrin, Danny (Miranda) Nutt of Sesser, and James (Joyce) Nutt of Willow, AR; 11 grandchildren; one great grandchild; one sister Rita Gonzalez of Kaufman, TX; two brothers Randy (Terri) Loucks of Sesser and Jerry Loucks of Sesser; he is also survived by several nieces, nephews and many other children that he cared for through the years. 

He was a Member of the Teamsters Union.  His wishes were to be cremated.  A memorial service will be held at a later date. Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is handling arrangements.

Ethel Anne Woods, 77, of Benton, IL passed away in the family home, Thursday afternoon, May 31, 2018 with her daughters at her bedside.

She was born in St. Louis, MO on May 16, 1941 the daughter of Oliver T. & Helen Anna Casey.

Mrs. Woods was an excellent seamstress and a fantastic cook. Her family was very proud of her talents. She was involved in Girl Scouts, PTA, and Pyramid Players.

Ethel married Gordon A. Woods on June 2, 1958 in Corinth, MS, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 2, 2011. She will be buried on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Woods is survived by her four beloved daughters, Crystal Slover, and husband Tracy, of Wayne City, IL, Shelia Jones, and husband Jerry, of Dallas, TX, Carol Fleming, of Benton, IL and Amber Doty, and husband David, of Mt. Vernon, IN; seven grandchildren, Brittnie (Ainslie) Wells and her children Keegan and Hudson, Matthew Woods, and his children Hendrix and Nyomi, Casey Ainslie, Rybka Sargent, Anthony Doty, Megan (Slover) Beaver, and husband Mason and Caleb Doty; sisters Helen Sue Evans, Lucille Bierbaum and Betty Bennett.

Mrs. Woods was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

She will be missed by her faithful companion Duchess Pearle who stayed by her side.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2nd at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. There will be no visitation. Those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association or to the Franklin County Animal Shelter.

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

Carolyn Lynch, 75, of Ewing passed away Friday morning, June 1, 2018 at The Franklin Hospital in Benton.

She was born in Chicago Heights, IL on March 4, 1943, the daughter of Gale & Hazel (Parrish) Sneed.

She married Ronald Lynch on Aughst 16, 1962, and he preceded her in death on February 11, 2018.

Mrs. Lynch was a member of the Whittington Baptist Church.

Mrs. Lynch is survived by two sons, Dan Lynch, and wife Susan, of Benton and Craig Lynch, and wife Shari, of Mulkeytown; grandchildren Brooke Lynch Cecil, Dustin Lynch, and wife Tori and Kassie Lynch; sisters Janet Wilson, and husband Bill, of Benton and Judy Smith, and husband Tom, of Benton; brothers-in-law, Ronald Newcomb, of Ewing, James Lynch, and wife Barbara, of Benton, Alfred Lynch, and wife Annette, of Benton, Michael Lynch, and wife Debbie, of Mulkeytown. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and step great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Lynch was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a sister, Evelyn Newcomb and by an infant brother, Milford Lee, and by a brother-in-law, Bob Payne.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at Morton  Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.

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

Loren Ray Toms, age 43, of West City, IL went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2018 in the Leffler Funeral Home with Rev. Sammy Simmons officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday evening, and from 10 a.m. to the funeral hour on Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Loren was born on September 3, 1974 in West Frankfort, Illinois, the son of James Kenneth Toms, Jr. and Connie Sue (Roach) Toms.

He was a former Tow Truck Driver with Abbott’s Towing of West City; and he was a former body man with Marshall’s Body Shop of Benton.

Loren loved his Lord and Savior, and was a member of the Logan Baptist Church.

He enjoyed going to drag races and street machine nationals, watching St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, participating each year in fantasy baseball, fishing with his dad, singing, and most of all he loved his son Cameron and getting to spend time with him.

Loren is survived by his son Cameron Michael Toms of McLeansboro; his mother Connie Sue Ruffino and husband Ed of Benton; his father James Kenneth Toms, Jr. and wife Jane of Logan; his paternal grandmother Lula Mae Toms of Benton; a brother Jim Toms and wife Gina of West Frankfort; a niece Allison Toms of West Frankfort; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather; and maternal grandparents.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Responders including Abbott’s Ambulance, Benton Fire Department, West City and Benton Police Departments, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Charlotte Patricia (Peggy) Kanady, 87, passed away peacefully May 26, 2018, in West Frankfort, IL. Charlotte was born October 23, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois to Matthew and Marya (Misztas) Jasinski.

Charlotte co-owned and managed a strawberry crop U-Pick business in Galatia, and co-owned an Italian restaurant and bar as the primary cook/ foodservice manager in Benton. Charlotte spent her later years living in Buckner as a homemaker.

She married Robert Thomas Wilkins in 1948 (Chicago), had 4 children, lived in Chicago and Southern California, and was widowed in 1959. She married Earl Kanady in 1960, had one child, and in 1967 they moved the family to Earl’s hometown, (New) Shawneetown, Illinois.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brother, Richard Jasinski, Richard’s wife, Gerry and their children, Robin and Richard Jr.; Daughter-in-law, Carol Wilkins; niece, Kimberly Mariarz, and two great grandchildren.

Survivors include her brother, Clyde (Virginia) Jasinski and sister, Georgian Sinn; children, Robert Gary Wilkins, Patrick (Linda) Wilkins, Barbara Dineen- Naas (Lawrence Naas), Donald (Dawn) Wilkins, Earl (Robin) Kanady; grandchildren, Brian Wilkins, Noel and York Adams; Bobby Wilkins, Johnny and Crissy Wilkins, Heather Taylor-Naas and Timothy Dineen III, Josh and John Cambron; Jamie Lynn Kanady and Jason Maxfield; many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and her little dog, Sasha.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at Pate Funeral Home, Benton IL.

Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. with Father Urban Osuji officiating.

Burial will follow services at Mulkeytown Cemetery in Mulkeytown, IL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Residential Hospice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Larry Dale Flowers, age 85, passed away on May 24, 2018 at Parkway Manor in Marion.

He was born on June 13, 1932 to Dale and Irene (Brown) in Mulkeytown.

On November 23, 1950, he married his red-headed girl, Vera L. Hiller in Christopher.  They shared over 66 years of marriage until her death on May 28, 2017.

Larry was active in the community and served on the Zeigler Fire and Police Department Auxiliary, was a member of the Christopher Saddle Club, Zeigler Saddle Club, Zeigler Masonic Lodge and was an active Shriner.  He announced many horse shows throughout Southern Illinois in the 1970’s and 1980’s and enjoyed watching his young sons participate in horse shows.  He was a member of the First Christian Church in Christopher where he served many years as an elder and board chairman.

Larry supported his young family by working at Allen’s and Country Set as a sewing machine mechanic.  He was the proud owner of Larry’s Trailer Sales in Zeigler serving the area for over 50 years.  He and his family also own Flowers Farms.  Larry and Vera enjoyed traveling all over the world and he loved the hunting trips with his friends.

He leaves behind his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Gayla Flowers, grandchildren, Lacy Holt, Larry A. Flowers, Courtney, Chad and Chase Flowers, great grandson A.J. Holt, daughter–in-law Pricilla Flowers, brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Carolyn Flowers, several nieces and nephews as well as many business and personal friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Vera Flowers, and son Larry Allen Flowers.

Graveside services will be on Saturday May 26, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery with brother Denny Bush officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday May 25, 2018 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and on Saturday May 26, 2018 from 9:00 AM until 10:30 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Lillie Adkins, 94, passed away at 7:45 AM, Thursday, May 24^th, 2018, at her home in Benton, Illinois. The first child of Marion and Lelia (Martin) Stephens, Lillie was born August 5, 1923 in Harveyton, Kentucky.  She married James Adkins in Fleming, Kentucky on December 23, 1939 and over the years they were blessed with eight healthy children.

Mr. and Mrs. Adkins moved to Benton from Kentucky in October 1961 and settled into the community with their active children. While Mr. Adkins was busy working at Freeman Coal Orient #5 mine and later at Inland Steel Coal in Sesser, Mrs. Adkins focused her time on her children as they actively participated in sports and activities sponsored by their schools and community.

In addition to Lillie’s eight children she was blessed with fourteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, and four great, great grandchildren. Spending time with each was a great pleasure for her and her mothering instincts extended not only to her own children but to their friends as well, as she offered food, love, encouragement and sage advice to all. She most recently delighted in spending a weekend with her newest six-month-old great grandson and having a four-generation photo taken.

Lillie was an avid reader and was often seen visiting the Benton Public Library. She was also an enthusiast of all televised sports, with a keen interest in watching basketball, especially following the career of her favorite star and announcer, Doug Collins.

Survivors include five daughters, Mary Lou Shockley, West Frankfort, Brenda Doty (Tod) and Vickie Willis (Bruce), both from Benton, Sharon Merwin, Dallas, Texas, and Rhonda Cockrum (Curtis), Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Sons, Richard Adkins (Kathy), Middletown, Ohio, James Adkins (Deborah), Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Roger Adkins (Glenna), London, Kentucky.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Adkins, her parents, Marion and Lelia Stephens, three brothers, John, Gordon, and Robert Stephens, and sons-in-law, Jack Shockley and Davis Merwin.

The family extends special thanks and much gratitude to Leotta Burbank, an incredible Care Angel whose ever present pleasing personality and warmth brought comfort, peace, joy, and friendship to our mom and family.   To Rachael Janello, mom’s physical therapist whose kindness, understanding, warmth, and laughter led to an endearing friendship.  Thanks also to the following Care Angels who have helped and supported us over the last few months:  Emily Harris, Ruth Zeboski, Kendra Murphy, Gayla Porritt, and Janice Biggs. A special thanks also to Hospice of Southern Illinois whose support and guidance brought comfort and peace to our family.

Funeral services will be at Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main St, Benton, Illinois on Saturday at 11:00 AM.  We welcome all who wish to attend.

Memorial contributions may be made to Benton Public Library, 502 South Main Street, Benton, IL  62812 or Hospice of Southern Illinois, 204 Halfway Road, Marion, IL  62959, and will be accepted at the funeral home.