Patricia Ann Akins passed away at her home in Benton, Illinois on July 17, 2017.  Pat was born in Peoria, Illinois to Charles E. and Edna (Avery) Johnson.  As a young girl, she loved playing semi-pro softball, running fast, and eating Fannie May chocolates.  Though almost always the youngest in her circle, she never knew it and always felt like one of the biggest kids (if not the biggest one).

She first saw Arthur E. Akins, her husband of 57 years, driving by in a convertible and wearing his Air Force uniform while stationed in Peoria.  After marrying on her parents’ farm, she began her family in Little Rock, Arkansas and lived in Tehran, Iran before settling in Benton.  She raised three daughters and cared for her and her husband’s aging parents in the ensuing years.

Few things made her as happy as giving gifts to friends and family and spoiling her grandchildren.  (Who says ice cream isn’t for breakfast?)  A competitive softball player and bowler for many years, she also enjoyed ceramics, listening to Elvis and Dean Martin, bingo, and playing cards with friends.  She spent many years active at the Elks and Boneyard Bocce Ball Club.

She was preceded in death by Arthur and her beloved sister, Vivian Johnson of Laura, Illinois.  She is survived by her loving daughters, Charlene Sarver, Angela Brewer, and Joy Akins and her sister-in-law, Shirley (Akins) Jones.  She will also be missed by her sons-in-law Ed Sarver, Dan Brewer, and Steve Buttitta.  She was over the moon about her surviving six grandchildren, Stephanie (Sarver) Bakmaz, Stacie (Sarver) Summers, Kacie Brewer, Rusty Brewer, Liam Buttitta, and Annan Akins, as well as her five great-grandchildren.  She will be loved and missed by them all.

A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 20th at the Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Benton West City Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry.

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

Ida Louetta Mocaby, 83, of Logan, IL passed away Tuesday morning July 17, 2018 at her home.

She was born on August 4, 1934, the daughter of Robert and Alma (Bradley) Melvin. She was married to John Robert Mocaby, Sr. on September 30, 1951 and he died on February 23, 2014.

She worked for several years as a caregiver. Everyone that she took care of loved her.

She is survived by her children, John Mocaby, and wife Mary, Janet Brannan, Joy Smith, and husband Tom and Robin Mocaby, all of Logan; 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; five siblings, Helen Rose Kirk, Robert Gene Melvin, and wife Linda, Mary Kay Mosely, Anna Summers, and husband Leon and Carol Davis, and husband Denny.

Mrs. Mocaby was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a daughter, Lynnette Camden, by a granddaughter, Jamie Bragg and by two brothers-in-law, Gene Kirk and Bill Mosley.

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Dean Severin officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Church of God Cemetery in Logan. Visitation will be after 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

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

Arthur Carl (Dobb) Dobrzynski died on July 13, 2018, at St Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, of cardiac complications.

Arthur was born November 24, 1943, in Detroit Michigan and moved to Benton at the age of four. He graduated from BCHS. After serving in the US Army for two years, he returned to Benton and joined the Benton Police Department.

On April 18, 1970, he married Patricia J, Laraway: the couple had recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. In 1997, Arthur retired from the Benton Police Department after 28 plus years of service. After his retirement, Arthur went to work for eight years at Rend Lake Community College in law enforcement.

In July 2016, he joined the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department working in court security. Arthur was very proud of his 43 years in the law enforcement field.

Arthur is survived by his loving wife Patricia, of Benton, Il, and his uncle, Van Blaszczynski and family in California and first cousins Vera and Ray also in California. He is preceded in death by his mother, Francis Yezerski; his step-father, Leon Yezerski; his father, Arthur R. Dobrzynski; his grandmother and grandfather, Helen and Vincent Blaszczynski and his aunts and uncles. His sister-in-law, Susan Laraway, and his parents-in-law also preceded him in death.

He will be sadly missed by his family, the Laraway family and friends.

In accordance with Arthur’s wishes he has been cremated.
A memorial service to celebrate Arthur’s life is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at Morton and Johnston Funeral Home on South Main in Benton, Il. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to the Fraternal Order of Police or to a Charity of your choice.

Pat would like to thank the hospital staff for their care and dedication.

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

Keith Poropat, 70, of Sesser passed away on Wednesday July 11, 2018.  He was born on August 20, 1947 in Chicago, IL to John and Frieda (Hart) Poropat.  He married Martha (Riggle) Poropat on November 16, 1995 and she survives of Sesser. 

Keith was a graduate of Rich East High School. He was employed by the Auto Mart in Mt. Vernon. He was a member of Central Christian Church in Mt. Vernon.

In addition to his wife Martha, he is survived by a granddaughter Samantha Logsdon of Sesser, a sister Winona Kay Baker of Waltonville, several nieces and nephews and his Pug, Leo.

Funeral services for Keith Poropat will be Saturday July 14, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Bro. Kirk Packer officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Heart Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.

Terrie Lee (Robles) Nevarez-Allen, 55, of Mt. Vernon, IL, passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Evelyn’s Hospice House, Creve Coeur, MO.

She was born on June 30, 1963, to George and Brenda (Eckles) Robles in Chicago, IL. Terrie was a LPN for 25 years.

Terrie enjoyed fishing, traveling, snorkeling and caring for others as a nurse.

She is survived by her son, Jesse Nevarez and Kelsi Renn of McLeansboro, IL; one brother, George G. Robles, Jr. of Akin, IL; one sister, Tammy Heiman of Akin, IL; dear friends Melinda Potter and Billie Cox.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Cindy Robles; and step-father, John Heifner.

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

Visitation will be held Monday, July 9, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Pate Funeral Home, with Pastor Roger Webb, officiating.  Burial will follow services at Brady Cemetery, Akin, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Cancer Foundation, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Richard “Dickie” Bartolotti, 71, of Valier, IL passed away on July 4, 2018.

He was born on March 13, 1947 in Valier, to Libero and Delphine (Bissetti) Bartolotti.  He married Doris (Jones) Bartolotti on June 12, 1981 and she survives of Valier.

Other survivors include his children Jason (Paige) Ashmore of Sesser, IL and Mary (Eric) Millikan of Benton, IL; grandchildren Kaden Millikan, Levi Millikan and one grandchild expected in January 2019; three brothers Lee (Sheila) Bartolotti of Grimsland, NC, Gary (Kathy) Bartolotti of Christopher, and Robert (Jolene) Bartolotti of Coello.

He was a Vietnam veteran serving in the United States Marine Corps. and was a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient.

He was a member of the UMWA, Franklin County Housing Authority Board, Christopher American Legion, Sesser VFW and a Life Member of the Disabled American Vets.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be on Sunday July 8, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Mark Miller officiating.  Visitation will be on Saturday July 7, 2018 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, IL.

The family strongly encourages in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Veteran’s Honor Flight of Southern Illinois, envelopes will be available at the funeral home or you can go to their website at www.veteranshonorflight.org.

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