James F. Perrotto, 60, of Royalton, IL, died suddenly at his home Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

He was born July 13, 1957 in Meadville, PA and spent much of his youth in Southern Illinois. He graduated from Frankfort Community High School in 1975 and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

James was president and CEO for many years of Barber Mine Timber Company, Inc., a wood products firm located in Perry County. He was also a member of the boards of directors of several publishing companies, including Community Media Group, Oelwien Publishing Co., Timmus Investments and Mississippi Publishing Company.

He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

James traveled extensively throughout South and Central America, residing in Roatan, Honduras, Panama City, Panama and Cancun, Mexico.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ann Bagnato Perrotto and James Perrotto; maternal grandparents, Harriet and Fred Gisewhite and several aunts and uncles.

James is survived by his wife, Luz Adriana Narvaez Chara Perrotto, whom he married in Bogota, Columbia in 2007; mother-in-law and father-in-law Maria Rubiela Chara and Guillermo Narvaez Espana, both of Cali, Columbia.

Also surviving are his parents, Jill Gisewhite Perrotto and L.J. Perrotto, of West Frankfort. Other survivors include his brothers and their wives, John D. Perrotto (Tammy), of Dutzow, MO, Mark J. Perrotto (Kendra), Tunnell Hill Lake of Egypt; niece Jenna Perrotto Johnston (Walter) and daughter Paige, of Columbus, OH; nephews Gregory Perrotto, of Wolcott, Indiana, Garrett Perrotto, Kansas  City, MO; aunts and uncles Linda Perrotto Johnson, of Erie, PA, Helen and Fritz Gisewhite, of Akron, Ohio; Roslyn Mullen, Atlanta, GA along with several cousins.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April, 27, 2018 at Union Funeral Home, in West Frankfort. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Route 37 South (Foxcroft Ward). Burial will follow at Tower Heights Cemetery, West Frankfort.

Online condolences of sympathy can be made at www.unionfh.com.

Norman D. Smith, 86, of Benton, Illinois, passed away at 5:03 p.m. Sunday April 22, 2018 in Parkway Manor, in Marion, Illinois.

Norman was born November 11, 1931 in West Frankfort, Illinois to James and Roxie (Hall) Smith. He was in the US Army during Korea and a  member of Third Baptist Church in West Frankfort, Illinois where he was a Sunday school teacher.  Norman was an avid runner and hiker.  He enjoyed physical fitness.  He taught at SIU – STC Trade School in the machine tool program.  He also enjoyed making knives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers J.D., Jack, and Kenneth Smith; sisters Wanda Smith and Molly Coffman.

Norman is survived by his wife, Sally Smith; sons William Dewain (Connie) Smith, John (Theresa) Smith, and James A. Smith; grandson, Joshua Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday April 25, 2018 at Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort, Illinois with Brother Joe Zbinden officiating. Burial will be in Denning Cemetery on the Orient Road.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 24, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 1961 of Orient, VFW Post 5764 of West Frankfort, and Zeigler Post 177.

 

Condolences of sympathy may be made at www.unionfh.com.

 

 

 

Peggy Ann (Kearney) Huffine, 58, of Thompsonville, IL passed away April 21, 2018 at SIH Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

She was born in Benton, IL on September 5, 1959, the daughter of Joseph Wesley & Margaret Ellen (Kirk) Kearney. She married Roy Huffine on February 25, 1995.

She was very active in her Church, the Thompsonville Church of God, and was a mother to all the neighborhood kids. She was more than an aunt to her nieces and nephews. She was a registered nurse and loved caring for people. She worked at Franklin Hospital for years. She loved to travel, they had visited 49 states, traveling in the Caribbean and Central America.

 

Peggy is survived by her husband, Roy Huffine, Thompsonville; brother Jim Kearney, Benton; sister-in-law Leni Kearney; brother-in-law Michael Huffine, and wife Nancy, Marion, IL. She was also survived by several nieces and nephews. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jo Ellen Overturf and brother Joseph Kearney.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Wednesday April 25th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Brian Mixon and Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Burial will be in the Knob Prairie Cemetery in Akin. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home. For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Thompsonville Church of God.

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

 

Diane Burroughs, 52, of Mulkeytown passed away on Wednesday April 18, 2018.

She was born on March 6, 1966 in Chicago to Dennis Martin and Linda (Divito) Martin.  She was married to Larry Burroughs and he preceded her in death on August 6, 2017.

She is survived by her daughter Ashley Akers (fiancé Corey Thomas) of Mulkeytown; granddaughter Bailee Thomas; father Dennis (Mary) Martin of Christopher; and one brother Dennis Martin.

She was preceded in death by her mother, and her husband.

She was a member of the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser.

Memorial service will be on Monday April 23, 2018 at 6:00 PM at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser with Brother Larry Cook officiating.  Visitation will be on Monday April 23, from 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the family.  Make checks payable to Ashley Akers.  Envelopes will be available at the church.

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

Celina Pool, 74, of Sesser passed away on April 17, 2018 at Helia Healthcare in Benton, with her family by her side.

She was born on January 25, 1944 in West Frankfort, IL to Delbert and Irene (Walker) Bowlin.

Survivors include her children Jami Somers (Tim Ramsey) of Sesser and Jay Seibert of Sesser; granddaughter Britani Somers of Sesser; and one sister Helen (Don) Edmonds of Valier.

Family was very important to her especially her beloved cat of 18 years, Feisty.

She was a retired Registered Nurse and was a former member of the Valier Women’s Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, fiancé Emil Perpich, one brother Pete Dugger, and one sister Deloris White.

Her wishes were to donate her body to the SIU School of Medicine.  No services will be held.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is handling arrangements.

In memory of Celina Pool memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and can be mailed to the Brayfield-Gilbert funeral home, PO Box 624, Sesser, IL 62884.

For a full obituary go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Merrie Ann Schafer, age 57, passed away Monday April 16 at her residence.  She was born April 6, 1961 in Benton, Illinois to Walter and Mary Schafer.

She is survived by her loving family, sons, David Carter of West Frankfort, Aaron Bowling and wife Brandi and grandchildren Blaine and Rylee Bowling of Orient, sister Marcia Raubach and husband Roger of West Frankfort, nieces, Beth McClerren and husband Dale, Amy Galli and husband Dave and Emily Collins and husband Nathan Norman, nephews Chris Raubach and wife Dawnette and Eric Collins, great nieces, Madelaine, Chloe, and Lucy Norman and Ashlan Galli and great nephews, Emmet, Will, and Henry Norman, Logan Galli, Reed Raubach, and Evan McClerren, plus many other family members and friends.

Merrie Ann was preceded in death by her parents, sister Cheryl Schafer Collins, infant brother, Robert Michael Schafer and great nephew, Owen Carl McClerren.

She was a 1979 graduate of Frankfort Community High School and attended John A. Logan College.  Following in the family tradition of radio, Merrie Ann hosted a Saturday teen radio show playing the rock music of the 70’s at WGGH in Marion with the station owner’s son.  Merrie Ann worked for several years as a waitress at Pizza Inn, a job she always loved.  She also worked for Adult Comprehensive as a homemaking assistant and made many lasting friendships over the years.  She was a loving caregiver to both her mother and sister Cheryl.

She was a member of First Christian Church in West Frankfort and was very active in the youth programs when growing up.

She loved reminiscing with her family recalling many special memories.  She had a unique sense of humor and an infectious laugh.  She especially loved telling about some of the antics she and her niece Beth were involved with in their younger years.  She was very close to her sisters, Cheryl and Marcia.

The joy of her life was spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren, Blaine and Rylee who called her MaMa Merrie.  She enjoyed fishing, reading mystery stories and watching mystery programs on TV.  She loved animals, especially the family cats Sissy and Pi Pi when she was growing up.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, April 21 at 3:00p.m. at the First Christian Church, 1001 South Cherry in West Frankfort with Lead Minister Brian Harris, officiating.  Visitation will be after 1:00 at the church.  Interment will be in Tower Heights Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the family, First Christian Church, or to the charity of choice. 

Union Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences of sympathy may be made at www.unionfh.com.

 

Alfonso “Al” Acosta Sr., 79, of Sesser, IL passed away on April 17, 2018.

He was born on August 2, 1938 in Chicago Heights, IL to Domenic and Leta (Newbury) Acosta.  He married Linda (McBride) Acosta on January 26, 1957 and she survives of Sesser.

Other survivors include his children Kevin Acosta of Sesser, Al Acosta Jr. of Sesser, Dale Acosta of Sesser and Susan (Harlan) Payne of Ina; grandchildren Dalton Acosta, Sara Acosta, Dillon Payne, Justin Payne, Anthony Acosta, Jared Acosta and Cash Acosta; great grandson Gavin Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Donald Acosta, grandson Mathew Acosta, sister Rosemary Monteton and brother Frank Acosta.

He was the owner operator of Acosta Demolition and Excavating.

His wishes were to be cremated with no services.

For a full obituary go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Ruth E. Kirk, 69, of Logan, IL passed away Monday evening, April 16, 2018 at her home.

She was born in Benton, IL on September 30, 1948, the daughter of Wesley & Erma Lee (Cockrum) Conner.

She married Kern Kirk on July 30, 1966, and he survives.

Mrs. Kirk was an active member of the Logan Church of God. She was a very loving mother and a cherished grandmother who was loved by all. She was well known for her infectious laugh and her good nature.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Kern Kirk, of Logan; sons Eric Kirk and wife Kelly, of Logan and Tom Kirk and wife Kimberly, of Logan; mother Erma Lee Conner, of Benton; grandchildren Liam, Laney, Briley and Eli; sister Katie Dungy and husband Jerrel, of Benton and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth was preceded in death by her father and by a sister, Paula Tate.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 19th at the Logan Church of God with Pastor Rick Fowler officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Church.

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