Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Stella A. Starkie, 89, of Benton passed away Friday, June 1, 2018 at the Herrin Hospital.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benton.
Burial will be in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
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
Virginia Harris, 88, of Benton, IL passed away Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Helia HealthCare in Benton.
She was born in Benton, IL on January 5, 1930, the daughter of Ed & Sara (Sadler) Gibbs.
She was married to Darrell Harris, he preceded her in death in 1979.
Mrs. Harris is survived by her grandson, Jamey Tennyson, of Carrollton, TX; great-grandchildren Jonathan Tennyson and Autumn Boyd; daughter-in-law Sandy Tennyson, of Sesser.
Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by two sons, Roger and Wilbur Tennyson, and by four brothers and five sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Ron Reynolds officiating. Burial will be in the Franklin Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
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.
Leo Furlow, 70, of Christopher passed away on Thursday May 31, 2018 at his home.
He was born on May 25, 1948 in East St. Louis, IL to Darrel and Mary Lou (Brasel) Furlow.
He is survived by his son Sean (Amy) Furlow of Mulkeytown; two grandchildren Braden and Addison Furlow; uncles Bill (Jean) Furlow of Christopher and Bob Furlow of Christopher; special friends Cindy Furlow, Mark Niblett, Kelley Kerkemeyer and numerous close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Darrel Michael Furlow, grandparents Joe and Effie Furlow, one uncle Harold Wayne Furlow, and one aunt Kathy Furlow.
He was an avid St Louis Cardinals fan and loved all sports events. His all-time favorite team was his son’s 1990 Christopher Bearcat Football Team.
He owned and operated Bowlin’s Foodland in Elkville from 1974 until 1991, he then worked for Proctor & Gamble as a merchandiser until he retired.
Funeral services will be on Monday June 4, 2018 at 1:00 Pm at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Visitation will be on Monday from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Harrison Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Harrison Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
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
Charles “Chuck” L. Jatsko, 89, of Benton, IL, passed away at 3:40 p.m., on Monday, May 28, 2018, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, IL.
He was born on October 2, 1928, to Eugene and Anna Jatsko in Huntington (Long Island), New York. Chuck met and married Brenda Poore and she precedes him in death. There wasn’t a day that went by that Chuck didn’t miss Brenda and couldn’t wait to be reunited with her in Heaven. He enjoyed owning and operating Chuck’s Auto Body for many years, playing golf, and traveling. Chuck loved Italian food, but most of all, he loved spending time with his family and friends.
Chuck is survived by his daughter, Diane Simpson (Scott Simpson) of Benton, IL, his step-daughter, Buffy King Welch (Shad Welch) of Tompkinsville, KY; one sister, Elaine Hyder of Myrtle Beach, SC; ten grandchildren, Brendan Simpson of Benton, IL, Thomas Simpson of Greeley, CO, Andrew Simpson of Benton, IL, Jason Jatsko of Cincinnati, OH, Matt Jatsko of San Clemente, CA, Cody Sissom of DuQuoin, IL, Angelina Detomsi of Stonefort, IL, Tyler Welch of Tompkinsville, KY, Brittani Welch Brown of Tompkinsville, KY, and Briley Welch of Tompkinsville, KY; four great-grandchildren, Liam, Caroline, Penelope, and Ryker, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Brenda (Poore) Jatsko, parents, Eugene and Anna Jatsko, one son, Danny Jatsko, one daughter, Linda Jatsko DeTomsi, and seven brothers and sisters.
Chuck resided at Heritage Woods of Benton until his death at Good Samaritan Hospital. The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Heritage Woods of Benton for all of their love and compassion. Also, thank you to all the wonderful physicians and nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital that cared for him prior to his untimely death.
Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St, Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, June 1, 2018, at Pate Funeral Home. Burial will follow the services, and Chuck will be laid to rest at Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery, Benton, IL., Military rites will be performed by the American Legion Post 280 and VFW Post 2671.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and CASA of Franklin county, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.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.
