Freida “Fay” Harris, 84, of Cape Girardeau, MO, passed away at 5:10 a.m. on  Tuesday, December 26, 2017,  at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson, MO.

She was born on April 1, 1933, to Logan “Nick” and Stella “Madeline” (Warren) Summers in Hamilton County, IL. On July 18, 1953, she married James O. “Ollie” Harris  and he preceded her in death.

Fay is survived by her son, Kevin Harris and wife Cathy, of Cape Girardeau, MO; two granddaughters, Cassidy Hinkle and Hayley Harris and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Marie Hinkle

She was preceded in death by her parents, Logan “Nick” and Stella “Madeline” Summers, her husband, James O. “Ollie” Harris, one brother, Richard Summers and two sisters, Helen Grayson and Pauline Frazier.

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

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2017,  at 1:00 p.m., at the Mt. Etna Cemetery in Akin, IL, with the Rev. Greg Shelton, officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Rosalie Hammonds, 82, of Christopher passed away on Thursday December 21, 2017 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon.

She was born on February 2, 1935 in Benton to Willie and Fannie (Snitchler) Tate.  She married Frank Hammonds on October 22, 1960 and he preceded her in death on November 9, 2017.

She is survived by her daughter Cathy Hammonds of Christopher; one grandson Jason Hammonds of Christopher; and one sister Mildred Galloway of Thompsonville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Juanita Bright, Virginia Webb and Pearl Crisp, brothers William Tate, Pete Tate, Jerry Tate, Paul Tate, Bill Tate, Carl Tate and Harry Tate.

Graveside services will be on Wednesday December 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Hammonds Cemetery in Buckner with Brother Frank Caruso officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Gilbert Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses

Florence Bortoletto, 93, of Benton passed away Saturday, December 16, 2017 in Benton.

She was born in Benton on April 19, 1924, the daughter of Robert & Florence (Walters) Curry.

She married Joe Bortoletto on December 26, 1947 in Arkansas and he preceded her in death on March 3, 1991.

Mrs. Bortoletto was a Registered Nurse, retiring from the position of Registered School Nurse at Benton Grade School after many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton.

Mrs. Bortoletto is survived by her two sons, John Bortoletto and wife Peggy of Houston, TX, and  Joe Bortoletto & wife Annette of Manteno IL; four grandchildren, Adam Bortoletto of Manteno IL, Angelina Bortoletto of Houston, TX,  John T. Bortoletto of Ballwin, MO, and  Robert S. Bortoletto of Ballwin, MO

Mrs. Bortoletto was preceded in death by her Parents and by her Husband.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, December 22nd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Jenkel officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Friday at the funeral home.

Lela Marlene Stubblefield, 78, of Sesser went to be with the Lord on Tuesday December 12, 2017 at 9:15 AM.

Marlene was born to Howard and Evelyn (Loman) Eubanks on May 30, 1939 in Sesser. She married Jack Stubblefield on July 19, 1958 in Sesser. She is survived by Jack, her husband of 59 years.

She had two children Jackie (Jeremy) Lilly and Chris (Tammy) Stubblefield both of Sesser.

She adored her grandchildren Taylor Myers of Mt Vernon, Morgan and Kelsi Stubblefield of Nashville, TN, Jackson, Hudson, and Ava Stubblefield, Keegan and Mason Lilly all of Sesser. She is also survived by two sisters Brenda (Billy Joe) Hartley of West Frankfort and Debbie Malkovich of Sesser and one brother Gale (Carrie) Eubanks of Sesser and several nieces and nephews that she adored.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be held on Thursday December 14, 2017 at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Funeral services will be on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Sesser at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 AM until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home and the church.

Dana Lynn Crawford (Wiggins) died unexpectedly in Barnes Jewish Hospital on December, 6th 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 58.

Dana Lynn Crawford is survived by her husband, Orville Crawford, her three sons Jesse Crawford (wife Ashley Crawford and two grandchildren Jacob and Alec Crawford), Brandon and Travis Crawford, her sister Linda Kimmel (husband Jerry Kimmel), brother Jim Wiggins, nephew Dustin Wiggins and his son Gohan Wiggins, and her father and mother in law Jerome and Vivian Crawford all of the Southern Illinois region. She is preceded in death by her mother Bettie Wiggins, her father L. Tony Wiggins Sr. and Brother Tony Wiggins Jr. of Benton, Illinois.

Dana Lynn Wiggins was born on August, 20th 1959 in Benton Illinois to Tony and Bettie Wiggins. She graduated from Benton Consolidated High School in 1977. She married Orville Crawford on December, 1st 1983. The couple welcomed three children into their home and Dana set about teaching them right from wrong and how to be good men. Her children remember her as a fun loving, kind natured artistically gifted mother who encouraged them to always put others first, do the right thing and to pursue their goals.

Dana was a talented mother, singer, cook, craft maker, Halloween costume designer and beauty pageant competitor, winning Miss Rend Lake and Old King Coal Princess Flame Pageants. She always wanted to make sure others were happy. She was a generous individual who loved her Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ and was passionate about spreading that love to others through word and deed. She was an active and dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – day Saints.

A Visitation is scheduled for Monday, December 11, 2017, at 11:00 AM with a Funeral to follow at 1:00 PM at the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 E. Main Street in Benton, IL, with a reception to follow at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter – day Saints, 17947 State Route 37, Johnston City, IL 62951. First Counselor Bishopric Chris Behan will officiate the ceremony. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dana’s life. Flowers can be sent to Leffler Funeral Home, 401 E. Main Street in Benton, IL.

The family would like to thank St. Louis University, Kindred Hospital and Barnes Jewish Hospital Medical Staff for their efforts, care and dedication.

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

Charles (Chuck) Melvin House, 67, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. He was born in Benton on January 9, 1950, the son of James A. and Jaunita House. He was married to Barbara Curtis and she survives.

Chuck served his county honorably in the US Army from 1969 thru 1971, including a 12-month tour of duty in Vietnam. After returning from the service, he began a long and fulfilling career with Ford Motor Company at various plants in Michigan, where he resided for over 45 years.

Chuck was a fun loving, jolly person who was quick witted and always ready to play a prank or tell a joke. He was also an avid fan of NASCAR.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Eric. He is survived by his loving wife Barb, step-daughters Toni Hawkins and Dana(Clint) Hoelzer, first wife Lana, sons Brian (Heather) House, Jeremy House, and daughter Angie (Mark) Kinney. Chuck will be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren, Tyler, Haylee, Payton, Salemah, Logan, Jacob, Tiffany, Karah, and Kacey.

He is further survived by his sister Sue (Ed) Doty, brothers Butch Seibert, Ron (Carol) House, Lou (Leslie) House, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 10th from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Monday December 11th preceding the funeral at 10:00 A.M., at Morton and Johnston Funeral home, 410 South Main Street in Benton. Pastor Kurt Sanders will be offiicating. Military Rites will be administered by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and the National Guard Honor Squad.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund and will be accepted at any time at the funeral home.