William (Bill) Mitchell, 92, of Benton passed away Friday morning, September 1, 2017 at StoneBridge Nursing & Rehab Center.

He was born in Benton, IL on June 7, 1925, the son of Joseph & Dorothy (Dillon) Mitchell.
He served in the US Army-Air Corps for 2 years. He was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Thompsonville. And a member of the ATO Fraternity.

He married Rachel (Burkey) Nickless in January of 1974, and she survives.

Also surviving are three step daughters;   Kristy Jones and husband Jeff of Makanda, Jana Hood and husband Johnny of Newton,  Terri Russell and Jerry Underwood of Benton, five grandchildren; Justin and Shad Robey of Boston, Massachusetts,  Emily Jones of Carbondale,
Dara Selby of Vincennes, IN, Sarah Durham and husband Travis of Beecher City
and Andrew Turner of Sullivan, IN, two  Great-Granddaughters: Jayden, Olivia & Triston

He is also survived by two nephews, David Mitchell wife Daphne of Benton,  and  Steve Mitchell and Itzel of Benton, three nieces;  Linda Maddox of West Frankfort, Carol Smith of Benton and  Kathy Knutsen of Benton.

Mr. Mitchell was preceded in death by his Parents, by a Brother: John & by a Sister: Sue, and by a Grandson: Scott Jones.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, September 4th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Jake Davis officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Posts and National Guard Honor Squad will be in the Masonic and  Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 9:00 A.M. on Monday at the funeral home.

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

Dimple (Carpenter) Lynch, 82, passed away on Tuesday August 29, 2017 at her home.

She was born on November 20, 1934 in Christopher to Clifford and Lena (Laws) Carpenter.

She married Patrick Lynch on August 24, 1952 and he survives of Christopher.

She lived in Chicago/Elmwood Park, IL for 48 years, until retiring and moving back to Christopher in 2000.

She is survived by her husband Patrick Lynch of Christopher; her 3 children Matt (Liz) Lynch, Patsy (Steve) Leo, and Phillip (Jeanne) Lynch; grandchildren Christopher (Renee) Lynch, Nicole (Ryan) Whitmer, Patrick “PJ” Lynch, Dusta (Tom) Wheatly, Phillip (Suzanne) Lynch, Andrew Lynch, Ian Lynch, and Daniel Lynch; great grandchildren Alyssia Betsinger, Hannah Betsinger, Evan Whitmer, Katelynn Lynch, Braedan Lynch, Alex Peyton, Lillian Lynch, Brycen Lynch, Ericka Lynch and Claire Wheatly; one sister Jane (Dean) Phillips.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one son Owen Lynch, one grandson Michael Lynch, four brothers Leroy Carpenter, Jim Carpenter, Johnny Key, and Marion Carpenter, six sisters Loretta Hester, Ruby Vaughn, Gladys Carpenter, Carolyn Dulitus, Laverne Wilmore, and Alberta Carpenter.

Funeral services will be on Monday September 4, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Visitation will be on Sunday September 3, 2017 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mulkeytown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Mulkeytown Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Rev. Harry L. Hogan, age 67, of Benton, surrounded by his loving family, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at the VA Medical Center of Marion.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, September 3, 2017 at the Fires of Revival Chapel, with Rev. Dean Severin and Rev. Robert Wininger officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, September 3, 2017 at the church. Military rites performed by the Benton American Legion Post #280, V.F.W. Post #2671, and the Army National Guard will be held at the conclusion of the service at the church. Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Mr. Hogan was born on July 16, 1950 in Christopher, IL, the son of Clarence Hogan and Rosetta (McLearin) Hogan. He married the forme Myra June Wilson on June 14, 1972, and she survives.

Mr. Hogan was an evangelist and enjoyed preaching. He was a contractor, and a former coal miner where he was a member of the U.M.W.A.

Harry could bring a smile to everyone he met. He enjoyed watching the Three Stooges.

Harry served his country in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War from December 8, 1969 through September 9, 1972.

He loved the Lord, he and his wife attended the Fires of Revival Chapel in Benton.

Surviving is his loving wife of 45 years June Hogan of Benton; a daughter Stephanie Mabry and husband Scott of Benton; two grandchildren: Landon Ellis and wife Caitlin of Benton, Leslie Ellis of Benton; a step-granddaughter Mikalla Mabry of Mulkeytown; a great-grandson Jasper Ellis, a great-grandchild to be born in the not so long future; two brothers: Larry Hogan and wife Ginger of West Frankfort, Clarence Eugene “Gene” Hogan and wife Carrol of Benton; two sisters: Sharon Vaughn of Benton, Diane Hayse and husband Terry of Benton; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mr. Hogan was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant brother Daniel; and two infant sisters Elizabeth and Mary Kay.

Memorial contributions may be made In Memory of Harry to his family, who in recent weeks have lost their home to fire and now lost their husband and father, and will be accepted at the funeral on Sunday.

His family said he was “The Greatest Man on Earth and the Best Father”.

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

James T. (Jim) Adams, 76, of Benton IL,  passed away on August 28, 2017 at home.
Jim was born September 1, 1940 in Cobden, IL.

Jim married Marlene (Mandrell) on August 11, 1967 in Benton. They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene, of Benton, daughter Mendy and husband Derrick McGuire of Benton and grandchildren (who were the lights of his life) Molly, Rebekah & Thomas.

He is also survived by his daughter Misty and  husband Jesse Cantu of Mt. Vernon.
Jim was well known for his larger than life personality and his willingness to help others.
He will be greatly missed by his family and  his Shih-Tzu, Millie.

Jim was devout in his faith and served the Lord lovingly for many years.

He was preceded in death by infant twin daughters, Terri and Kerri Adams, his parents, and several other family members.

Services will be at 11 A.M. Thursday, August 31, at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, 410 S. Main St., Benton, IL. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Thursday. The service will be officiated by Scott Hanks, Greg Willert, Yasmin Basith, and Loyce Hopkins.

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

God came to take Rosalee Jones home on August 28, 2017 at the age of 89. Rosalee was born May 7, 1928 to Iley Roscoe and Alverda Henry. She graduated from Valier High School. She married Henry R. Jones on June 2, 1946 and together they had five children. They worked a small farm in Rend City.

She worked for the University of Illinois Extension and the Benton Evening News. Throughout her life she was a 4-H leader, Sunday school teacher and church clerk at the Rend City Baptist Church. She loved working in her flower gardens and making quilts for all her family.
Rosalee is survived by her children Alice and Dave Hunt, Holly and Bill Ing, Melvin and June Jones, John and Carla Jones, and Joy and Jamie Willis all of Benton; one sister Roberta Miller of Valparaiso, IN and one sister-in-law Erma Henry of Sparta, IL; grandchildren Gene Ing, Janel Barnett, Leanne Ledbetter, Nathan Jones, Dianna Lackey, Joshua Jones, Jim Hunt, Kendall Jones, Rachel Moore, Rebecca Ice, Stephane Jones, Aubree Willis, Justin Forby, Cody Shockley, and Jordan Willis. She has 41 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews as well as a host of friends.

Rosalee was preceded in death by her husband Henry R. Jones, her parents, one brother Robert Henry, brother-in-law Clyde Miller, and two great grandchildren.

Rosalee was an amazing lady. She will be sadly missed by those who loved and cared for her.
Funeral services will be on Saturday September 2, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Visitation will be on Saturday September 2, 2017 from 11:30 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Valier.

Betty Ruth Gidcumb (Kelly), 88, formerly of Sesser IL.  died on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at Parkway Manor in Marion.

She was born August 10, 1929 in Thebes, Illinois, the daughter of Martin Luther Boyd and Grace Isabell (Foley) Boyd.

Betty was a 1947 graduate of Goode-Barren Township (Sesser) High School, a 1952 graduate of the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO and had attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

On November 5, 1955 she married Joseph Clyde Kelly Jr. in Sesser, Illinois at the First Methodist Church. He passed away on December 3, 1968. She later married Earl Gidcumb on December 3, 1989 in Sesser, Illinois at the First United Methodist Church. For over 25 years she and Earl resided in Wickliffe, Kentucky

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Betty was a member of the Sesser United Methodist Church and a member of the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. During her career in nursing Betty worked at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, St. Mary’s Hospital in Clayton, MO, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kirkwood, MO, Franklin Hospital in Benton, IL, Miner’s Hospital in Christopher, IL and concluded her career at the Franklin Hospital Skilled Nursing Care Facility in Benton, IL. She had also worked part-time for Dr. Harry Lewis at the Benton Medical Center.

She is survived by her husband, Earl Gidcumb of Wickliffe, Kentucky; three sons: Joseph Kelly and wife Melinda of Sesser, Gary Kelly and wife and Deana of DuQuoin, and Greg Kelly of Sesser; three grandchildren: Joseph Jordan Kelly and wife Jennifer of Springfield, IL, Aileen Stapleton and husband Garin of Pittsburg, IL and Kailah Kelly of DuQuoin; a stepson: Richard Gidcumb and wife Jean of Dexter, KY, two step grandchildren: Jennifer Hall and husband Shane and their 3 children of Versailles, KY, and Erin Gidcumb of Paducah, KY; a step daughter-in-law Brenda Ardebili of Murray Kentucky; a sister in law: Jan Kelly of Sesser, and brother-in-law and sister-in law: Carroll and Nancy Kelly of Sesser, several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Joseph C. Kelly Jr., a brother Jack W. Boyd, and infant son Mark Wade Kelly.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at the Sesser United Methodist Church. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2017 at the church with Dr. Gary Kelly officiating. Interment will follow at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

Memorials may be made to the Sesser United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association

Bill Fitzpatrick, 88, of Benton (Rend City) IL,  passed away Sunday morning, August 27, 2017 at the VA Medical Center in Marion.

He was born in West Frankfort, IL on September 29, 1928, the son of Charles & Dealie Mae (Davis) Fitzpatrick.

He married Rose Mary (Freeman) on October 6, 1946, in Rend City, and she survives.

Mr. Fitzpatrick was a World War II Navy Veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Mary Fitzpatrick of Benton, three children; Bill Fitzpatrick and wife Shirley of Sunnyvale, CA ,Brian Fitzpatrick and wife Patti of Benton,
Joy Luster and husband Jim of Benton, nine grandchildren 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

He is also survived by two sisters, Martha and Rose, and six brothers, Dutch, Bob, Rick, David, John and Don.

Mr. Fitzpatrick was preceded in death by his Parents, by two  sisters: Etta & Ramona and by four brothers,  George, Chuck, Jack and Dennis.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 30th at the Rend City Baptist Church with Rev. John West officiating. Burial with Military Rites by the Benton American Legion, VFW, and Navy Honor Guard will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Mr. Fitzpatrick’s memory may be made to the Rend City Baptist 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.