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.  

Dale Holman, 68, of West Frankfort and a former Benton resident passed away Sunday morning, August 20, 2017 at the VA Medical Center in Marion.

He was born on April 25, 1949 in West City, IL the son of Harold Wilbur & Sylvia (Summers) Holman.

Mr. Holman was an employee of the City of Benton for 23 1/2 years. He served in the U.S. Navy from November 21, 1968 to May 15, 1970. He was of the Protestant faith.

Mr. Holman is survived by his son Scott W. Holman and wife Stephanie of Sesser grandsons Vincent S. Holman of West Frankfort Logan Smith of West City, great-grandson Silas Dale Andrew Ciro Holman, two brothers Ronald Summers of Benton and Truman Summers of Peoria, one sister,  June Sanders of Palo, Iowa and special friend, Carolyn Joann Emery of West Frankfort.

Mr. Holman was preceded in death by his Parents, by a Brother-Kirby Summers, by a Sister-Betty Summers,  and by a Sister-in-law-Barbara Summers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 25th at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will follow with Military Rites being conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Posts in the Knob Prairie Cemetery in Akin. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.

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

Shirley A. Wetzel, 89, of Valier passed away Sunday morning, August 20, 2017 at the StoneBridge Senior Living Center in Benton.

She was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 1, 1928, the daughter of Allen David & Helen (Zoller) Bresler.

She married Phillip A. Wetel in 1950, and he passed away in 2006.

Mrs. Wetzel is survived by her son: Michael Wetzel, Sr. and wife Edeltraud of Zeigler three grandchildren,  Dayien,  Andrea  Michael Jr. and four great grandchildren  Rosie, Cheyenne, Dora & Dorian.

Mrs. Wetzel was preceded in death by her Parents, Husband, by one brother Frederick and by one sister, June.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday, August 25th, at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, with Rev. Ivan Ryan officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

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

Beulah Laverne Overturf, 84 of Christopher, passed away on Sunday August 20, 2017 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

She was born November 3, 1932 in Benton, IL to Clarence and Beulah (Cole) Tate. She married Billy Overturf and he preceded her in death on March 17, 1995. Survivors include her children Dean (Lynn) Overturf, Mark (Jenny) Overturf, Billie Pinkham, Carla (David) Flood, Kris Biggs and Jane Overturf all of Christopher; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; one sister Alice Schablowsky of Mulkeytown, two brothers Charles and Larry Tate of Benton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister Marie Biggs, and one brother Clarence Tate.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday August 23, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Pastor Josh Wehrmeier officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday August 23, 2017 from 11:00 Am until 1:00 PM. Burial will be at the Masonic & IOOF cemetery in Benton, IL. For more information go to our website at www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com