Ruth Cantrell, 105, of Sesser IL, passed away on Sunday December 25, 2016 at 6:55 P.M. at Mt Vernon Countryside Manor.

She was born September 14, 1911 to Alva and Della (Cockrum) Stevison.  She married Roy Cantrell on February 28, 1937 and he preceded her in death on July 13, 1958.

She was a member of the Sesser First Baptist Church, Eastern Star, and the Sesser Woman’s Club.

Ruth retired as a secretary from Crocker Insurance in Sesser and also did tax preparation for many individuals over the years.

She is survived by one daughter Shelby and Marvin Elliston of Sesser, one granddaughter Marvla Hutchens of Lexington, SC, two great granddaughters Alecia and Brian Davis of Lexington, SC, Ashley Hutchens of Greenwood, SC, great grandson Matt Hutchens of Sesser, and three great great grandchildren Skylar Davis, Riley Davis, and Alaina Creswell.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday December 28, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.  Visitation will be on Wednesday December 28, 2016 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Velma Aslee Irvin passed away on December 20, 2016 in Springdale, AR. She was born October 15, 1923 to Arthur and Lula (Rogers) Carpenter.

She attended Glad Tidings Church in West Frankfort, IL.  She worked for several years at Smoler Brothers Garment Factory. After retiring from Smoler’s she enjoyed being a door greeter at Walmart in Benton for several years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Amos Irvin, her parents Arthur & Lulu Carpenter, two sisters; Genell (Bob) Reid, Esther (Morris) Bullard. Three brothers; Kenneth (Loraine) Carpenter, Claude (Ilene) Carpenter, Ray (Bernice) Carpenter.

She is survived by one daughter Donna (Dennis) Conner, one brother Bob (Billie) Carpenter, four grandchildren Dena (Mike) Jansen, Kevin (Kim) Conner, Regina (Jeff) Womack, Derick Conner, 13 great grandchildren & 6 great great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be on Friday December 30, 2016 at 11:00 A.M at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Mark Miller officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday from 10:00 A.M until the service time at 11:00 A.M.  Burial will be at the Harrison Cemetery in Buckner, IL.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Harrison cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Evelyn F. Crowe, nee Knaus, 89, of Benton, IL, formerly of Belleville, born Saturday, April 23, 1927, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away at 8:15 a.m., on Friday, December 23, 2016, at Stonebridge Senior Living Center in Benton, IL, surrounded by her family.

Evelyn worked as a Dispatcher for Ameritech Phone Company.  She was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Belleville, IL, Rob Morris Chapter 98 Order Of The Eastern Star, Ainad Belles, Pride of High Green Lodge, Wednesday Club, Living Information of Today, Pioneers of America (Telephone Retirees Club).

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lee West Crowe; parents, Ernest W. and Frances M. nee Klaus, Knaus, Sr.; and brother, Ernest W. Knaus, Jr.

Evelyn is survived by her four sister-in-laws, Evelyn Guth, June Dublar, Ruby Crowe, Sue and husband Steve Pate, Sr; one brother-in-law, Richard Crowe; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Local Funeral Arrangements under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation:  Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Kurrus Funeral Home, 1773 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL.

Funeral:  Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Kurrus Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Patton, officiating.  Private family interment at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, IL.

Memorials may be made in Evelyn’s honor to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

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

Marion “Lynn” K Shotts, 73 of Benton IL passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at Herrin Hospital, surrounded by her family. Lynn was born December 10, 1943 in Benton to George and Virginia (Brown) Knapp.

She loved Swimming and was an instructor at Camp Cedar Point for the Girl Scouts and later for Macher Swim School in Columbia Missouri.

She attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BS degree in Microbiology. She worked as a lab technician for the Health Department in Albuquerque New Mexico, returned to University of Oklahoma and received a masters Degree in Environmental Sanitation.

She met Jamie Shotts in Norman, OK., and they were married in Benton January 19, 1969. She worked as a Sanitarian for the Illinois Department of Health in Marion IL., until moving to Columbia, MO., where Allan and Julie were born. She lived in the country where she loved to have her favorite chickens; ducks and geese numerous other pets and a large garden while developing lifelong friendships in the area.

She worked at the Swim School until forming a product demonstration business “Presentations Limited” for the local Businesses. She moved back to Benton, worked as an Instructor at Rend Lake College and at Wal-Mart, became an ardent Saluki fan and lived out her life in the house that she had grown up in.

Lynn is survived by her husband Jamie, Son Allan (Kelly) Shotts, Daughter Julie Shotts and two grand children, Ally and Kolt.

She was preceded in death by her parents George and Virginia Knapp and Brother Don Knapp.

Funeral Arrangements under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.  As per her wishes she will be cremated and a Celebration of Her life will be scheduled in the future.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lynn’s honor to The Benton Public Library Benton, IL., First Baptist Church of Benton, IL., or The Turtle Hospital Marathon, FL.

Huston Virgil “Pete” Summers, age 78, of Thompsonville, passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at his home.  He was born on October 27, 1938 in Thompsonville, the son of Sherman “Red” Summers and Fonda Irene (Brown) Summers. He married the former Fanny Mae “Fran” Mikel on February 7, 1960 and she preceded him in death on November 9, 2006.

Mr. Summers graduated from Thompsonville High School, Class of 1956.  He was a U.S. Army veteran serving as an LPN and attained the rank of Sergeant.  Pete worked as a coal miner for Inland Steel Coal, and was a member of the U.M.W.A.

Mr. Summers was a member of the Mt. Etna United Methodist Church, and in recent years attended the First Christian Church of Benton. He was a member of Akin Masonic Lodge #705 A.F. & A.M. in Thompsonville. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Thompsonville, where he formerly served as Worthy Patron. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Southern Illinois of Belleville, IL.

Mr. Summers is survived by three daughters: Beth Reed and husband Jimmy of Benton, Dotty Mitchell of Marion, IL, Sharon “Sonny” Summers of Columbia, MD; a son David Summers of Thompsonville; nine grandchildren: Nathan Reed, Preston Reed and wife Alisha, Neva Corn, Eli Reed and wife Heather, Mikaila Reed, all of Benton, Jacob Mitchell and wife Alexandra of Marion, IL, Jessica Mitchell of Marion, IL, Matthew Summers of Pinckneyville, Whitney Summers of Benton; eight great-grandchildren: Jordan Pettit, Landon Corn, Persephone Reed, Pandora Reed, Hazel Reed, Logan Reed, Gemma Reed, Asher Mitchell; a brother Les Summers and wife Kathy of Thompsonville; four special nephews: Jim, Greg, Steve and Dan Summers; and two special friends of the family: Stephanie and Stephen Williams.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; an infant daughter Dianna Lynn Summers; two sisters: Myola Hatfield, Mary Miller; and a niece Donna (Miller) Corey.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial with military rites under the direction of the Benton American Legion Post #280, Benton V.F.W. Post #2671, and the Army National Guard out of Marion, IL, will be at the Mt. Etna Cemetery of Thompsonville. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. Wednesday until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m., at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Etna Cemetery Fund, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Huston “Pete” Summers, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Robert “Polb” Dean Polbinski, 82, passed away Monday December 19, 2016 at the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room.

Polb was born July 23, 1934 in Royalton, IL to George Polbinski and Francis (Mondoni) Scronce.  He was raised by his grandparents Tony and Maggie Mondoni. He married Phyllis (Evans) Polbinski on February 11, 1956 and she survives of Christopher.

Shirley M. Bigham, 79, of West City, IL, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family.

She was born in Benton, IL on September 27, 1937, the daughter of Jesse and Pauline (Taylor) Sullivan.

She was married to Jack Bigham, Sr. and he preceded her in death on March 17, 2009.

Mrs. Bigham is survived by  four children, Peggy Fitzpatrick, and husband Mike, of Benton, Donna Perkins, of West City, Jack Bigham, Jr., and wife Lydia, of Benton and Deon Bankston, of Marion, IL; two stepsons, Darrel Bigham, of Sesser, and Charles Daham, and wife Rita, of Bolivar, MO; grandchildren Michelle, Mike, Scott, Nathan, Triston, Brenah, Brad, Chad, Steven, DeAnna, Angela and Charles; two sisters, Suzanne Baker, of Benton, and Patsy Haney, of Aurora, IL; one brother, Larry Dale Sullivan, of Benton. She is also survived by several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Bigham was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son, Dennis Lee Keelin, a grandson, Greg, a son-in-law, Jim Perkins and by one brother, Bobby Sullivan.

Mrs. Bigham was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a homemaker and a member of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 17 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with Pastor Rod Joplin officiating. Burial will be at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton. Visitation will be after 12 noon on Saturday at the funeral home.

Tom McLeod, 68, passed away on Monday December 12, 2016 at 6:22 p.m. in Mercy Hospital in St Louis, MO.

He was born on January 27, 1948 to Edwin Thomas and Julia (Sutter) McLeod. He married Janiace (Muir) McLeod on August 23, 1975 and she survives of Sesser. He is survived by his children Tommy and Raylene McLeod, of Pekin, IL, Sherrie and Dave Roecker, of Marquette Heights, IL, and Dr. Bryan and Tanya McLeod, of Florence, SC.  He is also survived by five grandchildren and four sisters, Kay Rybolt of Peoria Heights, Theresa and Rick Kelch of Peoria, Mary Kelch of Peoria, and Stacy McLeod of Peoria.

He was a painter in an auto body shop.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 17, 2016 at 3 p.m. at the Thompsonville Church of God with Brother Brian Mixon officiating.  Visitation will be on Saturday December 17, 2016 from 2 p.m. until the time of the service at 3 p.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses.

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

James “Jim”  L.  Broadway, 70, lifelong resident of Franklin County, passed away at 12:04 a.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on October 3, 1946, to Lester and Eleanor (Hartsock) Broadway in  Benton. James was a self-employed truck driver for 46 years. He was a former police officer for many years in Christopher. He married Freda Crider and they were married for 28 years.

 He was a life member of the Eagles, a life member of OOIDA, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Sons of the American Legion Post 1961 Orient. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

 Jim is survived by his loving spouse, Freda of Benton; three sons, Jimmy Broadway, Bill Crider and Brad Reynolds, Gary Crider and wife Becky; two daughters, Susan Broadway, Linda Sanders; two brothers, Ron Adams and wife Peggy of PA, Gene Dale Broadway of Benton, IL; two sisters, Beverly Irvin and husband Wayne of Orient, IL, Cathy Lamont and husband Joe of West Frankfort, IL; 10 grandchildren;  six great-grandchildren, many nieces & nephews; and Jims loving pet companion, Sophie.

 He was preceded in death by parents, Lester and Eleanor Broadway, three sons, Chester Broadway, Mike Crider and Chuck Garbo, four brothers, Carl Hartsock, Bill Hartsock,  Stacy Broadway,  Kenny Ray Broadway, four sisters, Linda Broadway Matheny Groves, Paula Broadway Vaughn, Cheryl Broadway Jones and Jan Hartsock.

Services had been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home.

 Visitation will be held Friday, December 16, 2016,  from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home,  301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.     Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 1:00 pm at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with American Legion Post 280 Chaplain Paul Lingle and Brother Howard Johnson, officiating. Burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s honor to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the American Legion Post 280 and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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