Jeanette June Hamline, 78, of Thompsonville, IL, passed away Monday, September 26, at her home.

She was born in Benton, IL on June 20, 1938, the daughter of William Henry Moore and Sarah Marinda (Welch) Moore.

She married Martin J. “Dot” Hamline on December 31, 1955 and he survives.

Also surviving are five children, Mary Arview and husband Toot, of Thompsonville, Gayla Morgan, of Thompsonville, Tammy Parkhill and husband Raymone “Bubba” of Parrish, Raenita Gunter and husband Jack, of Thompsonville and Charlie Hamline and wife Stacy, of West Frankfort, IL; 17 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and one sister, Athalia Taylor, of Benton, IL.

Mrs. Hamline loved gardening, working and nature in general and her dog “Buffy.’

She was preceded in death by her parents, by a granddaughter and by one sister, Wanda Kiemm.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 28 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Elva “Tootie” Arview officiating. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. until the time of the service at 7 p.m. at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.

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

Dixie Lee Meischner, 78, of Sesser, IL, passed away on September 25, 2016 at her home.

Dixie was born April 11, 1938 in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Howard Innis and Leah (Pilot) Innis.

She married Leonard Meischner on June 29, 1956 and he survives of Sesser.

Along with her husband, Dixie is survived by her children Carol Weeks, of Sesser, Jim Meischner, of Bloomington, IL and Letha St. Clair, of Sesser; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one brother, Jeff Innis, of Pekin, IL and one sister, Barb Lancaster, of Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Gene Innis and one sister, Judy Curtis.

Dixie was a member of Bethel Memorial United Church, in Creve Coeur, IL.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on September 29, 2016 at Horse Prairie Cemetery, in Sesser, with Brother Mark Miller, officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser, is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

William Wesley Willmore, 74, of Benton, IL, passed away September 21, 2106 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital, in Mt. Vernon, IL.

He was born on June 25, 1942 in Chicago, IL, to Velma (Willmore) Gower, of Sesser, IL.

Mr. Willmore is survived by his ex-wife, Loretta Willmore, of Benton, children Leonard Willmore, of Benton, Suella Howell, of Benton, Tommie Willmore, of Christopher, IL, Hershel Willmore, of Scheller, IL, Jeremiah Willmore, of Jonesboro, IL and Zelma Jones, of Akin, IL; brothers and sisters Mike Maceri, of Benton, Mark Maceri, of Coello, IL, Evelyn Gower, of Sesser and Janie Eubanks, of Sesser.

He was preceded in death by two brothers Ron Maceri and Richard Maceri and one granddaughter Elizabeth Obrecht.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Visitation will be from 12 noon until the time of the service at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Paradise Prairie Cemetery in Tamaroa, IL.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser to help with funeral expenses.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Connie Diann Maddox, 77, of Sesser, IL, passed away September 13, 2016 at Marshall Browning Hospital, in Du Quoin, IL.

For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Leona Marie Osborne, age 71 of Benton, passed away at 12:55 p.m. Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Shawnee Rose Care Center in Harrisburg.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2016 at the Leffler Funeral Home, with Elder Willie Huffine officiating.  Burial will be in the Bald Hill Cemetery in Scheller.  Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Thursday until the funeral hour, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Leona Marie Osborne was born on July 7, 1945 in West Frankfort, IL, the daughter of Edward Eads and Lillian Marie (Donkin) Eads.  She was married to Meredith Lee Osborne, and he preceded her in death on July 4, 2002.

She worked as a CNA and a rehabilitation nurse at many different area nursing facilities, which include Helia Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Benton Health Care and Rehab., and the Park View Nursing Home.

Leona liked to watch television, especially the “Price is Right” and soap operas, including “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and “One Life to Live.”

Most of all she enjoyed and loved her family. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leona is survived by her two children: Mike Osborne and wife Anna of Benton, Lisa Osborne and fiancée Paul Johnson of Eldorado; four grandchildren: John Osborne and wife Cindy of Ewing, Justin Osborne of Benton, Jessica Duncan of Benton, Jerica Stubblefield and fiancée Trevor Meyers of Macedonia; five great-grandchildren: Karter Osborne, Ethan Osborne, Lillian Osborne, Addyson Lampley and Ethan Kreowicz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and a grandson Kaybrin James “KJ” Osborne; two brothers-in-law: Roy Dean Osborne and Devon Osborne.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Animal Shelter and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Virginia Waller, 94, of Christopher, IL, passed away September 5, 2016 at her home.

Virginia was born April 27, 1922 in Mulkeytown, IL, the daughter of Harley Kirkpatrick and Marie (Watson) Kirkpatrick.

She married Willis Burton Waller in November 1938 and he preceded her in death on November 10, 2010.

Virginia is survived by her children Gloria and Jim Jenkins, of Christopher and Vivian Turner, of Energy, IL; grandchildren Shelly and Donnie Baine, of Mulkeytown and Bradley and Sue Johnson, of St. Charles, MO; great-grandchildren Katelyn and Madison Baine; sister Phyllis Grubbs, of Christopher; sisters-in-law Sue Kirkpatrick, of Christopher and Wanda Kirkpatrick, of Benton, IL. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was a member of the Eastern Star and a homemaker.  Virginia was a member of the First Baptist Church in Christopher.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters Hester Salo and Ruby Kirkpatrick, and two brothers Norman Kirkpatrick and Richard Kirkpatrick.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with the Rev. George Biby officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

John Hampton Alexander, age 59, of Ewing, passed away at 11:47 p.m. Sunday, September 4, 2016, at his home with his loved ones at his side.

Funeral services for John will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton with Pastor Jay Kelly officiating.  Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.  Private burial services will take place at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton.

John Hampton Alexander was born on May 20, 1957 in Ramapo, New York, the son of James Arthur Alexander and Francis Jewel Pauline (Oshier) Alexander.  He married the former Kimberly Dawn Parr and she preceded him in death in 2010.

John was a LPN, as well as an avid fisherman and motorcycle rider.

He is survived by his siblings: Robert Eugene Alexander of California, Geneva Harmon-Cremer of Ewing, IL, Mary Denise Gobtop and husband Randall of Macedonia, IL; his children: Eric Powell and wife Tiffany of Sesser, IL, Thomas Gratton Alexander & wife Amber of Sulpher, LA, Michael Andrew Alexander and wife Kendra of Sesser, IL, Michael James Salatas of St. Louis, MO, Jeanetta Kay Speakman of Zeigler, IL, Nicholas John Salatas and wife Emily of St. Louis, MO, Jeffrey David Salatas and wife Lisa of Johnston City, IL, Elizabeth Dawn Salatas-Molitor and husband David of St. Louis, MO, Phillip Robert Salatas of Benton, IL; his father-in-law Leon Parr of Orient, IL; 19 grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A special “Thank You” to Geneva and Joseph Alexander for their loving care during John’s illness, and to all of his lifelong friends that uplifted him in his time of need.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife; four brothers: William A. Alexander, James Arthur Alexander, Jr., Gerald “Harry” Archie Alexander, Thomas Gratton Alexander; two sisters: Rita Lee Davis, Carol Lynn Rand; a sister-in-law Judith Ann Shurtz; and a nephew James Earl Hinton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eternal Friends in Christ Church of Sesser, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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