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.

Wanda Faye Dorris, 72, of Sesser, IL passed away on Friday December 9, 2016 at 5 a.m. at her home.

She was born in Sesser on April 19, 1944 to Noble and Mae (Braden) Merkel.  She married Jim Dorris on February 14, 1964.

She is survived by two sons Steve and Benita Dorris of Sesser and Brian Dorris of Sesser, grandchildren Taylor (Ryan) Eubanks, Drew Dorris, Blake Dorris, Trey Dorris, Brianna Dorris and one great grandchild Everett James Eubanks.

She is also survived by two sisters, Neva Sulser of Sesser and Nina (Ray) Chrisman of Nashville, TN.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Jamie Phoenix, and two brothers George Merkel and Harold Merkel.

She was a retired clerk from the Sesser Post Office and was a member of the Sesser First Baptist Church.

Funeral service will be on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Sesser First Baptist Church with Brother Bryant Harris officiating.  Visitation will be on Sunday December 11, 2016 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.  Visitation will also be on Monday December 12, 2016 at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.  Interment will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Sesser-Valier Athletic Department and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Kevin Douglas Gray, age 51 of Akin IL, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at his home..

Kevin was born on February 22, 1965 in Benton, the son of Max M. Gray and Laverne (Mundell) Gray.

Kevin was a BCHS graduate of the Class of 1983. He worked as a laborer with Productive Products in Akin, until its closure. Prior to working at PPI, he worked for the Dallas Morning News newspaper.

Kevin was an avid baseball enthusiast, and enjoyed NASCAR.

He is survived by a sister Crystal Heumann and husband Wilford “Bubby” Heumann of Benton; a brother Kyle Gray of Benton; two nephews Matt Davis and Travis Gray and a niece Alexa Heumann; an uncle Roger Mundell of Benton; and several cousins.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. There will be no visitation, family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Kevin, to the American Cancer Society.

The Leffer Funeral Home of Benton has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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

Charles F. Baumgarte, 93, of Benton, IL, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at StoneBridge Living Center in Benton.

Charles was born on May 3, 1923, in Nason, IL, the son of Henry and Clara (Hawthorne) Baumgarte.

He was married to Frances Baumgarte and she preceded him in death on January 12, 2010.

Charles was an Army veteran, serving during World War II as an ambulance driver in London, England.

He was a truck driver and hauled dirt for the Franklin Hospital when it was built. He worked 35-plus years at Newhouse Lumber Co. in Benton.

He is survived by his daughter Judy Tatum, of Benton, grandson Don Overturf and wife Cheryl, of NinetySix, South Carolina; great-grandson Joshua Overturf and wife Andrea of Orange City, FL; nieces and nephews Loretta Franklin and husband Denzil, Stella M. Gulley and husband Gene, Ronnie Baumgarte and wife Linda, Marilyn Conner, Betty Miles and husband Allen, Paula Williams and husband Kirby, Debbie Kays and husband Mark and Mike Webb and wife Cindy. He is also survived by several nieces and great nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Frances, by brothers and sisters Bob Baumgarte, Paul Baumgarte, Ruth Hall, Geraldine Hutchcraft, Charlene Webb, son-in-law Walter Lee Tatum, niece Brenda Young and nephew Danny Hall.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with the Rev. Bert Mitchell and the Rev. Steven Flach officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Posts will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton.