Walter L. Carroll, 82, of Benton, passed away Sunday evening, October 2, 2016, at Parkway Manor in Marion, IL.

He was born in Zeigler, IL on August 27, 1934, the son of Perry Richard and Hannah (Jenkins) Carroll.

He married Margaret E. (McGuire) on May 20, 1972 and she preceded him in death on August 8, 2016.

Mr. Carroll was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force. He was retired fro Olin Corporation.

He is survived by two stepsons, William Luster and wife Carman, of Plano, TX and James R. Luster and wife Carolyn, of Benton; four grandchildren, Richard Luster and wife Gina, of Indianapolis, IN, Sabrina Jarman and husband Greg, of Richardson, TX, Scott Luster and wife Tarah, of Cary, IL; nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 6 at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery with the Rev. Karl Barnfield officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the cemetery. There will be no visitation and those attending are requested to meet at the cemetery.

Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

Velma Gower, 91, of Sesser, IL and formerly of Benton, passed away at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, September 29, 2016 at the SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, October 3, 2016 at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church, Sesser, IL, with Rev. Larry Cook officiating.  Burial will be in the Mitchell Hill Cemetery of Sesser.  Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. Monday until the funeral hour at 1 p.m. at the church.  Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Velma Irene Gower was born on September 4, 1925 in Christopher, IL, the daughter of Larry and Effie Jane (Tucker) Willmore.

Velma loved spending time with family and friends, cooking, camping, and traveling.

She attended the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser.

Survivors include her five children: Dorothy Baxter and husband Ray of Sesser, Mike Maceri and wife Belinda of Benton, Jane Eubanks and husband Randy of Sesser, Evelyn Gugin of Sesser, and Mark Wallace and wife Jennifer of Coello.  She also leaves behind 32 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 35 great-great-grandchildren; and life-long friend Daisy Woods.

In addition, she considered 4 step-children, numerous foster children and many nieces and nephews as her own. She provided assistance and love to any person in need and was always willing to cook a meal for anyone who walked through her door.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; five sisters; five children: Wesley Willmore, Richard Maceri, Ronald Maceri, and infant twins; two grandchildren: Scott Maceri and Rhonda Sue Maceri; and a great-granddaughter: Elizabeth Obrecht.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leffler Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses.

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

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