Benton, IL — Lawrence Andrew Gostowski, age 90, of Benton, passed away at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at his home.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton with Rev. Kent Dunford officiating.  Military rites will be conducted by the Benton V.F.W. Post 2671, Benton American Legion Post 280, and the Army National Guard from Marion.  There will be no visitation, friends are asked to go directly to the cemetery.

Arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Lawrence was born on February 9, 1926 in Franklin County, the son of Stephen Gostowski and Mary (Snow) Gostowski.  He married the former Virginia Merkel on July 29, 1950 and she survives.

Mr. Gostowski was a farmer.  But many will remember him from his employment with the Benton Kroger store.

Lawrence proudly served his country during World War II, having served in both the U.S. Army and the Army Air Corps, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. During his service he earned two Bronze Battle Stars from battles and campaigns fought in Luzon.

Lawrence was a member of the Benton V.F.W. Post 2671, where he was a past commander.  Until his health failed him, Lawrence was a fixture with the honor squad, honoring veterans at military rites, Memorial Day services, and Veteran’s Day events across the area.

His favorite pastime was fishing, no matter the temperature, he just loved to fish.  For many years he supplied the crappie fillets for his church’s annual fish fry and picnic.  He loved to garden, and enjoyed sharing the fruits and vegetables that he harvested.

Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and attending his church.

Mary Lou Lewis, of West City, IL, passed away April, 16, 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, IL with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

For those who wish, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Valier, IL — Ellen June Scaggs, age 88, of Valier, passed away at 4:40 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Whittington Church, with Revs. Mark Minor and Greg Shelton officiating. Visitation will be from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Whittington Church. Local arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Graveside Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the Murphy Cemetery in Piedmont, Missouri, with Ellen’s son, Lester White officiating. Graveside services are under the direction of the Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc., of Piedmont, Missouri.

Mrs. Scaggs was born on May 10, 1927 in Rend City, IL, the daughter of Lester Van Buren Bailor and Lena (Beavers) Bailor. She would marry Carrol T. “Jim” Scaggs, and he preceded her in death on November 3, 1995.

Mrs. Scaggs working career included being a cook, a manager at Wendy’s restaurant, an assembly line worker at McDonnell – Douglas, having worked on Project Gemini.

She was a proud member of Whittington Church, where she was head of the Whittington Senior Meal program.

Mrs. Scaggs enjoyed mowing her lawn, birds, fishing, working with the Senior Meal Program at Whittington Church, and especially spending time with her family.

Ellen is survived by her four children: Lester “Skip” White and wife Leonda of Benton, Virginia Marler and husband Keith of Bonne Terre, MO, Judy Scaggs of Valier, Barry Scaggs of Piedmont, MO; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers: Lester Bailor & J.C. “Doc” Bailor; two sisters: Ramona Bailor & Patsy Keller; two daughters-in-law: Carolyn White & Becky White; and a nephew: Jimmy Neal Carpenter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Whittington Church, 200 West Main Street, Whittington, Illinois 62897.

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

Arrangements are with Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

James A. Alexander Jr., 61, of Ewing, IL passed away on April 13, 2016 at his home in Ewing, IL.

He was born on August 19, 1954 in New York, the son of James A. Alexander, Sr. and Frances (Oshier) Alexander.

He had worked at General Tire.

James married Judith Alexander and she preceded him in death on Dec. 1, 2009.

He is survived by his children, Christopher and Mandy Shurtz, of Buckner, IL and Kenneth and Anna Shurtz, of Houston, TX; grandchildren Jami Collier, Raeann Guner, Christopher Shurtz, Jr. and Kenneth Shurtz; great-granddaughter Jazzlynn Collier; two sisters, Geneva Harmon, of Ewing and Mary and Randall Gobtop, of McLeansboro, IL, two brothers John Alexander, of Ewing and Robert Eugene Alexander, of Washington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one sister Rita Davis and two brothers Gerald “Harry” Alexander and Thomas Gratton Alexander.

Graveside funeral services will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016 at 12 noon at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Sesser, IL.

Mr. Alexander’s wishes were to be cremated. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

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

 

 

BENTON — James E. “Sonny” Swingle, 76, of Benton, IL, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at his home.

He was born in Benton on January 9, 1940, the son of James Edward and Mary Ellen (Roberts) Swingle.

He married Phyllis Easter Swingle on April 2, 1960, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 9, 2012.

Mr. Swingle was a member of the First Baptist Church of West City, IL. He loved gardening, fishing and woodworking.

Mr. Swingle is survived by his daughter, Monica Combs and husband Robert, of Benton; granddaughters Ashley Amber Hosick and husband Joshua, of Logan, IL, Brittany Todich and husband Matthew, of Benton and Rachel Combs, of Benton; sisters Rose Baudison, of Benton, Gloria Bruce, of Centralia, IL and Roberta Isaacs, of Carmi, IL; one brother, Benny Swingle, of Herrin, IL; great-grandchildren Hailey, Makayla and Noah Hosick and Zachary, Bailee, Sammy Jo and Rosalie Todich.

Mr. Swingle was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a sister, Alice and a brother, Tommy.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with the Rev. Bert Mitchell officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home after 12 noon Sunday until the time of the service. Burial will be at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton.

Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Benton, IL — Myrna Kay Owens, age 72, of Benton, passed away at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at the Stonebridge Senior Living Center of Benton.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Pastor Roger Webb officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Thursday until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m.

Myrna was born on June 29, 1943 in Benton the daughter of E.W. Simmons and Opal Gray (Douglass) Simmons. She married Michael Owens on November 23, 1963, and he survives.

Myrna was a legal secretary having worked for the Franklin County States Attorney’s office until her retirement.

She was a former member of the Benton Professional Women’s Club, a member of the Boneyard Boccie Ball Club, and was of the Methodist faith.

Myrna enjoyed bowling, crocheting, knitting, playing board games, and solving crossword puzzles. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and attending their baseball games.

Mrs. Owens is survived by her husband of 53 years Michael Owens of Benton; two sons: Doug Owens and wife Melissa of Sherman, IL, Steve Owens and wife Beth of Benton; five grandchildren: Mitchell Owens and Jared Owens, both of Sherman, IL, Josh Owens, Sam Owens, and Amelia Owens, all of Benton; a sister Joy Severs and husband James of Burlison, TN; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters: Lynda Crowell and Mary Nell Dunham.

Memorial contributions may be made to the SSM Hospice of the Good Samaritan, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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