CHRISTOPHER — Avery “Bill” Lee Miller, 69, of Christopher, died November 16, 2014 at his home.

He was born October 14, 1945 in Pemiscot County, MO the son of Avery Frederick Miller and Inez Ola (Shelton) Miller.

Bill worked in retail management and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, in Du Qoin, IL.

He married Janet (Davison) Miller, on December, 12, 1984 and she survives of Christopher.

Survivors include his children, Jason and Beverly Miller, of Hornersville, MO and Renee and David Howard, of Maceo, KY; step-children Tracy and Tim Morris, Oak Hill, VA and Tom and Lynn Bowlin, Metropolis, IL; grandchildren Lauren Miller, Elijah Howard, Reagan Miller, Abbey Miller, Luke Miller, Emily Morris, Morgan Morris, Sam Morris, Maddie Bowlin and Ben Bowlin; great-granddaughter Kaydence Miller.

Also surviving are sisters and brothers, Dorothy Adams, of Wappapella Lake, MO, Hazel and Tom Morgan, Bernie, MO, Margurette Ward, Wappapella Lake, MO and Roberta Skaggs, Gibsono, MO.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers James Miller and Thomas Miller.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Du Quoin with Pastor Tim Scroggins officiating. Visitation will be Saturday November 29, 2014 from 10 a.m.. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of DuQuion

In lieu of flowers donations can be to the First Presbyterian Church of DuQuoin or to Hospice of Southern Illinois

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, IL is in charge of arrangements.  For more information visit our web site at gilbertfuneralhomes.com

 

SESSER – Eva J. (Phillips) Basso passed away peacefully Saturday, November 15, 2014.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Program or to the Sesser-Valier Lifeline FoodPantry.

Eva was born October 5, 1912, the daughter of John G. and Beulah (Hutson) Phillips.

She spent more than forty years working as a secretary for Slankard Publishing Company.

Survivors include, son Ditto and Marla Basso, grandchildren Amanda Basso and Chip and Erin Basso, and great-grandchildren Mitchell, Gracie, Reid, and Reagan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Basso Junior; her parents; two brothers, Paul and John Junior Phillips; two sisters, Dolly Phillips and Madge Lovin.

She was a member of Horse Prairie Baptist Church in Sesser.

SESSER – Delbert Brown, 91, of Sesser, passed away Nov. 9, 2014 at his home.

Delbert was born June 12, 1923 in Franklin County, IL, the son of Nat Brown and Lettie (Miller) Brown.

He married Alma (Newbury) Brown and she survives in Sesser.

He worked at Old Ben 21 before he retired and also was a farmer.

Delbert was a member of the VFW of Sesser, UMWA, and a member of the First Baptist church of Sesser.  He was a great husband, dad, and grandfather. He was a man of many hobbies he enjoyed woodworking, gardening, coin collecting, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and an avid Sesser-Valier Sports fan.

He served in the Navy during WWII, and served for 2-1/2 years in the Pacific Ocean on the Minesweeper USS Revenge, and was also on the first ship to enter Tokyo Bay and witnessed the signing of the peace treaty.

He is survived by his children, Linda and husband Terry Miller of Sesser, IL and Darrell and wife Charlotte Brown, of Sesser, IL; grandchildren Richard and wife Selena Miller and Angela and husband John Furlow and Guy Brown; great grandchildren Grady Furlow, Stella Furlow, Cole Furlow; step-great-granddaughter Danielle Stroud and sister-in-law Clara Brown, Sesser, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and sisters, Lacy Brown, Earl Brown, Violet Kirkpatrick, Leroy Brown, Janeva Lovelady and Ruby Spann.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sesser, Il with the Rev. Tom Dewitt and Brother Bryant Harris officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday November 12, 2014 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser and on Thursday November 13, 2014 from 10 a.m. until the service time at 11 a.m.

Burial will be at Horse Prairie Cemetery, Sesser IL.

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

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home Sesser IL is in charge of arrangements.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

 

 

Doris Smith of Valier, IL formerly of Hymera, IN passed away on November 8, 2014.

She was born January 7, 1932 to Ossi and Irene (Reynolds) Gadberry.

Doris loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She would have done anything for them.

She loved cooking and making chicken and dumplings for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Every Sunday they would want chicken and dumplings.  Even though Doris was born crippled she never let that stop her from doing what others could do.  She would climb trees, ride bicycles, and even ride a push scooter when she was young.  She and her husband raised three children.  She loved to sew, she was an excellent seamstress.  She made all of her girl’s clothes as they were growing up.  She loved to paint pictures and portraits.  She once painted a tiger and entered it into the DuQuoin State Fair and won 2^nd place.  She and her husband were married 55 years before he passed in 2005, she was a member of the Valier First Baptist Church and she loved her church family.

She is survived by her two daughters Cheryl and Phil Hulen of Kernersville, NC and Theresa and John Smith of West Frankfort, IL, five grandchildren Lisa Smith of Carbondale, IL, Lorie and Shane Frank of Valier, IL, Jared and Audrey Hulen of Fort Mill, SC, Jeremy and Emiley Hulen of Belews Creek, NC, Justin and Megan Hulen of Kernersville, NC, she is also survived by nine great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and her little dog Darcey.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Otis Smith, one son Ron Smith and one brother.

Services will be on Tuesday November 11, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Valier First Baptist Church, with Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Valier.  Visitation will be on Monday November 10, 2014 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher.  There will also be visitation at the church on Tuesday November 11, 2014 from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m..

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Valier First Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral Home.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Everett L. “Bud” Pierce, 90, of Ina passed away Sunday morning Nov. 9, 2014 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 at the Ina Free Will Baptist Church with Brother Brad Ryan and Brother David Shores officiating. Burial with military honors by American Legion Post No. 141 of Mt. Vernon will be in the Kirk Cemetery in Ina. Visitation will be after 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the church.

The Johnston Funeral Home in Ina is in charge of arrangements.

Verla “June” Carter, 82, Mulkeytown, IL, passed away Nov. 6, 2014 at Manor Court, in Carbondale.

She was born June 13, 1932 in Mulkeytown, the daughter of Harry Furlow and Marie (Rentfro) Furlow.

June married William F. Carter on July 14, 1951 and he preceded her in death on January 28, 2009.

She was a seamstress and was a member of the Du Quoin Ladies Auxiliary No. 513.  She was of the Baptist faith.

June is survived by her children Phyllis (Ted) Goforth, of Mulkeytown and Tom (Debbie) Carter, of Sesser, IL; grandchildren Amanda and Ira Jack, Chad Goforth and Sherry Risley, Todd and Christy Goforth and Siara Carter; great-grandchildren Rebecca Homan, Tristan Jack, Evan Goforth and Emma Goforth; one brother, Charles “Bud” Furlow, of Pinckneyville, IL.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and a special friend, Norma Gulley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and five brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 at Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher, IL with the Rev. Ron Keller officiating.  Visitation will from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

Mr. Bennie Lee Allsopp, Sr. 79, of Fort Mill, SC, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, at CMC-Pineville.

Born in Royalton Township, Illinois, Mr. Allsopp was a son of the late Kenneth Brown Allsopp and June Lucille Masters Allsopp.  He served in the U.S. Army.  Mr. Allsopp was raised in Illinois before making Fort Mill his home in 1993.  He was a coal miner.

Surviving are four sons, Bennie Lee Allsopp, Jr. (Carla) of Whittington, IL, Lloyd Randy Allsopp, of Rock Hill, SC, Kevin Joe Allsopp (Christine) of McConnells, SC and Mickey Allen Allsopp, of Rock Hill, SC; seven grandchildren, Adam, Clint, Jessica, Matt, Dylan, Melissa and Regan; and seven great-grandchildren, Pressley, Holden, Makenzie, Keira, Eli, Micah and Conner and his half-brother, Charles Brandon and wife Rosalind, of Royalton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Mihelic Allsopp (Oct. 21, 2014) and by two half brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at Whittington Baptist Church, in Whittington, IL with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating.  Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington.  Visitation will be from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to the United Mine Workers of America.  Their mailing address is UMWA Miner’s Aid Fund, C/O Bob Scaramozzino, 18354 Quantico Gateway Drive, Suite 200, Triangle, VA 22172.

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

Ada Faye Paxton, 84, of Mt. Vernon, IL, passed away Sunday morning Nov. 2, 2014 at her home after a long illness.

She was born in Du Quoin, IL on March 31, 1930, the daughter of Herbert and Ada (Trout) Summers.

She married Maurice L. Paxton on July 24, 1948.  Her husband of 56 years preceded her in death on April 8, 2005.

Mrs. Paxton is survived by her daughter, Sherri J. Kessinger, of Rosedale, IN and grandsons Ensign Bryce J. Kessinger (US Navy) and wife Stephanie, of Menifee, CA and Brandon J. Kessinger, Rosedale, IN.  She is also survived by great-granddaughters Aubrey of Menifee, CA and Brooklyn, of Rosedale, IN.

She is also survived by six nieces.

Mrs. Paxton was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Betty Russell, brothers Daman Summers, Lyman Summers and an infant brother and one nephew.

Mrs. Paxton was a member of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Merle Fullerton officiating.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Saturday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton.

The family would loke to extend a special thanks to friends and caregivers that have been so kind to Mrs. Paxton.  Memorials can be made to St. Jude’s Cancer Research Center or to Hospice of the Good Samaritan.