Dennis James Stewart, 57, of Du Quoin, IL, passed away at 4:07 a.m. on June 9, 2014 at Marshall Browning Hospital, in Du Quoin, IL.

Dennis was born May 30, 1957 in Lorain, OH, to Lorain, OH to Carol Kennedy, of Louisville, KY.  His parents were Jim and Ann (McDowell) Stewart and they preceded him in death.

He was married to Kathy (Fred) Stewart of Du Quoin and she survives.  In addition he is survived by one son, Robert Brown, of Du Quoin and one brother, Matt Stewart, of Louisville, KY.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Dennis worked as a truck driver for PTI Trucking.

His wishes were to be cremated with no funeral service.  Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is in charge of arrangements.  For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald “Harry” Archie Alexander was born April 12, 1962 and passed away on June 9, 2014 at his home in Coello surrounded by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father James Arthur Alexander Sr. and his mother Frances (Oshier) Alexander, youngest brother Thomas Alexander, older sister Rita Davis, Nephew James Hinton, and sister-in-law Judy Alexander.

Left to carry on his memory wife Wilma Roberts and step children; Michelle Irvin and partner Dave and their children Sidney, Alex, Julien, Emilee and Devon, Johnny Baxter and his wife Courtney and their children John Mathew and Tyler Baxter, Wanda Baxter and partner Kevin and her children Nathan, Jacob, Fatima, and Della.  His sister Geneva Harmon and her children Joseph Alexander and Geneva Alexander and her two daughters Mackenzie and Katlynn.  Brother James Alexander Jr. and his two Sons Chris Shurtz and his wife and children and Kenny Shurtz.  Sister and brother-in-law Mary Denise and Randall Gobtop and their children Doug Suhr and his wife and children, Starr Alexander and her children Charles and James, Jawn Jewel Warren and her husband Dwaine Warren and their children Laura Suarez and husband Carlos Suarez and their sons Ronnie and Carlos, Brother John Alexander and partner Debbie Winemiller and his three sons Eric Powell and his wife and children, Thomas Alexander and his wife and children, Michael Alexander and his wife and children, and one niece Jenny Chin and her husband Richard and their children.  And many many loyal friends

Funeral services for Mr. Alexander will be on Friday June 13, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Pastor Doug Burkhamer officiating.  Burial will be at the Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, IL.  Visitation will be on Thursday June 12, 2014 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

This battle I did not lose, I simply went home.

The family would like to thank Dr. Morthland and staff, Dr. Pinede and staff, Hospice of Southern Illinois, friends and community members who showed their ongoing support.

Always strong, caring, loyal, tough yet devoted and faithful.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Alice Page, 57, of Ewing, passed away at 6:02 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014 at her home.

She was born on Feb. 15, 1957 in Benton, IL, the daughter of George and Kathlene (Winemiller) Kays.

She married Gary Page on September 19, 1992, and he survives.

In addition to her husband she is survived by a daughter, Abby Reiger and James Smith, of West Frankfort and a step-son, Josh Page and wife Joni, of Ewing.  She is also survived by four grandchildren, Brett Reiger, Mathew Reiger, Morgan Reiger and Daegen Smith; a sister, Linda Roberts, of Ewing, nephew Chris Roberts and wife Toni, of Ewing, great nephew, Lucas Roberts, great niece McKinley Roberts, sister-in-law Linda Volz and husband Steve, of Benton, mother-in-law Maxine Page, of Benton and nieces and nephews Mike, Stacey and Tristan Stricklin and Josh, Jennifer and Logan Carlton.

Mrs. Page was preceded in death by her parents, by a sister, Brenda Roberts and by her father-in-law, Bill Page.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Bob Pankey officiating.  Burial will be at Phillips Cemetery in Ewing.  Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Sunday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Virginia Payne Melvin, 87, of Buckner, passed away June 3, 2014 at Burgin Manor, in Olney.

She was born January 8, 1926 in Asherville, MO, the daughter of Wiley Kelley and Anna (Metcalfe) Kelley.

Virginia was a homemaker and she enjoyed sewing, quilting and crafts.

She married Max “Red” Payne and he preceded her in death on July 2, 1993.  Later she married Hillary Melvin and he preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 1998.

Virginia is survived by a daughter, Karen Payne Don Shipley, of Calhoun, IL; grandchildren, Amy and Joshua Chapman, of West Frankfort and Mark and Kim Hefner, of Buckner and great-grandchildren Mark, Anthony and Emily.  She is also survived by one brother, Dean Kelley and by a former son-in-law, Rick Hefner, of Buckner.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and two brothers, Charles Kelley and William Kelley.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Mark Miller officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.  Interment will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, in Valier.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.  For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

 

Virginia Elizabeth (Betty) Hedges, 76, formerly of Ewing, passed away with her family at her side on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at her home in Missouri City, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2014 at Ewing Baptist Church, in Ewing, IL with her brother, Bill Hedges, officiating.  Burial will be in Thurmond Cemetery.  Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials can be made to ASPCA or to Ewing Baptist Church.

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

Mary Kathryn Docherty, 75, of Coello, died May 28, 2014 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Mary was a homemaker and a member of Coello Baptist Church.  She served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.  Mary was a member of the Eagles and the Senior Citizen’s Circle.

She was born in Independence, MO on Dec. 2, 1938, the daughter of Charles Kruse and NoraBell (Fugate) Kruse.

Mary was married to John Docherty and he survives of Coello.

Mary is also survived by her children, sons Dennis Docherty, of Valier, John (Carrie) Docherty, of Christopher and Jeff (Amanda) Docherty, of Herrin and a daughter, Beverly (Jack) Emberton, of Thompsonville.  She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is two sisters, Annie Pillsbury, of Missouri, Nora Bell Curren, of New Mexico and on brother, John Kruse, of Kansas City, MO.  She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Melba Wright, Margaret Epps and Hellen Sutton and a brother, Charles Kruse.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 1 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Bert Mitchell officiating.  Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service.  Interment will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery, in Mulkeytown, IL.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher.  For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lavaughn Overturf, 87, of Buckner, passed away May 22, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

She was borh September 4, 1926 in Valier, IL the daughter of James Talley and Martha (Brown) Talley.

Lavaughn married Carl Overturf on November 28, 1950 and he survives in Buckner.

She is survived by her children, Jerry (Rita) Overturf, of Buckner, Dennis (Karen) Overturf, of Springfield, IL and Janice Overturf, of Buckner, IL.  She is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving is one sister, Linda Melvin, of Logan, IL.

Lavaughn was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Karen Sue Overturf, two brothers James “Tuck” Talley and Pete Talley, seven sisters Leoma Wiggins, Louella Summers, Elizabeth Joplin, Mary Sell, Billie Burton, June Hungate and Carolyn Dixon.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher, IL with visitation from 12 noon until the time of the service.  Interment will be at Knight Cemetery, in Buckner, IL.

Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher, is in charge of arrangements.  For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle Lovin, 54, of Carbondale, passed away at 4:17 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2014 at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.

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

Nita Jean Bain, 86, of Benton, passed away Thursday morning, May 8, 2014 after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Mt. Vernon, IL, on April 25, 1928, the daughter of Orley Howard and Nellie Mae (Blanton) Pearson.

She married Robert Sanford Bain on March 17, 1946 and he preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2005.

Mrs. Bain was a bookkeeper and homemaker, she worked for several years for Hunky-Lynch Car Dealership.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Bain Fowler and husband Jack, of Benton and a son, Pastor Sandy Bain and wife Norma, of Jacksonville, NC.  She is also survived by three grandchildren, John Fowler and wife Susan, of Hamilton County, Kimberly and Jason Barclift, Newport NC and Stacy and Jody Yopp, Jacksonville, NC.  In addition she is survived by three great-grandchildren, Cameron Yopp, Savannah Yopp and Elijah Barclift and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Bain was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by two brothers, William Pearson and Gail Pearson and a sister, Nadine ERwin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Sandy Bain officiating.  Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc.