Cara Mae Shepard, 87, of Sesser, IL passed away Tuesday March 4, 2014 at Fair Acres Nursing Home in Du Quoin, IL.

She was born May 30, 1926 to Elmer and LaVern (Page) Witcher.  She married Jake R. Shepard on June 13, 1959 and he preceded her in death on November 16, 1993.

Cara was a member of First Christian Church in Sesser, where she was the church treasurer for ten years.

Services will be on Sunday March 9, 2014 at 2:30 P.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Shannon Bopp officiating.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 12:30 P.M. until the time of the service at 2:30 P.M..

She is survived by five nephews Farrell D. Page and his wife Linda, Lecil E. Witcher Jr, Terry Witcher and his wife Mary Jane, Richard Witcher and his wife Brenda, David Witcher and his wife Dahlia.  Four nieces Jan Kelly and her husband Jim, Kay Styve, Carol Folden and her husband Charles Ray, Debi Spotanski and her husband Donald.  Also survived by several Great Nephews, Great Nieces, Great Great nephews, great great nieces, and great great great nieces.

She was preceded in death by five brothers Farrel Page, Woodrow Witcher, Charles Witcher, Lecil Witcher, Bob Witcher, and one sister Bertha Mann, one nephew Charles “Spike” Witcher, and one Nephew-in-law Bob Styve.

Having no children of her own she loved and enjoyed her nieces and nephews.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com .

Yvonne Webster, 94, a former Christopher resident, passed away Monday, March 3, 2014 in Arlington, TX.

She was born in Christopher, IL on November 8, 1919, the daughter of Jules and Georgette (Challet) DeVaux.

She married Sydney W. Webster on Dec. 27, 1941 and he preceded her in death on September 26, 1983.

Mrs. Webster was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for more than 50 years and was a founding member of the Christopher Senior Citizens Club.

Mrs. Webster is survived by her son Scott E. Webster, of Round Rock, TX.  She is also survived by two grandchildren, Justin Webster and Aaron Webster and two grandchildren, Jasper and Lux.

Mrs. Webster was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by a son, David D. Webster.

Funeral services wil be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 10 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.  Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery.  Visitation will be after 9 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser, with the Rev. Mark Pierce officiating.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.  Burial will be in Swanwick-Bethel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Sesser Church of God.

Baylen Lampley, 21, of Thompsonville, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Friday, March 7 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Rick McLintock officiating.  Burial will be at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Curt was born on December 14, 1936 in Mulkeytown, IL, the son of Opal and Juanita (Harrison) Spann.

He married Nancy (Winkleman) Spann on January 5, 2012 in Paducah, KY and she survives in Sesser.

Dorothy Marie (Tanner) Furlow 81, of Sesser, passed away Wednesday February 26, 2014 at Countryside Manor nursing home in Mt. Vernon, IL.

Dorothy was born October 25, 1932 to Ola and Margaret (Bourm) Tanner.

John Robert Mocaby, 81, of Logan, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon.

He was born in Parrish, IL, on January 11, 1933, the son of Irvin and Mary (Spain) Mocaby.

He married Ida Louetta (Melvin) on September 30, 1951 and she survives.

Mr. Mocaby loved to fish.  He was a great husband, father and grandpa.  Mr. Mocaby was retired from S & W Motors in Mt. Vernon.

He is survived by his wife Ida Louetta Mocaby, of Logan, four children, John Mocaby, Jr. and wife Mary, Janet Brannan, Joy Smith and husband Tom and Robin Mocaby, all of Logan.

Mr. Mocaby is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, by a daughter, Lynette Camden, a granddaughter Jamie Bragg and by three sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Dean Severin officiating.  Burial will be in the Logan Church of God Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Freda Joy, 90, of Ina passed away at 1:40 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.

She was born in Buzzard Roost, Elk Prairie Township, Jefferson County, IL, on June 14, 1923, the daughter of Perry and Lillie (Rigg) Williams.  She married Allen “Short” Joy on Feb. 17, 1940 in St. Charles, MO and he preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 2001.

Mrs. Joy was a member of the Ina Free Will Baptist Church and she loved her church family very much.

Mrs. Joy worked at the Shoe Factory in Mt. Vernon and was a cook at Ina Grade School for several years.  She and her husband Short also ran the restaurant in Ina for many years.

Mrs. Joy is survived by her four children, Brenda Fowler and husband Curtis, of Ina, Ronald Joy and wife JoAnn, of Ina, Rhonda Newell and husband Eddie, of Bonnie and Randy Clyde Joy, of Ina.  Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, Joy Schroeder and husband Marc, Wayne Fowler, Todd Fowler and wife Laurie, Barry Joy, Beth Ann Joy, Jason Newell and wife Stacy, Jennifer Schrimpf and husband Matt, Randy Alan Joy, Natashia Cruz and husband Rene; 22 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law Betty Isaacs, of Mt. Vernon and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Joy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 7 brothers, Burt, Pearl, Elva, Curtis, Kenneth, Olen and Max and by one sister, Mary Reynolds.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina with Brother Jason Newell and Brother Brad Ryan officiating.  Burial will be in Kirk Cemetery in Ina.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Johnston Funeral Home in Ina.  For those who wish, memorials can be made to the Kirk Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home at any time.

Janice A. (Kirkman) Bigham, 69, of Benton, died February 18, 2014 at her home in Benton.

Janice was born Nov. 28, 1944 in Logan, IL to Charles Earl and Margaret Gene (Kirkman) Moss.

She was a homemaker.

Janice is survived by her children, Gregory S. Kirkman, Valier, IL and Anthony S. Lee, Benton, IL.

Also surviving are grandchildren Dustin Kirkman, Dyllion Kirkman, Jacob Kirkman, Katlyn Ward, McKenna Kirkman; great-grandchildren Kailence Kirkman, Kieran Kirkman and Aiden Kirkman.  She is also survived by a great-aunt, Gertie Eickelman, of Christopher, IL.

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Hospice of Southern Illinois and also to her good friend Pat.

In lieu of flowers Memorials may be given to Hospices of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.