Minnie Marguerite Blain, 72, of Sesser, passed away on Monday January 3, 2022 at her home.

She was born on September 4, 1949 in Edina, MO to Charles and Marguerite (Smalls) Heimer.

She is survived by her son James Devere (Angela) Blain of Mulkeytown; four grandchildren Jonathon Nutt, Morgan Blain, Madison Blain and Megan Blain; one great grandchild Ariana Blain and two brothers Richard Allen Heimer of Kansas City, MO and Charles “CJ” Breusch of Moberly, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents and eleven brothers and sisters.

Her wishes were to be cremated with a memorial service at a later date.

She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Karen Lee Rice, 71, of Macedonia passed away Monday morning December 13, 2021 at SSM Health Good Samaritan in Mt. Vernon.

She was born in Christopher, IL on January 4, 1950 the daughter of Harlie & Jessie M. (Lairsey) Webb.

She married Warren Rice on June 17, 1971.

Mrs. Rice was a retired school teacher. In her first year of teaching she taught at Edwardsville. She then spent the rest of her teaching career (34 years) at Ewing-Northern Grade School. She started out teaching Kindergarten for the first 2 years. She then moved to the 5th grade where she remained. She enjoyed gardening & being outdoors.

Mrs. Rice is survived by her:

Husband: Warren Rice of Thompsonville
Son: Ben Rice & wife Heather of Sesser
2 Grandsons: Ryker & Kyler
1 Brother: Don Webb & wife Judy of Benton

Karen was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at the Barren Township Townhouse.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Linda Mae Spain, age 68, of Benton; passed away at 9:51 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at her home with her loving husband by her side.

Linda’s wishes were to be cremated. A small private ceremony of immediate family and friends was held on December 31, 2021, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

She was born on October 6, 1953, in Flagstaff, AZ, the daughter of Wartha Eldridge Branch and Lenora (Fisher) Branch. She married Bryan Douglas Spain on November 10, 1989, and together they shared 32 years of marriage.

She was a former housekeeper, having worked with Super 8 Motel and Severin Intermediate Care Nursing Home, which later became Stonebridge Nursing Home. Prior to moving to Benton, she worked as an armed security guard for the city of Jacksonville, FL, where she oversaw protecting the mayor’s wife.

Linda was of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed reading plant gardening and loved animals.

Linda is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Bryan Douglas Spain of Benton; two children: Danny Delk, Jr and Linda Gail Delk, both of Jacksonville, FL area; a brother Robert Branch and wife Cathy of Gainesville, FL; and SPECIAL NIECES Alisha Spain and Kassey Spain, both of Delevan, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother George Branch.

Memorial contributions In Memory of Linda Spain, may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America; and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Cremation arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton

Gracie A. Shreve, 24, of Benton, passed away at 6:20 p.m., on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.

She was born on July 18, 1997, to Alan and Stacey (Key) Akin in Carbondale, IL. On June 24, 2019, Gracie married Troy W. Shreve.

Gracie was a loving wife, daughter, and friend to many. She enjoyed spending time with her family as much as possible, making crafts, and taking photographs. Gracie adored her pet Chihuahua named Boss.
She is survived by her loving spouse of 2 years, Troy W. Shreve; two sisters, Brittany Akin and Mia Akin; three brothers, Frank Akin, Gary Akin and Aiden Akin; paternal grandfather, Gary L. Akin; five aunts, Viola (Stewart) Edwards, Olga Easley, Patsy Larson, Ida (Matthew) Tiberend and Danielle Oellermann; one uncle, Jason Akin; mother-in-law, Cindy (Josh) Bundy; father-in-law, Barry Shreve; and many cousins and friends.

Gracie was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Barbara Ann Akin; maternal grandmother, Minnie Key; and maternal grandfather, Frank Key.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Thomas Tyler McGuire, 46, of Benton, IL passed away at 5:08 p.m., on Friday, December 24, 2021, in Pinckneyville, IL.

He was born on March 14, 1975, to Michael “Mike” and Vicki (Crisp) McGuire in Benton, IL.
Tyler enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved football, coaching it and watching it. Tyler also enjoyed training hunting and dogs.

He is survived by his son, Parker McGuire and daughter, Taylor McGuire; his parents, Michael “Mike” and Vicki McGuire of Benton; his brother, Michael (Suzanne) McGuire of Benton; three nieces, Madison (Grante) Hungate, Landyn McGuire and Haighdyn McGuire; a great-niece, Paislynn Hungate; former wife and mother to his two children, Nicole McGuire and mother-in-law, Andrea Christian; and many other dear family and friends.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main Street., Benton, IL.

Services for Tyler were privately held. Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Timothy John Shaputis, age 45, of Ewing, passed away at 6:53 a.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the SSM Good Samaritan Hospital of Mt. Vernon.

Tim’s wishes were to be cremated.

Celebration of Life Services will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 3, 2022, at the Leffler Funeral Home, of Benton.

Burial for family and close friends will take place at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2022, in the Hope Cemetery of Ina.

Timothy John Shaputis was born on August 2, 1976, in Kankakee, IL, the son of Gary Shaputis and Brenda (Daley) Shaputis. He married the love of his life Martha Jane Jefferies on August 16, 2000, and together they were happily married for 21 years.
Tim and Martha owned and operated an excavation and lawn care business.

He enjoyed hunting deer, ducks and geese, coyotes, turkeys, and every year he hunted for antler sheds. Most of all he loved spending time with his family, especially his three granddaughters.

Surviving is the love of his life, Martha Jane Shaputis of Ewing; three children: Justin Shaputis of Ewing, Brenden Shaputis (Kaitlin) of Ina, Maddison Shaputis of Ewing; his three granddaughters: Willa Shaputis, Oaklynn Shaputis, and Eleanore Shaputis; his father Gary Shaputis of Ewing; his mother Brenda Shaputis of Ina; a brother Todd Shaputis of Ewing; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law Kendra and Curt Hall of Ewing; two nieces Bailee Jefferies of Benton, Kailee Meeker of Ewing; a nephew Caden Shaputis of Ewing.
He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents; and a brother Terry Shaputis.

Memorial contributions in memory of Timothy John Shaputis, may be made to the family, and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Tim, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Byron Gale “Barney” Beard, 88, of Benton went home to be with his Savior on Monday, December 27, 2021.

He was born on September 11, 1933, in Whittington, IL the son of Gale G. and Leota (Johnston) Beard.

He married Shirley Ann (Adams) Beard on June 13, 1952, and she survives.

In addition to his wife Shirley, Barney is survived by his daughter, Kathy and husband Rob Hutchens of Ewing, two grandchildren, Wade Martin Hutchens and Cole Robert Hutchens, and his sister, Debby and husband Mark Stirneman of Benton, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and daughter Tammy Beard.

Barney served in the U.S. Army during Korea, stationed in Germany. He worked as a coal miner for Freeman Coal, Orient #3, served as president of the Local Union, was a member of the State of Illinois Miner’s Examining Board, and then ran a successful auction service until his retirement. Barney also enjoyed owning and training thoroughbred horses. Barney accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in the 1950’s, and attended the Ina Free Will Baptist Church in Ina.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, December 31, 2021 at the Johnston Funeral Home in Ina with Bro. Brad Ryan officiating. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to the Ina Free Will Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com

Mary Helen Sims of Christopher, passed away on December 19, 2021, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mary was 50 years old.

She was born on December 16, 1971 to Carl Eugene and Cynthia Jean (Norris) of Mulkeytown, Illinois. She is survived by her wife and partner of 10 years, Michelle (Leeper) Sims of Christopher.

Mary was a bright light in the Sims family, always caring and doing for everyone with a smile on her face and a kind heart. She and Michelle worked tirelessly the past several years caring for her ailing family, as a result both Mom and Dad were able to pass peacefully at home.

She is also survived by her three brothers Glenn (Susan) Sims of St. Louis, Mo; John (Laurel) Sims of Waltonville, IL; Arlie (Robert Kokott) Sims of Chicago, IL; one sister Carla Davis Sims of Christopher, IL; step children Savannah Watts and Cory Striztel as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Thomas N Sims.

Mary’s friends and family who know her will not be surprised that she gave selflessly in death, by being an organ donor. Her wishes were to be cremated. There will be a memorial service celebrating Mary’s life at a later date.