Donald Lee Whaley, 88, of Benton, IL, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2022, at his residence.

He was born on June 19, 1933, to Elmer and Clara (Olgelsby) Whaley in Rend City, IL. On July 19, 1957, he married Betty Wilkerson and she preceded him in death on June 1, 2021. Mr. Whaley was a veteran, where he served in the United States Army.

Donald was member of Palestine Baptist Church in Whittington, IL and a member of the United Mine Workers of America Local 1545.

He loved gardening, hunting and fishing and tending to his grandchildren.

Donald is survived by his daughter, Cindy Lynn Livesay of Benton, IL; his son, Ronald (Julle) Dale Whaley of Benton, IL; four granddaughters, Dawn (Timothy) Renee Vandom, Stacy Lynn Mclaughlin, Megan (Ian) Marlow and Molly (Mark) Uhles; three great-granddaughters, Whitney Chloe Whaley, Sophia June Marlow and Ellie Mae Uhles; four great-grandsons, Ty Michael Miller, Austin Dale Miller, Brett Nathaniel Merkel and Lucas Scott Marlow; two great-great-grandsons, Phoenix Tyler Beal and Maverick James Vallow and one brother, Max Whaley of Benton, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Clara Whaley; his wife, Betty Lou Whaley; and six brothers and one sister.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Lance Thackery, officiating.

Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Franklin Cemetery, Whittington, IL, with military rites by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the United States Army Honors Team.

Memorials may be made to the Friends of Franklin County Animal Control and will be accepted at the funeral home..

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

Ruth Ila (Upchurch) Floro Morgan, age 93, of Benton, passed away at 9:15 a.m. Friday, February 11, 2022, at Helia Healthcare of West Frankfort, IL.

Ruth’s wishes are to be cremated.

Graveside services will be at a future date.

Cremation arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Ruth was born on September 27, 1928, in Benton, Illinois, the daughter of Charles Omer Upchurch and Ila (Spencer) Upchurch. She first married Guy Floro and he preceded her in death. Twelve years after Guy’s passing, she married Floyd Morgan, he too, preceded her in death.
She was a former Benton American Legion Auxiliary Member, she kept her dues paid until just recently, when her health was declining.
Surviving are two children: Lycia (Floro) Hall of West Frankfort, IL, Adam Floro of Carbondale, IL; a stepdaughter Pam (Morgan) Tippett of Bonnie, IL; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; two sons: Ward Floro and Spencer Floro; a daughter Laraine Floro; and a brother Ernest Upchurch.

Memorial contributions, In Memory of Ruth Morgan, may be made to the Benton American Legion Auxiliary, and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Mrs. Margaret Ann Armes, age 80, of Benton, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Thursday, February 10, 2022, at her home.

Margaret’s wishes were to be cremated.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a future date.
Cremation arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Margaret Ann Armes was born on February 4, 1942, in Franklin County, Illinois, the daughter of John Mutchek and Margaret (Palansek) Mutchek.

She formerly worked as a housekeeper and in lawn care.
Mrs. Armes enjoyed fishing, playing softball where she was a pitcher. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.

Margaret was a member of the First Christian Church of West Frankfort, IL.
Surviving is a son Tony Armes and wife Amanda of Washington, IN; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter Rose Mary Millikan (February 3, 2022); a granddaughter Ashley Dawn Armes; seven brothers: John Mutchek, Sam Mutchek, Bill Mutchek, Ed Mutchek, Charles Mutchek, Tom Mutchek, Jack Mutchek; a sister Shirley Short.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Margaret, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Stephen Wayne Chadwell, age 71, of Thompsonville, passed away at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at his home.
Mr. Chadwell’s wishes were to be cremated.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a future date.

Cremation arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Stephen Wayne Chadwell was born on December 28, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois; the son of Herbert Alwayne Chadwell and Cecelia (Savka) Chadwell. He married the former Teresa Anne Snethen on October 19, 1972, and she survives.

He worked as a manufacturing engineer for 34 years with S & C Electric of Chicago.

Mr. Chadwell was a 46-year member of Constellation Lodge #0974 A.F. & A.M. of Wheeling, Illinois.
He enjoyed traveling out West, visiting the Grand Canyon, as well as raveling to Alaska. He also, was a former Captain on a charter boat on Lake Michigan, and he and his wife formerly owned and operated Lorraine’s Lounge in Chicago.

Surviving is his loving wife Teresa Anne Chadwell of Thompsonville, IL; a son Stephen Herbert Chadwell and wife Adriana of Gilbert, AZ; a step-daughter Daisy Flores and husband Paul of Thompsonville, IL; four grandchildren: Stephen Wayne Chadwell, II of Gilbert, AZ, Devin Jesus Chadwell of Chicago, Diego and Daniel Rivera both of Chicago; a brother Joseph Allen Chadwell and wife Margaret of Darien, IL; a step-sister Brenda Lynam and husband Ken of Corbin, KY; step-mother Lorene Kendrick of Corbin, KY; nephews and nieces including: Scott Chadwell, Wendy Chadwell, Shawn Lynam and wife Jennifer, Ken Lynam, Lisa Yunger and husband Keith.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant grandson Nikolas Russell Chadwell; and a niece Betsy Chadwell.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Stephen Wayne Chadwell, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Vivian Laureta (Wilson) Lewis arrived on this earth December 19, 1932 and died February 8, 2022 at Greentree of Mt. Vernon, Illinois surrounded by her family.

Born to the late Laura (nee Neibel) and Howard Wilson, she was the second of four children She grew up in Rural Bonnie, Illinois. Kenneth Lewis and she were married in Arkansas in 1950. They celebrated 71 years of marriage last June 18.

Vivian loved Jesus and her family. Having accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior when she was 18, she was a long time member of Valier First Baptist Church. Often she could be found in the church nursery where she served for many years, loving other babies, as well as her own. A faithful member of the choir, she loved singing. She also enjoyed leading Bible studies. She and Kenny faithfully entertained the senior each fall with a wiener roast.

Her working career included the garment factories of DuQuoin, Pinckneyville, and Sesser where she served a term as a union official. After she retired, she worked at Wal-Mart in Benton, Illinois for 10 years.

Vivian is survived by her husband, Kenneth, as well as her sons; Roger (Frances) of Ozark, Missouri; Steve (Tricia) of Pinckneyville, Illinois; Terry (Cheryl) of Sesser, Illinois, and David (Debi) of DuQuoin, Illinois. She is also survived by her grandchildren Angela Hester, Becky Halloran, Crystal Jones, Jennifer Norris, Brian Lewis, Laura Alte, Kelly Marden, Alison Wiswasser, Kristi Dinges, Kenneth (Kent) Lewis, Nathan Dinges, Tarah Davis, and Adam Lewis. She is survived by 30 great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Art (Pat) Wilson of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and Edward Wilson, Sr. (Jane) of Rootstown, Ohio, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Doris Rigby, and one son Kendall Lewis.

Friends and family may call Friday, February 11, 2022 from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Valier First Baptist Church, with service to follow immediately at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Horse Prairie Cemetery, Sesser, Illinois. Memorials may be sent to Valier First Baptist Church, 212 W. Main St., Valier, IL 62891.

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

Tracy Ann Brooks, age 52, of Carbondale, passed away at 11:10 a.m. Saturday, February 5, 2022, at her home.
Tracy’s wishes are to be cremated.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a future date.

Cremation arrangements are through the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Tracy Ann Brooks was born on December 7, 1969, in Champaign, Illinois; the daughter of Carl Chapman and Ann (Tucker) Chapman.

She formerly worked as a secretary with Terminix.

Tracy enjoyed traveling and going to Disney World, walking her dog, watching television, and surfing the internet.
Surviving is her son Josh Brooks of Ewing, Illinois; a grandson Josh Brooks, Jr. of Ewing, Illinois; a brother James K. Chapman of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Bill Chapman.
Memorial contributions in memory of Tracy Ann Brooks, may be made to her grandson Josh Brooks, Jr. and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

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