Kenneth Wayne Oakley, age 83, of Benton, passed away at 8:50 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2021, at the VA Medical Center of Marion.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 3, 2021, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Alan Stewart officiating. Burial with Military Honors by the Benton American Legion Post#280, V.F.W. Post#2671, and the Army National Guard; will be at the Shiloh Cemetery of Whittington. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 3, 2021, at the Leffler Funeral Home.

The Royal Order of Jesters will have a walk through at 11:47 a.m. on Saturday, with a Shrine walk through to follow. Masonic Rites will be conducted at 12:00 noon on Saturday, at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Kenneth was born on June 14, 1938, in Hopkins County, Kentucky, the son of Oscar Oakley and Emma (Jones) Oakley. He married the former Joyce Elaine (Martin) Erwin on May 15,1993 and she survives.

Kenneth served his country in the U.S. Army, where he was a MP, attaining the rank of Corporal/SP4.
He formerly worked in mining supplies as a salesman. He would later work for the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center, transporting juveniles to their court dates. After working for the Juvenile Detention Center, Kenny would become a bailiff at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Kenneth was very active in the Masonic Fraternity having become a Master Mason with the Slaughters Lodge #347 A.F. & A.M. of Slaughters, Kentucky, and he was an Honorary Member of Benton Lodge #64 A.F. & A.M. of Benton, Illinois. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and MSA Benefactor of the Scottish Rites Bodies of the Valley of Southern Illinois of Belleville, Illinois. Ken was also a Shriner where he attained the title of Ambassador Emeritus of the Ainad Temple of the Shrine; Royal Order of Jesters, and he was a member of the Ainad Legion of Honor.

He enjoyed being with his family, visiting with his neighbors, gardening, fishing.
and taking road trips to some of his favorite eating places. Most of all, he enjoyed his visits from his great-grandsons, and taking them to feed the neighbor’s chickens.
His family said he knew the best place to eat in any town, and would plan his trips around the best places to eat.

Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Joyce Oakley of Benton; his daughter Kendra Johnston and husband Billy of Madisonville, KY; Joyce’s children: Curt Erwin and wife Peggy, Linda Smith, and Brenda Zimmerman, all of Benton; grandchildren: Natasha Shanks, Skyler Johnston, Benjamin Erwin, Lucas Erwin, Kelsey Drew, Amber Robey, Matt Zimmerman, and Tyler Zimmerman; great-grandchildren: Axton Drew, Calin Drew, Elijah Zimmerman, Elaina Zimmerman, Xavier Zimmerman, Knox Robey, and Waylon Shanks; and several nieces and nephews; and his many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, a brother, and a son-in-law Curtis Smith.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children; and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Kenny, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Warren David Curry, Dave to his friends and family, was born on July 29, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, to Warren Gale Curry and Elsia Mae (Cedar) Curry. He died on June 28, 2021, surrounded by his family.

Dave married Ellen Jenkins Curry in 1987, and they have two sons, Joshua David Curry and wife Rebecca, of Marsailles, Illinois, and Jacob Scott Curry and wife Bria, of Benton, Illinois. Dave was blessed with three granddaughters, Anneliese Curry, Alexandria Curry, and Aurora Curry, Josh’s children, and one grandson, Carson Curry, Jake’s son.

Dave’s father, paternal grandparents (Norman and Lela Curry), and maternal grandparents (Hazel and James Frank Glenn and Clifford Cedar) predeceased him.

Dave is survived by his mother Elsia: wife Ellen, sons Josh and Jake and families, his sister, Sandy Stowers, of Mulga, Alabama, brother James Curry, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, many cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and his two beloved dogs, Herbert and Sissy.

Dave lived a full life. He worked hard from the time he was a kid with a paper route and through high school working at his mom and dad’s Mobile station in Christopher, Illinois. At that station, he painted many of his friends’ cars. After high school, he worked as a mine construction iron worker. In his early 20’s, he designed and built his own home in rural Thompsonville. He also worked as a foreman for a golf course construction company, and before he retired, he drove his own truck, under his own authority, hauling campers from Elkhart, Indiana, all over the country.

Dave loved woodworking and remodeled two homes for his family and his wife’s office on the Benton Public Square. Over the years, he raised hogs and cattle and horses. He loved gardening, fishing, working on cars, and taking his dogs for rides in his truck every day. He was very generous and kind, as well as stubborn and feisty.

Funeral arrangements are through Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 2, 2021 from 10 to 11 a.m. with the funeral beginning at 11 a.m. with Brother Ted Anderson officiating. Burial service will be immediately after the funeral at Mitchell Cemetery in Sesser, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Benton-West City Ministerial Alliance and Food Pantry.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Donald R. Edmonds, 78, of Benton, passed away on Tuesday June 29, 2021 at his home.

He was born on April 18, 1943 in McLeansboro, IL to Richard and Bessie (Draper) Edmonds. He married Helen (Bowlin) Edmonds on August 20, 1960.

He is survived by his wife Helen Edmonds of Benton; one son Eric (Pam) Edmonds of Benton and one granddaughter Olivia Edmonds.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Ralph Edmonds and one sister Alice Fitzgerald.

Don was a coal miner at Consol Mine in Sesser and a Veteran of the United States Navy.

Don’s wishes were to be cremated with no services.

The family would like to thank everyone that helped them during this most difficult time.

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

Captain Warren E. Stewart left this world on June 26, 2021 at approximately 8:30 p.m. while in the companionship of his cousins, Bob and Cindy Britton, Delores Perona and her daughter Robin Reich, while watching circle track racing on television.

Warren was a dual resident of Panama City, Florida and Benton, IL, where he had resided for the past two years.

Warren was a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force. His first interest in the service came when he entered the ROTC at Southern Illinois University. After getting his Bachelor’s degree from SIUC in economics, he then was accepted into the Air Force and was sent to Lackland Air Force base in Biloxi, MS; Kelley Air Force base in San Antonio, TX; Denver CO, where he was then sent to Iceland; Forbes Air Force base in Topeka, KS; North Bend Air Force base in North Bend, OR; Nellis Air Force base where he obtained his Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) in Las Vegas, NV, and retiring from Tyndall Air Force base in Panama City, FL.
Warren was also a 32nd degree Mason along with being a Shriner.

After retirement Warren became a real estate agent in Panama City along with being a bail bondsman, that he thoroughly enjoyed, for more than 20 years. Oh some of the stories…

Although never married, Warren has a legacy of long term family and friends. And some of them are listed below:

The Gene and Gladys Flatt family, the Clyde and Stella Stewart family, the Maxine and Wallace Miller family, the Maxine and Gene Vanwinkle family, the Lyle and Denzil Miller family, the John and Billie Burzynski family, the Casey and Wilma Sims family, the Jack and Hazel Stewart family, the Jim and Anne Stewart family, the Bill and Sally Britton family, and the Raymond and Frances Foster family.

Warren asked that these friends be mentioned, as if family.

Toni Alsup, Ron Harrelson, Scott Harrelson, Sue Tyler , Charlie Paul, Judy and Ernie Duckworth, Gary Messersmith, Anna Marie and Ron Giacone, David Wright, Val Pritchett, Terry Thomas, Charles Barlow and their families.
Two other friends who Warren has known for years is Jack Knapp, (a well known author of science fiction with many published books) and it was Warren who edited these books for Jack prior to selling them on Amazon. And David Cameron, whom he met in Reno, and the two of them just “clicked”.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, Warren has asked that all donations be accepted at the funeral home to be sent to the Shriners Hospital in his name. This family would like to thank you for all being such a friend to him. And we ask for prayers, that Warren did believe in the Lord and is with Him now.

His parents, who have passed, were Pansy (Warren) and Silas (Gene) Stewart. His grandparents are as follows: the late Ora and Silas Stewart and the late Frances and Robert Warren.
Services will be Tuesday June 29th at the Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton IL. The services will start at 11 a.m. and prior to that, please come and share some stories with us starting at 9 am.
Everyone is invited to the Cozy Table after the funeral for lunch and a celebration of Warren’s life.
The pall bearers are as follows: Bob Britton, Garrett Britton, Charlie Paul, Alan Stewart, Danny Drew and John Kramer.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Deborah Sue Heern, age 60, of Thompsonville, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 11:57 p.m. Thursday, June 24,2021 at her home.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 28,2021 at the First Baptist Church of Thompsonville with Rev. Greg Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery of Makanda. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church of Thompsonville.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Deborah was born on September 28,1960 in Carbondale, Illinois; the daughter of Kenneth L. Cowan and Glenda L. (Stewart) Cowan. On February 10,1979 she married Kenneth Lee Heern and together they shared 42 years of marriage.

She worked at the Thompsonville School District as the head cook for the past 25 plus years; and she also was a bus driver for the school district since 2010.

Deborah attended the Bethel Community Church of Benton; and was the Special Occasion Senior Saints Choir Director for Thompsonville First Baptist Church.

She enjoyed serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, taking care of the kids at Thompsonville Schools; and she was a volunteer raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospitals. Her family said she was always willing to help others.
She loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and the rest of her family. She was always the biggest supporter and number one fan of her children and grandchildren.

Surviving is her loving husband of 42 years Kenneth L. Heern of Thompsonville; her parents Kenneth and Glenda Cowan of Cobden; two children: Kendra Lee Jones and husband David of Thompsonville, Ross William Heern and wife Bethany of Mulkeytown; five grandchildren: Kenzie Lee Jones, Wyatt Allen Jones, Violet Mae Jones, Penelope Grace Heern, and Cade Ira Heern; a sister Kimra L. Brand and husband James of Herrin; a brother Kenneth W. Cowan of Carbondale; mother-in-law Verna Mae Heern of Carbondale; brother-in-law Terry G. Heern and wife Elaine of Carbondale; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents; her father-in-law Ira Lee Heern; and a brother-in-law Johnny B. Heern.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at the services, or can be mailed to Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Keith Neal, 67, of Macedonia, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday Evening, June 23, 2021.

Mr. Neal was born in Franklin County, IL on November 1, 1953, the son of Glen and Ethel (House) Neal.

Keith married Judy Kearney on June 30, 1973, and she survives.
He answered the call to preach in 1992. Keith began pastoring at Williams Chapel Baptist Church, from there he went to Olive Branch in Wayne City, and for the past 17 years he has served as pastor at the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church.

Keith and Judy owned and operated the Macedonia Game Preserve for the past 22 years, and he farmed his entire adult life.

Mr. Neal is survived by his wife, Judy, of Macedonia; sons Bryon Neal, and wife April, of Sedalia, MO and Brady Neal, of Macedonia; grandchildren Kylie, Barrett and Blane Neal; nephews Bryce and Blake Kearney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, William Glen Neal and by a brother, Dennis.

Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, June 26th at the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in Liberty-Ridlin Cemetery in Macedonia. Visitation will be from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers Memorials may be made to the Opdyke Missionary Baptist Church or to Liberty Baptist Church.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Roger Louis Brown, 73, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Wednesday June 23, 2021 at his home.

He was born on November 12, 1947 in Christopher, IL to Louie and Helen (O’Dell) Brown. He married Janice (Stewart) Brown on April 1, 1983.

He is survived by his wife Janice Brown of Mulkeytown; three children Lisa Brown of Mulkeytown, Steven (Lisa) Brown of Marion and Chad (Kendra) Woodland of Valier; two grandchildren Clayton and Gavin Woodland; two sisters Donna Stritzel of Hillsboro, IL and Brenda Brown of Millstadt, IL.

Roger was a coalminer and a member of the UMWA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Matthew Woodland and one brother Norman Brown.

A Memorial Service will be on Wednesday June 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery.

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