Jerry Dean Rice, 75, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Thursday January 6, 2022 at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin.

He was born on March 4, 1946 in Christopher to Vernon and Geneva (Baldwin) Rice. He married Nancy Jean (Edmonds) Rice on September 12, 1964 and she preceded him in death on August 26, 2021.

He is survived by his sons Jeffrey Rice of Mulkeytown and Shannon (Melissa) Rice of Mulkeytown; granddaughter Adrian (John) Rapp of Mulkeytown; great grandchildren Mykie and Isabel; one sister Darla Minton; five brothers Roger (Brenda) Rice of Coello, Lee (Diane) Rice of Mulkeytown, Donald Rice of Frankfort, KY, Vernon Paul Rice Jr. of Mulkeytown and Robert Rice of Marion and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death parents, wife, three sisters Fay Furlow, Donna Barlow and Roberta Bullock and one brother Bill Rice.

Funeral services for Jerry will be on Wednesday January 12, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Denny Bush officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday January 11, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home and on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Zeigler Cemetery.

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

Charlotte Petrazio, 93, of Benton, passed away on Wednesday January 5, 2022 at Helia Healthcare in Benton.

She was born on July 22, 1928 in Alma, IL to Jacob and Bertha (Sidwell) Kramer. She married Ralph Dasher and he preceded her in death, she then married Harry Tate and he preceded her in death and she married Phillip Petrazio and he preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children Martin (Judy) Tate of Macedonia, IL and Melissa (Keith) Cash of East St Louis; grandchildren Mark Tate, Angie Tate, Brad Veteto, Martha Veteto, Melanie Pierce, Steven Underwood and Shane Tate and several great grandchildren and one brother Glenn Kramer of Cleveland, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Theresa Chwarczinski, one son Mike Tate, one grandson Travis Underwood, four sisters Ruth Marie Kramer, Jennie Mitchell, Mabel Cowan and Katherine Bell and five brothers Owen Kramer, Kenneth Kramer, Dewey Kramer, Jacob E. Kramer and Harold Kramer.

Graveside services for Charlotte will be on Tuesday January 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Harrison Cemetery in Buckner. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

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

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