Constance “Connie” Gunter, 69, of Benton, passed away at 4:00 a.m., on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on November 5, 1951, to John and Virginia (Southerland) Schnieder in Benton, IL. On January 16, 1982, she married Curtis Gunter, and he survives.

Connie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved her pet dog Harper. She was an artist and enjoyed crafting, doing special occasion hair and cooking.

Connie is survived by her loving spouse of 39 years, Curtis, five daughters, Kim (David) Wilson, Jama Pickering, Laura (Danny) Montgonery, Tina (Brian) Blaine and Susan J. Kirk; nine grandchildren, Remington (Courtney) Isaacs, Pari (Kyle) Hagan, Dalton (Nicki) Yates, Kennedy Yates, Karsyn Holmes, Oliver Davis, Maci Fisher, Kenly Pickering and Emeri Kirk; two great-grandchildren, Maverick and Emmitt Curtis; two sisters, Jean Dawson and Lana Tuskus and a brother, Mike Gray.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Virginia Schnieder.

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

Her wishes were for cremation to take place, so a visitation memorial will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Rudell (Short) Newcomb, 92, of Benton, IL passed away at 12:59 P.M. on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at the Herrin Hospital.

She was born in Ewing, IL on January 30, 1929, the daughter of Harry Lee & Juanita (Burklow) Smith.

She married Walter Lee (Jerk) Newcomb in Arkansas on October 25, 1950 and he preceded her in death on June 13, 2011.

She enjoyed playing cards, crosswords and word searches and especially being with her family.

Mrs. Newcomb is survived by her son, Mike, and wife Kathy (Williams) Newcomb, of West Frankfort, IL; grandchildren Shawn and Shauna (Hawkins) Yadloski, of Vienna, IL, Trisha Robertson, of Benton and Janet (Gilbreath) Fletcher, and husband bill, of Sesser, IL; great-grandchildren Gracelyn and Griffin Yadloski, of Vienna, Carly, Kayla, Kamryn and Colton Robertson, of Benton and Bree Anna Fletcher, of Sesser. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Ronald Lee Newcomb, of Ewing, IL, son-in-law Bill Gilbreath, of Benton, nephew Greg Goodman, of Evansville, IN; special cousins, Jerry, and wife Jody Page, of Marion, IL, Suzy, and husband Terry Drake, of Marion.

Mrs. Newcomb was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Mary Evelyn (Smith) Goodman, husband Walter, daughter, Patricia Lynn Gilbreath and nephew Gary Goodman.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

We ask everyone attending the services to be considerate of others and to practice social distancing. We are limited to 50 people in our building at a time, and masks are recommended.

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

Orva June Sanchez, age 90, surrounded by her family, died on April 17, 2021, at Rooks County Health Center, Plainville, Kansas.

She was born at the Adventist Sanitarium in what is now St. Helena, California on June 10, 1930, to Roy Cole and Bessie Wilson, and was the youngest of three children. After graduating from Ozark Academy she attended Union College where she graduated with a degree in Music Education.

June met Paul Sanchez at Union College and they were married in 1958. June was a substitute teacher and music teacher for many years in the USA, Costa Rica, and Brazil. She also held various administrative positions throughout the Seventh-Day Adventist organization in the US and Chile. Over the course of her life, June contributed thousands of selfless hours providing all forms of music to uplift the lives of others in worship and life events, always believing in the inherent worth and goodness of everyone she came into contact with through her ministry of music. One of her greatest investments in life was in people. She loved making new friends and always had a listening ear across all generations.

June Sanchez is survived by her husband Paul Sanchez; three sons Ralph of Thompsonville, Illinois; Dan, his wife Karen, of Plainville; Scott, and his husband Robert Haverkamp, of Gloucester, Massachusetts; and three grandchildren, Emily, her husband David Gammie, of Streator, Illinois; Makayla, of Plainville, Kansas; and Nathaniel, of Plainville, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Bessie Cole, and her brothers, Kenneth and Samuel “Gene.”

A Family Celebration of Life will be held at Hays Living Waters Prayer Chapel, 2005 General Custer Road, Hays, Kansas on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 5:30 pm. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Ozark Adventist Academy in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home 320 SW 2nd Street, Plainville, KS 67663.

Marsha Lee Laurent, 82, of Mulkeytown, passed away on Friday April 16, 2021 at her home.

She was born on June 23, 1938 in Anna, IL to Earl and Ruby Ellen (Kerr) Hunt. She married Phillip Laurent on August 3, 2002 and he survives of Mulkeytown.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.

Private graveside services will be held at Harrison Cemetery in Buckner.

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

William Scott Duncan, 63, of Thompsonville, passed away on April 12, 2021, at his residence.

He was born on September 22, 1957, to James and Margaret (Quillman) Duncan in Herrin, IL. On August 5, 1978, he married Rita Ayers and she survives.

Scott enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, riding his Harley, hunting and racing RC cars.

Mr. Duncan is survived by his loving spouse of 42 years, Rita Lynn Duncan; two sons, Travis Duncan of Thompsonville, IL and Taylor (Ashley Bragg) Duncan of Logan, IL; one granddaughter, Rylah Duncan of Logan, IL; two brothers, James D. (Donna) Duncan, Jr. of Benton, IL and Jon (Dora) Duncan of Benton, IL; and a sister, Crystal Foster of Herrin, IL.

He was preceded in death his parents, James D. and Margaret A. Duncan.

Cremation services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorials contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

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

Randall Wayne Mohr, age 64 of West City; passed away at 6:55 a.m. Saturday, April 3, 2021, at his home.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Rev. Gary West officiating. Burial will be in the Mulkeytown Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

Please be considerate of others, masks are required; and social distancing is to be observed. If you are sick, stay at home.

Randall was born on November 1, 1956 in Du Quoin, Illinois; the son of Elmer Theodore Mohr and Joann Ruth (Schafer) Mohr. He married the former Karla Jane Grizzell on October 21, 2001, and she survives.
Randall worked as a service technician with Terminix for the past 36 years.

He enjoyed the outdoors, yardwork, fishing, John Wayne Westerns, and he loved watching NASCAR. His favorite NASCAR drivers were the late Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Randall was of the Catholic faith.

Surviving is his wife Karla Mohr of West City, IL; children: Caron Sullens and husband Andy of Anna, IL, Michael Wilkerson of Benton, IL, Lori Gulley of Benton, IL, Tyler Knowles and Morgan Knowles both of West City, IL; grandchildren: Drake Lebrun of Benton, IL, Aries and Zander Sullens of Anna, IL, Jacob Wilkerson of Benton, IL, Corey Wilkerson of Florida; a brother Karl Mohr of Energy, IL; a sister Lisa Mohr of Du Quoin, IL; a niece Shelly Tullis and husband Patrick of Lexington, KY.

He is also survived by his three four-legged family members, Lucky, Bella, and Sophia.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a great-nephew Elliot Tullis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and will be accepted at the Leffler Funeral Home.

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

Gary Keller, 60, of Benton, passed away on Sunday April 11, 2021 at his home.

He was born on September 20, 1960 in Kankakee, IL to George Keller and Pearl (Shaw) Keller. He married Rhonda (Bullington) Keller on July 20, 2000 and she survives of Benton.

He is also survived by his children Nichole Swan of Marion, Brandy Douthitt of Marion, Ashley Keller of Royalton, Lesley Kearney of Lockwood, MO, and Charity Rush of Benton; 13 grandchildren Donovan, Shauntaya, Ashlyn, Darrean, Levi, Mason, Sammy, Payne, Dylan, Jessica, Gage, Tyler and Renesmee; brothers and sisters Earelen Zeboski of Sesser, Sherry (Mike) Boling of DuQuoin, Randy Keller of Florida, Cynthia Keller of Benton, George Keller of Benton, Georgia Chrostoski of Benton, Steven Keller of South Carolina and Shay Doty of Benton and many step brothers and sisters.

He was preceded in death by his father George Keller, mother Pearl VanHoorebeke, one daughter Jennifer Kearney and one grandson David.

Gary was an avid outdoorsman and had a big heart, he loved to go hogging and also loved to collect coins and knifes.

Funeral services for Gary will be on Friday April 16, 2021 at 3:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Chuck Lawrence officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at 3:00 PM at the funeral home.

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