Viola Louise Story (Kearney) Werlinger was born in Sesser, IL on November 5, 1928 to parents Lewis Jackson Story and Bessie Elizabeth (Mitchell) Story.

Viola passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family, on February 27, 2023, in Benton, IL

Viola spent her early years in the Sesser area with her parents and siblings. She married Joel Bryant (J.B.) Kearney in 1948 and moved to West City, where they raised six daughters.

Viola was a passionate supporter of the Democratic Party and served as a Browning Township Election Judge in the 1970s and 1980s. She was “First Lady” of West City during her husband J.B.’s term as Mayor in the 1970s. When her children were young, Viola was active in the Washington Grade School PTA, and was a Brownie Scout Troop Leader. She was dedicated to veteran affairs and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Benton, Illinois and Glendale, Arizona. Viola was recently inducted into the Daughters of The American Revolution through her paternal three-times great-grandfather, Patriot Robert Page.

Viola enjoyed spending time with her family, and was the happiest when around her children and grandchildren. She was a lover of warm weather and the outdoors. She enjoyed travel, her cats and was a master of jigsaw and word puzzles.

Viola lived in Glendale, Arizona for several years in the 1990s. There she met her second husband Adam Werlinger. Viola and Adam returned to West City, Illinois in 1994 where she lived out the remainder of her life.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Bessie Story and husbands J.B. Kearney and Adam Werlinger. She was also preceded in death by her siblings Goldie Hazel Story Reiger, Robert Houston Story, Lucille Marie Story, Effie Evelyn Story Watkins, James Leroy Story, Charles William Irvin Story, Pat Lonzo Story and her great-granddaughter Makanda Jaide Williams.

Viola is survived by her six daughters and their families: Ramona Kearney, Christine Kearney and husband David, Kay Kearney, Rebecca Kearney Benedict and husband Kenny, Donna Kearney Smith and husband Troy, Jane Kearney and fiance Mark Simpson. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Joel Perry, Emily Kearney, Sarah Williams Carlton, Ashley Kearney, Lonnie Mann III, Dylan Kearney, Miles Williams, Chelsea Benedict Zettler, Chloe Benedict Knolhoff, Macy Kearney and Delaney Kearney. Additionally, Viola Leaves 12 great-grandchildren and one brother, Lewis Jackson (John) Story, of Centralia, IL.

A graveside service will be held at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery, in Benton, IL, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023 for the family and friends of Viola.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. through their website at https://hospice.org/donate/ or by check to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 305 South Illinois Street, Belleville, IL 62220.

Phyllis Jean Pearson, 83, of Sesser, passed away on Saturday February 25, 2023 at her home.

She was born on January 3, 1940 in Coello, IL to Edgar and Wanda (Norris) Kunkel.

She is survived by her two sons Phillip Pearson of Sesser and Donald (Holly) Pearson of Sesser; grandchildren Rachel Shearlock, Alex Pearson, Max Pearson and Mackenzie Pearson and one great granddaughter Raelyn and one sister Karen Kunkel of Maryland.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one son Ronald Pearson and one brother Maurice Kunkel.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday March 2, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Pastor Kirk Packer officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 11:00 AM until the time of the Memorial Service at 1:00 PM.

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

Patricia Nelle Friend, age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning February 22, 2023.

She was born December 11, 1932 to Clifford and Mildred Thompson of Mulkeytown, IL. She graduated with an LPN from Christian Welfare Hospital in East St. Louis Missouri. She married Lloyd W. Friend on November 19, 1955.

She was a hardworking farm wife and mother of four. Pat was a longtime member of Mulkeytown Christian Church where she was a Sunday school teacher and song leader. She also worked many summers at the Southern Illinois Christian Service Camp as a nurse and teacher. Pat was a member of the Franklin county farm bureau and held the position of Director for a few years. She was also a charter member of the Rend Lake Piecemakers Quilt Club. She loved quilting, spending time with her grandkids and watching the birds from her kitchen window.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Lloyd), and one son (Jeff).

She is survived three children, Joe (Cindy) Friend, Lyn (David) Rentfro and Dean Friend; three siblings Reed Thompson, Marj Bunton, and John (Elena) Thompson; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Services will be held Monday, February 27th, 2023 at 11 AM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher IL with Rev. Kurt Jensen officiating. Visitation will be from 9 AM until the time of the service at 11 AM. Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Mulkeytown Christian Church or the Southern Illinois Christian Service Camp in West Frankfort IL

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

Julie M. Carter, age 86, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. A native of Scottsville, Kentucky, AKA Margaret Ann, was the daughter of the late Carline and Erline (Satterfield) Gilliam.

Julie was a 1955 graduate of Christian College (now Columbia College), Columbia, Missouri, and John Robert Powers School, NYC. Through the years, she was a model, dance instructor and Executive Secretary for several non-profit organizations. For 10 years, she served as secretary/office manage in the Office of Missions for the Presbyterian Synod of Indiana. Her passions were history and genealogy which, after 35 years of research, produced several family history books.

Despite her divorce in 1974, Julie and her first husband, the late Rev. David C. Turnbull, Sr., remained lifelong friends. Her husband, Charles Dexter Carter, predeceased her in 2003.

Survivors include her son, David C Turnbull, II; granddaughter, Lindsay Turnbull; two great-granddaughters, Myra and Sydney, all of Indianapolis, Indiana; step-daughter, Angela (Carter) Osborne and husband, Kevin, and family of Bloomington, IN; step-granddaughters, Jessica and Jayna and her brother-in-law, Bill A. Carter and family of Benton, Illinois.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2023, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Thompsonville, IL.
Julie will be buried beside her late husband, Charles Carter, in the family plot at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Thompsonville, Illinois.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Hong Won Kim, 78, of Benton, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 6:26 a.m., on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Niles Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center in Niles, IL.

He was born on January 2, 1945, to Jun Bong and In Ah Kim in Hwanghae-do Province, Bongsan-kun County, Jusan-myun, North Korea. On May 8, 1974, Hong Won Kim married Jeong Ja Jung and she has passed since April 4, 2021 from pancreatic cancer. For many years, Hong Won and Jeong Ja owned and operated Kim’s Shoe Repair and Alterations in Benton.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother.

Hong is survived by his three sons, Yeong (Barbara) Kim of Rock Hill, SC, Matthew (Michelle) Kim of Bullhead City, AZ and Andrew (Erica) Kim of Troy, IL; six grandchildren, Brandon Kim, Mackenzie Kim, Leah Kim, Aubrey Kim, Owen Kim and Ashley Lewis; and one brother-in-law Thomas Wilson Newcomb.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jun Bong Kim, his mother In Ah Kim, his older sister Soon Wan Kim, his younger sister Soon Ja Kim, and his beloved wife, Jeong Ja Jung.

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

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with Pastor Jim Endsley, officiating.
Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at http://www.patefh.com

Beth Ann Moore, age 60, of Benton, passed away at 6:53 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the Herrin Hospital.

Celebration of Life Visitation Services will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2023, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Graveside burial in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, will be held at a future date.
Beth was born on July 16, 1962, in Taylorville, Illinois; the daughter of Gordon Higginson and Janet Maurine (Bruce) Higginson. She married John Scott Moore on December 3, 1988; and he survives.

She was a retired RN, having worked at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Franklin Hospital, and lastly for Dr. Khan. Her family said she loved being a nurse. She was a member of the Thompsonville First Baptist Church.

Beth enjoyed everything about horses. She formerly competed in barrel racing and showed horses in the Western Pleasure category. She loved watching programs on the History Channel, Kentucky Wildcat Basketball, listening to music, attending her two daughters sporting events; but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her daughters and her grandchildren.

Surviving is her husband of 34 years John Moore of Benton; two daughters: Shelby Biggs and husband Aaron of Carlyle, Illinois, Taylor Moore of Benton; two grandchildren: Annabelle and Harrison Biggs; her loving mother Janet Higginson of Benton; a sister Stephanie Hobbs and husband Russ of Christopher; a brother Bruce Higginson and wife Theresa of Benton; two nephews: Jason Hobbs and wife Tiffanie, Kyle Hobbs; a great-nephew Carson Hobbs and a great-niece Tinley Hobbs.

She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grand-parents, and her father Gordon Higginson.

Memorial contributions in memory of Beth, may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Beth, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Laurel Daye Bearden, 86, of Christopher, passed away on February 18, 2023 at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon.

She was born on October 14, 1936 in Daniel Boone, KY to Ralph and Ida (Mullens) Hale. She married her sweetheart David Bearden in 1958 and they lived in Christopher, IL the remainder of her life.

Laurel graduated from Christopher High School Class of 1954, after graduation she worked as a telephone operator and had various jobs after.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters Betty Jirkpatrick, Edith Lamond and Gwen Hargis and one brother Danny Hale.

She is survived by her husband David Bearden of Christopher; daughter Dawn (Dennis) Gunter of Christopher; one brother Ralph (Brenda) Hale of Christopher; two sisters Mary Payne of Paducah, KY and Brenda (Mick) Spotanski of DuQuoin and several nieces and nephews and one special friend Beverly Duhamel Rogers of Chatham, IL.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday February 23, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Mulkeytown Cemetery with Brother Larry Cook officiating.

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

James “Jim” Robert Steckenrider, passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 78. He suffered a long battle against Parkinson’s Disease. He faced the disease with strength and courage. Despite the pain, Jim fought hard until the end. He was a caring and loving, husband, father and papa to his family.

Jim was born September 30, 1944 in Christopher, IL to Ford and Edna Steckenrider. On June 19, 1976 he married the love of his life, Carolyn (Baldwin). He was U.S. Navy Veteran serving from 1962-1968 on board the USS Ethan Allen.

Jim will forever be known as a hard worker and provider for his family. He made many good friends while working at Inland Steel Coal. Also, in his lifetime he owned and operated several small businesses including a motorcycle shop in Raleigh, NC, a used car lot, auto racing parts store and equipment rental business all in Benton. However, Jim’s most successful venture was the small tractor business he started in 1987 that grew into a very successful excavating business known as Midwest Petroleum and Excavating. He retired from excavating in 2005.

In his younger years, Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman but his favorite hobby was dirt car racing. He was well known across Southern Illinois dirt tracks and was affectionately referred to a “Grandpa”. He loved watching his son, son-in-law, and two grandsons out on the track.

Giving to others was his love language. He was always giving someone a hand up by offering them a job, helping with unforeseen circumstances or just being a friend. Jim was a good Christian man that loved the Lord and serving others. He attended Grace Awakening Church.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents Ford and Edna Steckenrider.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn; children Jeff Wiggs (Sarah), Jill Lampley (Steve) and Jami Dial (Eric); his grandchildren Olivia Jones (Jacob), Sydnie and Sophie Lampley, Jaxton and Jagger Wiggs, Riley Dial; his brothers Ray and Charles Steckenrider. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be Monday, February 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. at Pate Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Pate Funeral Home, with Pastor Ken Petty officiating. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral at Mulkeytown Cemetery with military rites by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the Navy Honors Team.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Grace Awakening Church Building Fund are appreciated.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.patefh.com