Obituaries

Jan 28, 2025

 With heavy hearts and endless love, we say goodbye to our beautiful mother, Judith Kay Blumenstock, 83, who left us on January 28. 2025. She was the heart of our family, our safe place, our biggest cheerleader, and the one who made everything feel like home. Her parents were Perry and Mary Newman of Marion. She is reunited with the...

Jan 25, 2025

N. Ruth Hubler, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Fairview Rehabilitation & Healthcare in DuQuoin, Illinois. Ruth was a lifelong resident of Marion, Illinois and was born on February 3, 1928, in Franklin County near Akin, Illinois. She married Kenneth T. Hubler on July 31, 1948, and was a graduate of Benton High School, class of 1945. 

She is...

Jan 23, 2025

Merrell Glynn Crumley was born April 17, 1940, and suddenly the world was a brighter place! His parents, B.T. and Mildred Faye (Munday) Crumley received their second gift from God, who would become the proud brother of his older sibling, J. T., and his younger sister, Elsie Ruth. 

On April 18, 1964, he made the second most important decision of his...

Jan 23, 2025

Merrell Glynn Crumley was born April 17, 1940, and suddenly the world was a brighter place! His parents, B.T. and Mildred Faye (Munday) Crumley received their second gift from God, who would become the proud brother of his older sibling, J. T., and his younger sister, Elsie Ruth.

On April 18, 1964, he made the second most...

Jan 22, 2025

Billy Lee Jones, 83, passed away at 12:42pm, Wednesday January 22, 2025, at DePaul hospital in Bridgeton, Missouri.  

Billy was born on Tuesday July 22, 1941, in Goreville, Illinois to William and Vesta (Barringer) Jones. 

He married Judy Erlene Allen on May 13, 1959, at St. Charles, Illinois Courthouse. They shared 65 years of marriage.  

Bill was a hardworking man, a...

Jan 21, 2025

Denis Ray “Denny Ray” Crites, of Belle Rive, Illinois, passed away on January 21, 2025. Born on February 12, 1945, to Paul and Florence Crites. 

Denny married the love of his life, Johnnie Jacobs, in 1968, and they shared a wonderful life together until her passing on March 16, 2009. Together, they built a family filled with love, laughter, and countless...

Jan 20, 2025

Carbondale - Michael "Mike" Nelson - 67, Monday, January 20, 2025, died at home in his sleep.

He leaves a wife of 40 years, Tammy (Sweet) Nelson and his son Jerrod Nelson. his sister Pam and her husband Alan Graff; his brother Lonnie Jr and his wife Gracie Nelson: his sister Marcie and her husband Kent Buckles; his closest cousin Terry...

Jan 18, 2025

David Lee McRoy, age 62, of Pittsburgh, Illinois passed away on January 18, 2025. Born November 20, 1962, in Marion, Illinois to parents Peter and Jeanette (Norris) McRoy.  

David is survived by his father Peter McRoy; brother Greg (Beverly) McRoy; and daughters Angel (Arthur) Darnell and Misty Baker. Also survived by many grandchildren including Trinity, Brayden, Jeremiah, Tausha, and Mariah....

Jan 17, 2025

Maxine Fay Schroedel Hood age 92 a resident of Belleville, Illinois passed away on January 17, 2025. Maxine was born in Rockford, Illinois on May 24, 1932. She was the daughter of Rev. Martin Paul Schroedel and Irene Fay (McDaniel) Schroedel. 

Maxine was united in marriage to Donald Elbert Hood on March 12, 1954. Maxine is survived by her children: Sheri...

Jan 16, 2025

Billy Wayne Trout, 86 of Marion, Illinois passed away on January 16, 2025, at Deaconess of Illinois. He was born in Kingston, Tennessee on February 1, 1938.

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Binkley-Ross Funeral Home located at 1702 West Boulevard Street, Marion, Illinois. Funeral services...

Jan 13, 2025

Doris (Mason) Fisher, age 97, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2025, at The Anchor in Marion, IL. Born on October 26, 1927, in Williamson County, Doris lived a long and fulfilling life dedicated to her family, faith, and community.

Doris was the beloved wife of the late John Fisher. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and...

Jan 13, 2025

Linda Gail (Skelton) Thompson

1956 - 2025 

Linda Gail Thompson, age 68, passed away peacefully at her home in Marion, Illinois, on January 13, 2025. She was born November 3, 1956, in Bangor, Maine to William and Bercha Nell (Moore) Skelton. She attended Marion High School and was a graduate of Southern Illinois University, earning a master’s degree in social work.

She is...

Jan 12, 2025

Kay was born in Rockford, Illinois in1945 to Frances Lazarz and Dominic Clerico.

She had one sister Marianne Clerico who died at the age of 56. Kay became a gifted seamstress and pianist. In 1966 Kay met her life partner, Donnie at SIU. She took a B.S. degree in education 1975 and began teaching at Marion, John A Logan, SIU and...

Jan 10, 2025

Joshua Francis “Josh” Tregoning passed away suddenly on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the age of thirty-eight.

Josh was born January 21, 1986, in Carbondale, Illinois. Josh attended Goreville High School and served as a US Marine for four years. Josh was a beloved son and brother. He was a loving father and devoted friend. Josh’s quiet exterior could only temporarily...

Jan 10, 2025

Katherine (Connell) Jane Dees, 90, passed away Friday, January 10, 2025, in Carle Hospital Urbana, Illinois. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, beginning at 12:45 at the Blue Funeral Home, located at 1704 North Court Marion, Illinois with graveside services immediately following at Rosehill Cemetery in Marion, Illinois. Friends and family may visit at the funeral...

Jan 10, 2025

Noble L. Holmes, of Creal Springs, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025, at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois. Born on July 31, 1955, to Douglas “Gilbert” Holmes and Katherine Louise Stokes-Holmes, Noble lived a life filled with love, hard work, and cherished family moments. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Blue Funeral Home under the direction of Binkley-Ross....

Jan 9, 2025

Jerry Lee Mitchell, 62 of Marion passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Deaconess Illinois Medical Center. Jerry was born on June 29, 1962, to Edward Mitchell and Barbara (Lucas) Mitchell. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Eddie Mitchell, sister Debra Kay (Mitchell) McCombs. He is survived by his children Tausha Mitchell, Amber Mitchell, Jeremiah Mitchell, daughter...

Jan 6, 2025

Loris R. Pfaltzgraff, 80, of Tunnel Hill, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025, in Harrisburg, Illinois. She was born on July 5, 1944, to Francis and Cleora (Hansen) Parris. 

Loris earned her bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, and began her career as a high school math teacher in Greenfield and West Liberty, Iowa. In...

Jan 6, 2025

James Bottomley Bleyer passed peacefully from his earthly life at his home on Monday, January 6, 2025.

A fiercely devout Catholic, fittingly, his personal Easter was on Epiphany, the 12 th (last) day of Christmas.

Born October 5, 1928, Jim was named in homage to “Sunny Jim” James Bottomley, first baseman for the

St. Louis Cardinals, who gained the admiration of Albert Bleyer,...

Jan 6, 2025

James Bottomley Bleyer passed peacefully from his earthly life at his home on Monday, January 6, 2025. A fiercely devout Catholic, fittingly, his personal Easter was on Epiphany, the 12 th (last) day of Christmas.

Born October 5, 1928, Jim was named in homage to “Sunny Jim” James Bottomley, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, who...