Obituaries

May 14, 2021

Loretta Faye Emery, 69, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2021 at her home.

Loretta was born on August 11, 1951 in Carbondale to Ernest and Ruth (Lawrence) Emery.

Survivors include:

Daughter-Daniele Jackson (Frank) of Marion

Grandchildren-Patreek Williams and Shania Williams (fiancé Francisco Barrera) both of Marion

Sister-Brenda Nelson of Marion

Sister-Kathy Sparks of Herrin

Sister-Lela Sandvik of Marion

Several...

May 12, 2021

Herrin- Kaye Miller, age 69, of Herrin, passed away at 2:47pm on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at St. Louis University Hospital.

Eula Kaye was born on November 3, 1951, the daughter of Shirley Mae (Boyt-Pike) and William Robert “Bob” Winkler. She married her best friend, William “Bill” Miller at the Herrin First Baptist Church on March 21, 1970. He preceded...

May 8, 2021

Robert Wayne Tisdale, Jr, age 60, of Benton, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

Robert was born in Sikeston, Missouri on April 12, 1961, the son of Birdie May “Sue” (Ratliff) and the late Robert Wayne Tisdale, Sr.

Robert had graduated from Sikeston High School in 1981.  He had worked at Benton Wal-Mart for the past...

May 7, 2021

Rosetta S. Smothers, 94, of Marion, passed away on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 9 am at Integrity Healthcare of Marion.

Rosetta was born August 5, 1926 in Marion the daughter of Earl and Edna (Fry) Gibbons.  She married Vernon L. “Jack” Smothers in Osceola, Arkansas and he preceded her in death in November 1992.

She was a loving wife,...

May 2, 2021

Delilah Jo (Hopwood) Betancourt, 64, passed away at 6:35am on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at her home surrounded by family, friends and beloved pets.

Delilah was born on October 8, 1956 in Decatur to Hoyt and RoseMary (Hicks) Hopwood.

Survivors include:

Siblings:

Randy (Pam) Hopwood of Maroa

Marita (Tom) Hartwig of Springfield

Melissa (Rich) Clemens of Marion

Seven nephews; four...

May 1, 2021

Herrin-On May 1, 2021, Josephine Bottini Chiodini passed peacefully at the Villas of Holly Brook Reflection/ Memory Care Unit in Harrisburg, Illinois. Her daughters remained at her bedside for seven days until she decided to take her final journey to heaven. 

Josephine was born to Edward and Virginia Bottini on January 1, 1923, in Herrin, Illinois. She graduated from Herrin...

Apr 30, 2021

Jackie Dale Watson, 64, of Johnston City, passed away on Friday, April 30, 2021 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Jackie was born February 28, 1957 in Marion the son of Charles and Rose (Mockermann) Watson.

He is survived by his: Daughters – Jamie Lynn Watson Dumaw of Marion and Becky Watson, Son – Jackie Watson, Several grandchildren – Hannah and...

Apr 30, 2021

Jerry Dale “Lil Jerry” Weidman, age 38, of Millcreek, passed away at his home.

Jerry was born in Waco, Texas, the son of Janice Weidman and Jerry Dabbs. He married Bethany Conner in Marion on November 12, 2013. He had worked as a construction worker.

Lil Jerry loved his family, his wife and children was his world. He had a...

Apr 29, 2021

Debra Sue Howard, 68 years old of Herrin, Illinois, passed away on April 29, 2021 in Herrin.

Debra was born June 6, 1952 in Rosiclare, Illinois, the daughter of Donald and Mildred (Swinford) Howard.

Debra was a retired registered nurse.

She is preceeded in death by her father, Donald Howard; and her stepfather,...

Apr 27, 2021

Arlie Lee Dunning, 67, passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at Harrisburg Medical Center.

Arlie was born on June 3, 1953 in Marion to Leslie and Loyal (Hudson) Dunning.  He married Beverly Dalton on June 16, 1973 in Marion. 

Arlie worked for Maytag for many years until they closed and then worked for Pepsi.

Survivors include:

Wife-Beverly Dunning of...

Apr 27, 2021

Sandra Elaine Atwood, 65, of Marion passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 10:13 pm at The Anchor.

Elaine was born August 16, 1955 in Marion the daughter of Lester Brooks and Helen Mae (Tanner) Atwood.

She was a secretary for Marion High School, retiring after 27 years with the Marion Unit #2 district.  Elaine attended Whiteash Freewill Baptist...

Apr 24, 2021

Carterville- George Larry Havens, age 85, of Carterville, passed away at Carbondale Memorial Hospital on Saturday, April 24, 2021.

George was born in Bush on October 30, 1935, the son of Lawrence and Rose (Greathouse) Havens. He married Jo Nell Webb in Hurst on February 15, 1992. She survives in Carterville.

Mr. Havens was a member of the Nazarene Church...

Apr 22, 2021

Bryan Francis Stearns, 74, of Marion, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at his home.

He was born Oct 31, 1946 to Francis Edward and Mary (Doukas) Stearns in New London Connecticut. He is survived by his brother Gary Stearns; daughter Bryanna Stearns and husband Bryan Mitchell, grandson, Evan; his son David Stearns and wife Faith, grandsons, Lucas and Ian.

Bryan proudly...

Apr 22, 2021

Ettna Jane Tarr, 87, passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at her home in Olney lovingly surrounded by her family.

Ettna was born March 02, 1934 in Tolono, Illinois the daughter of Earl and Helen (Gillick) McDuffee.  She married Robert D. Tarr on August 16, 1951 in Newton and together they shared over 54 years of marriage until his...

Apr 19, 2021

Donald E. Bender, 89, of the Lake of Egypt, peacefully passed away on Monday morning, April 19, 2021 at 4:45 am at The Davis Community in Wilmington, NC.

Don was born in 1931 in Herrin, the son of Aggard and Mary Bender.  He grew up in Herrin where he attended South Side School and graduated from Herrin High School in...

Apr 18, 2021

Garry Gilbert, 65, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Garry was born on July 19, 1955 in Memphis, TN to Ralph and Lucille (McClung) Gilbert.  He married Barbara Hoban on March 7, 1978 and she survives of Marion.

Garry served in the U.S. Army.  He worked as a truck driver for many years and...

Apr 18, 2021

Marion-Chris Vavrik, 54, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at his home.

Chris was born on December 13, 1966 in Chicago to Howard and Velma (Stucky) Vavrik, Sr.  He married Susan Walsh and they shared 18 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on December 6, 2018.

Chris worked as a paramedic.

Survivors include:

Children:

Kristina Pierce

Kim...

Apr 17, 2021

Vickie Jo (Fletcher) Merriman, age 63, passed away at 9:18 pm Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.Vickie was born on October 23, 1957 in Christopher, IL, the daughter of Robert Henry Fletcher and Bobbie Ruth (Simpson) Fletcher. She married Richard Merriman on October 26, 2012 and he survives.  Her first marriage was to Bob J. Finn. Together...

Apr 16, 2021

Wanda Lee McCutcheon Ross, 93 of Rainelle, West Virginia passed away on Friday, April 16, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Wanda was born in Leivasy, West Virginia on August 18, 1927 to Holly and Harriett McCutcheon.

She was a loving homemaker, where she always put her husband...

Apr 15, 2021

Lenora Earl Borum, 86, of Marion, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 1:22 am at Integrity Healthcare.

Lenora was born January 15, 1935 in rural Marion the daughter of Carl and Esther (Humphrey) Kimmel.

She earned her Master’s degree and worked in various different occupations throughout the years.  Lenora taught school in Miami and McClure, was an operator...