Obituaries

May 29, 2023

Kent was pronounced dead on May, 29, at age 62. But he had passed several days earlier before he was found in his home. He apparently died from a heart attack, or other heart event.

Kent was born in Springfield, IL to Dorothy Jean (Jackson) and Donald Eugene Tuxhorn. Dorothy died in 2012, Don in 2013. He...

May 26, 2023

Nancy K. Wicks, 66, of Riverton, IL passed away on Friday May 26, 2023. Nancy was born in Springfield on March 10, 1957 and was the daughter of Garnett and Grace (Prior) Griffin.

Nancy was a graduate of Riverton High School and a member of the Riverton Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by...

May 19, 2023

Darrell E. Edwards, 95, of Edinburg passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Taylorville Care Center.

Darrell was born on April 29, 1928, in Edinburg, the son of Harold and Edith (Beamer) Edwards. He married Marilyn Thornton on November 29, 1946 in Hannibal, Mo. and she preceded him in death on May 13, 2009.

...

May 6, 2023

Norma Jean Smith, 86, formerly of Riverton, IL passed away on Saturday May 6, 2023. Norma was born in Springfield on January 26, 1937 and was the daughter of William and Gladys Truter.

Norma married her husband, John H. Smith, on June 23, 1952.  She is survived by her husband of 70+ years, John.

She...

May 5, 2023

Sandra May (Grant) Stark, 75 of Springfield passed away Friday, May 5, 2023 at Springfield Memorial Hospital. She was born June 3, 1947 in Springfield, Illinois to Marvin and Helen May (Davis) Grant. She married Daniel Lee Stark on October 28, 1972, in Ashland, Illinois.

She graduated Valedictorian from Pleasant Plains High School in 1965. She later...

Apr 26, 2023

Emily Ann (Turpin) Pickel, 73, of Illiopolis, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Sullivan, Illinois.

Emily was born October 14, 1949 to Forrest and Emma Turpin of Somerset, Kentucky. She had one sister, Sandra. She graduated from Baker High School in Fairborn, Ohio in 1967. Emily married Donald Wayne Pickel on June 26, 1976.

Apr 23, 2023

Elizabeth "Libby" Pickrell Ruddie was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She passed, peacefully and surrounded by family and friends, on April 24th, 2023.

Libby was born on November 18th, 1952, to John and Carolyn Pickrell in Buffalo, Illinois. She was a Registered Nurse and Clinical Nursing Instructor until 2020. After graduating from Tri-City High...

Apr 20, 2023

Shirley Ann Birkman, 80, of Springfield, IL passed away on April 20, 2023. Shirley was born in Houston, Texas and was the daughter of Vincent E. SR. and Bertha F. Birkman.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her sister, June Lumpkin (John); sister, Nancy Matheis (Jim); brother, Vincent Birkman...

Apr 20, 2023

Cynthia Kaye Wheeler "Cindy", 73, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away April 20, 2023 at home surrounded by family.

Cindy was born March 15, 1950 to Billie M. Ruhl and Kenneth R. Wheeler. She attended Enos Elementary, Grant Middle School and Springfield High School. After being a homemaker with her 4 oldest children she graduated from...

Apr 15, 2023

Dorothy J. "Dotty" Welch, 88, of Rochester, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Carriage Crossing Senior Living in Rochester.

Dotty was born on October 8, 1934, in Nortonville, KS, the daughter of Joe and Lois (Fulton) Sloop. She married Robert L. "Bob" Welch on November 27, 1954 in Oskaloosa, KS and he survives. Dotty worked...

Apr 14, 2023

Vernon "Sonny" Morris, 73, of Sherman passed away April 14, 2023. He is survived by his son Chad, daughter Teresa, sister Patricia (Marion) Upton, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Sonny was an iron worker who specialized in ornamental railing and steel fabricating.

He loved working in his yard especially gardening. He is preceded in death by his parents...

Apr 13, 2023

Kathryn Louise (Noonan) Gerald passed away at her daughter's home in Macon, Illinois surrounded by her loved ones on April 13, 2023 at the age of 83.  Kay is preceded in death by her parents, John and C. Christine Noonan, sister Barbara (Walter) Walker, brother Bill Noonan, and sister Carol Jean Noonan.

She is survived by her...

Apr 11, 2023

Robin Cheryl Taft, 72, of Rochester, passed away on April 11, 2023 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Robin was born in Clayton, MO., the daughter of Troy Carl and Jean (Armstorng) Roberts. She married Steve Taft on July 14, 1979 and he survives.

Robin lived in Rochester for 50 years and worked for Rochester...

Apr 11, 2023

LeRoy "Lee" Watkins, 72, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.  LeRoy was born on September 4, 1950, in Springfield, the son of Elmer and Venetta (Wake) Watkins.

He was a member of the Carpenters Local 270, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 218.  He was a member of the NHPA and the ILSHPA for over...

Apr 10, 2023

Robert Lee Smarjesse, 87, of Springfield, passed away April 10, 2023, at Stonebridge Memory Care, Jacksonville, IL. He was born November 15, 1935 in Springfield to John and Catherine Rose Smarjesse. He married Myrtle Gough October 21, 1961 in Malibu, CA. She preceded him in death June 6, 2017. He is also preceded in death by his parents and...

Apr 6, 2023

Springfield, IL – Mark A. "Ike" Iocca, 63, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on April 6, 2023. Mark was born on July 25, 1959 in Springfield, IL. Mark was the son of Frederick Iocca (d: 2009) and Jude Iocca (d: 2018). He married Michelle M. Guthrie on January 3, 2004, and she survives.

Mark went to...

Apr 3, 2023

Shawn M Trader, 59, of Springfield, IL passed away on Monday April 3, 2023 at Memorial Medical Center.

Shawn was born in Springfield on February 26, 1964 and was the daughter of Ronald and Carol (Massaro) Trader.

She is survived by her children, Kristin Trader and Nicholas Trader Sr.; mother, Carol Lazar; spouse Chuck Clemons;...

Apr 2, 2023

Richard L. Powell, 75, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at his residence. Rick was born in Springfield, IL on March 14, 1948, the son of Teddy Connor and Martina Goacher. He married Judy Fry on February 11, 1979 and she survives. Rick worked for CWLP as a waterworks Class A Engineer. He served in the...

Apr 1, 2023

Pleasant Plains – Bryan W. Manning

Bryan Wade Manning, 64, of Pleasant Plaines, died on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Saint John's Hospital.  He was born on October 28, 1958, in Springfield, the son of Albert G. and Bernice (Kavirt) Manning.  Bryan was a self-employed general contractor best known for his creative problem-solving skills.  He was preceded...

Apr 1, 2023

Mary Beth (Adams) Jensen passed away at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL on April 1, 2023. Mary was born in Springfield, IL on June 30, 1945 to parents Thelma (McMurray) and James Adams. She is survived by her husband Norman, son Craig, and daughter Tracey and numerous nieces and nephews. Her brothers James, Kenneth, and William preceded her...