Obituaries

Aug 16, 2022

Betty (Farley) Lawson (81) Rochester passed away at her home August 16, 2022 after battling many health related issues.

She was born March 25, 1941 to Mary Frances Abrams and John M. Laing at home in West Terre Haute, Indiana.

Betty retired from Illinois State Police in 2002.  She was a member of the Rochester...

Aug 13, 2022

Keith Virgil Sterner, 93, of Riverton, formerly of Springfield, IL died at his daughter's home in Riverton with his family present on Saturday, August 13, 2022.

Keith was born February 7, 1929 in Iowa, the son of Virgil and Hazel Turnipseed. He married Dorothy Bates on August 15, 1951. She preceded him in death on April 1,...

Aug 12, 2022

Lennis Craig Knight, 76, of Gann Valley, SD, and Chatham, IL, passed away Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Lennis was born July 5, 1946, in Chamberlain, SD, the son of Wayne and Bertha (DeJong) Knight.

Lennis grew up in Gann Valley, SD, and enjoyed working on the family farm in his retirement, including planting 500 trees last year...

Aug 5, 2022

James Hawkins II, 48, of Springfield, formerly of Illiopolis, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. James was born on March 29, 1974, in Springfield, the son of James E. and Sandra (Thornton) Hawkins. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening, and was a diehard Redskins and Chicago Cubs fan. He is preceded in...

Aug 3, 2022

David Harold Paoni Sr., 85, of Rochester, passed away on Wednesday Aug 3, 2022 in Rochester. Dave was born on December 12, 1936, in Springfield, the son of Dorothy DeArrow and Fred Paoni. He married Marcia Spaith on June 1, 1974 and became an instant family of 8 with their 6 children.

Dave was a graduate of...

Aug 2, 2022

James Parrish

James (Jim) E. Parrish of Dawson passed away August 2, 2022 at home.

He was born August 25, 1944 in Dos Palos, California, the son of Thomas and Edna (nee Schad) Parrish.

He married Loretta Wurth on November 8, 1969 in Belleville, IL.

Jim is survived by his wife,...

Aug 2, 2022

Melva Josephine Sexton, age 93, passed away at Brookdale Senior Living, Glen Ellyn, IL on August 2, 2022. She was born at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, IL on July 3, 1929 to Otto T. and Pauline (Hemp) Rentschler.  Melva Jo graduated from Tri-City High School, Buffalo, IL in 1947. She subsequently earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Northwestern...

Aug 1, 2022

Joe Lynn Wicker Jr, 30, of Illiopolis, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2022 at his home. Joe was born on June 28, 1992 in Decatur, the son of Shannon (Embrey) Baker and Joe Wicker Sr. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Sandra and Mary Hames; grandparents; Sandra and Roger Embrey, Shirley and Gene Baker, and Doris...

Jul 26, 2022

Beverly Denise Coontz, 74, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at her home.

She was born on October 26, 1947, in Pittsfield, IL. the daughter of William and Hazel (Shaw) Renoud.

Beverly loved gardening, quilting, crocheting, her cat Greta, and spending time with her family and grandchildren. She also made the best...

Jul 25, 2022

Wanda Jean (Hardway) Champion, 91, of Springfield, formerly of Rochester, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022 at The Villas in Sherman, IL. She was born and raised in Martinsville, IL, the daughter of Frank and Catherine (Gallatin) Hardway. Wanda worked many years for LLCC and retired from the State of Illinois Department of Public Health. She loved singing...

Jul 23, 2022

Shirlee Ann McDaniel, 85, of Dawson, died Saturday, July 23, 2022 at her residence. Shirlee, a resident of Dawson, IL since 1972, was born June 2, 1937 in Chicago, Cook County, IL the daughter of the late George Paul (Pappas) Weber and Sue Lois (Maloney) Weber. She married Donald William McDaniel, Sr. June 3, 1957 in Waukegan, Lake County,...

Jul 21, 2022

Joseph Lee Wall, 72, of Springfield, IL passed away at his home on Thursday July 21, 2022 in the company of his family.

Joe was born in Springfield at St. John's Hospital on February 6, 1950. He is the son of Robert and Pelagia (Bella) Wall.

He was a graduate of Lanphier High School and...

Jul 17, 2022

Lawrence Rae Bentley, AKA Snake Man "Free Bites", 85, of Springfield, IL passed away in the company of his family on Sunday July 17, 2022.

Larry was born in Springfield on September 13, 1936 and was the son of Frank L. Bentley and Frances E. (Wylie) Bentley.

He was preceded in death by his parents;...

Jul 10, 2022

Marsha E. (Schwartz) Messmore, 66, of Springfield, IL passed away at her home on Sunday July 10, 2022 surrounded by her family.

Marsha was born in Paris, IL on August 30, 1955 and was the daughter of Donald R. and Jane A. (Forbes) Schwartz. Marsha married her husband, Jack Messmore on April 3, 1976. Jack and Marsha...

Jul 7, 2022

Jack K. Taylor, 86, of Rochester, passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at the Villas of South Park, in Chatham.

Jack was born on December 31, 1935, in White Hall, IL., the son of Kenneth and Georgia (Nagle) Taylor. He married Phyllis Pearson on July 12, 1959. Jack served as Superintendent of Rochester School District from...

Jul 5, 2022

Mark W. Coultas, 42, of Springfield IL, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Mark was born in Pittsfield, IL on March 29, 1980, son of Mark Coultas and Susie (Little) Schmidt. Mark graduated from Rochester High School in 1999 and then served in the US Navy from 2000-2004. After serving...

Jul 4, 2022

Lacey L. Lowe-Black, 40 of Fort Payne, AL. Formerly of Springfield, IL passed away on Monday July 4, 2022 at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, AL

She is survived by her son, Christian Moore; mother, Irene Maurer (Edward); sisters, Kelly, Kim, Karen and Kerry; as well as several Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and several Nieces, and Nephews.

...

Jul 4, 2022

Joella Rogers, 90, passed away on July 4, 2022 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. She married Jackie Wayne Rogers on December 17, 1954. They were married 64 years before he passed away on April 27, 2019. Joella and Jack met while they were in the service, Joella was in the US Navy and Jack was in the United States Marines. ...

Jun 30, 2022

Bobbyjo Harris, 63, of Springfield, IL passed away on Thursday June 30, 2022 surrounded by his loved ones.

Bobbyjo was born in Springfield on September 1, 1958 and is the son of Robert Marshall and Viola (Brown) Harris.

He married the love of his life, Tammy Sicilia on February 14, 1994. He was a Cab...

Jun 29, 2022

Susan "Susie" B. Bruce, 64 of Springfield, IL passed away on Wednesday June 29, 2022 at St. Johns Hospital.

Susie was born in Springfield on October 18, 1957 and was the daughter of John M Bruce and Elaine M (Dixon) Bruce.

Susie was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert D. Bruce; and brother...