Obituaries

Dec 19, 2017

Harry Edward McKenzie Jr., 80, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center.

Harry was born on August 3, 1937 in Springfield the son of Harry Edward and Ann (Penny) McKenzie Sr.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp and was a house manager for SPARC and worked...

Dec 15, 2017

Donald R. Buckmaster, 59, of Oakland, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Sarah Bush Medical Center.

Donald was born on April 4, 1958 in Topeka, KS the son of Donald C. and Evelyn Bennell Buckmaster.

He was an over-the-road truck driver.  He enjoyed fishing and loved his dog, Odie like his kid.

Dec 15, 2017

Clarence E. Worley, 66, of Dawson, passed away on December 15, 2017 at his home.

Clarence was born on December 13, 1951 in Springfield, the son of James F. and Clara Belle (Mellinger) Worley. He married Diane Marguerite Malloy on August 23, 1975 and she preceded him in death. He later married Jennifer Lynn Langley on June...

Dec 13, 2017

Ethan R. Auby, 58, of Springfield, formerly of Rochester, passed away on December 13, 2017 at his home.

Ethan was born on May 24, 1959 in Decatur, the son of Lawrence and Jane O'Neil Auby.

Ethan attended Rochester High School and graduated from City Day School in Springfield in 1977, he later graduated from Mississippi...

Dec 12, 2017

Dennis Wayne Gist, 57, of Mt. Auburn, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Dennis was born on July 13, 1960, in Jacksonville, FL., the son of Darrell and Betty (Shartzer) Gist.

Dennis was a manager in the construction industry.  He loved gardening and working with in his yard. He also...

Dec 12, 2017

Orville Maurice Roberts, 71, of Springfield, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, December 12, 2017, surrounded by his family.

Orville was born on March 31, 1946 in Monticello, KY the son of Elmer and Lydia Richardson Roberts.  His wife Edwina Marty preceded him in death on October 9, 2006.

He is survived by son, Jerry Roberts...

Dec 10, 2017

Clarence A. Turner, 62, of Carlinville, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at his residence.

Clarence was born on December 31, 1954 in Alton the son of Clarence and Martha Mathis Turner.

He worked for Ford in the waste management department.

He was preceded in death by his father; and sister, Kim...

Dec 8, 2017

Mary Edis Shaffer, 68, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, December 8, 2017 at her residence.

Mary was born on November 11, 1949 in Peoria, the daughter of Edwin and Margaret Baldwin Herncjar.  She married William C. Shaffer III on November 26, 1986 in Springfield.

Mary was a 1967 graduate of Eureka High School.  She...

Dec 7, 2017

Jonathan M. Dobson, 29, of Springfield, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at his residence.

Jonathan was born on April 6, 1988 in Springfield the son Debra (Crafton) Dobson.

He was a self-employed carpenter.  He was an outdoor enthusiast and enjoyed fishing and hunting.  He loved spending time with his family, listening to music...

Dec 7, 2017

Daniel R. Buck Jr., 95, passed peacefully at Lewis Memorial Christian Home on Tuesday, December 7, 2017.

Dan was born in Springfield on September 29, 1922 one of nine children of Daniel R. and Lela Meredith Buck.  He was a Springfield High School and Springfield Junior College graduate.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Dec 6, 2017

Robert H. Rothert, 95, of Pleasant Plains, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at his residence.

Robert was born on October 13, 1922 in Pleasant Plains, the son of William and Emma Boehme Rothert.  He married Norma Jean Bateman on September 14, 1947 in Mansfield, IL; she preceded him in death on January 21, 2002.

Nov 30, 2017

James Herman Baker, 80, of Rochester, passed away on November 30, 2017 at Heritage Hospice in Springfield.

James was born on February 6, 1937 in Springfield, the son of John and Margaret (Jayne) Baker. He married Patricia Allison on May 28, 1961.

James retired from the State of Illinois Department of CMS and was a...

Nov 29, 2017

James J. Morton, 59 of Springfield, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at St. John's Hospital.

James was born on February 5, 1958 in Springfield the son of Richard and Norene Prendle Morton.  He married Bonnie Cleeton on March 22, 1978.

He worked for the City of Springfield in both Public Works and CWLP...

Nov 28, 2017

David D. Dowling, of Rochester, passed away on November 28, 2017 at his home in Rochester surrounded by his loved ones.

David was born on May 15, 1935 in Chicago, the son of John and June (Duffy) Dowling. After his mother's passing during his infancy, his father married Helen Heald who helped raise him. He married Corann...

Nov 28, 2017

Evelyn G. Goin, 89, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Heritage Health.

Evelyn was born on October 23, 1928 in Niantic the daughter of George and Clara Pickel Canaday.  She married Robert Goin on October 31, 1946 at Third Presbyterian Church and had been married over 71 years.

She worked for...

Nov 27, 2017

Karen Borell, 78, of Springfield, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017 at her daughter's home.

Karen was born on October 31, 1939 in Divernon the daughter of Burl "Fred" and Agnes Rhodes Estill. She married Terry Borell in 1964 and he preceded her in death in 2011.

Karen was a member of Grace Bible...

Nov 25, 2017

William F. "Bill" Burcham Jr., passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center.

Bill was born on July 4, 1925 in Three Sands, OK the son of William Franklin and Pearl Newell Burcham.  He married Margaret "Babe" Hartman.

He graduated from high school in Casey, IL.  He was a veteran of the...

Nov 24, 2017

Deborah Sue (Greene) Batres, 68, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, November 24, 2017 at Heritage Health.

Deborah was born on November 12, 1949 in Springfield the daughter of John and Vivian (Sunman) Greene.

She was a graduate of Springfield High School and was a property manager for Essex Corp in CA.  She enjoyed spending...

Nov 23, 2017

Doesha Z.L.M. Eskew, 43, of Phoenix, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

Doesha was born on June 20, 1974 in Springfield the daughter of Billy Ray Woods and Debbie Eskew.

She worked for a rehabilitation center if Mesa, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her son, Samuel Joseph Eskew; and grandmother,...

Nov 22, 2017

Robert F. "Bob" Beals, 88, of Rochester, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at his home in Rochester.

He was born on July 15, 1929 in Trilla, IL the son of Albert and Carrie (Jones) Beals.  He married Frances Goeckner on April 4, 1959.

Robert received his Masters degree in Education from Eastern Illinois...