Frances Ray
Frances I. Ray, age 84, of Avon, Illinois, passed away at 6:27 a.m. Thursday, March 18,1999, at St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. Born September 23, 1914, in Dahinda to Oscar and Anna Olsen Larson, she married Roy David Ray on February 24, 1934, in Knoxville. He died February 10, 1988. She was preceded in death by one brother, four sisters and one son, Robert. Surviving are one son, Ronald of Avon; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She and her husband operated the Avon restaurants and then beginning in 1955, owned Avon Florist and Greenhouse for 22 years. She was a member of Avon Businessmen’s Association, Avon United Methodist Church and the Rebekah Lodge. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Corman Memorial Home with Reverend Rick Kerr officiating. Burial was in Avon Cemetery. Memorials maybe made to her church or Avon Nursing Home.
Beulah Wilson
Beulah J. Wilson, age 88, of 801 West Martin Street, Abingdon, Illinois, passed away at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 1999, at the Care Center of Abingdon. She was born March 13, 1911, in Maquon the daughter of Herbert and Belle Hodges Thurman. She married Roy A. Wilson on December 24, 1931, in Virginia, Illinois. He passed away December 28, 1989. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, three sisters, one grandson and one granddaughter. Surviving are one son, Jerry Wilson, of Yates City; four daughters, Dona Jones, Oldsmar, Florida; Betty Robertson, Bishop Hill,; Charlotte Sensabaugh, Galesburg, and Carole Morby, Aledo; 13 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. She was a homemaker. She was of the Methodist faith. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel with Reverend Gene Ramsey officiating. Burial was in Maquon Cemetery Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Donald Hunter
Donald W. Hunter, age 72, of 408 E. Newman Street, Knoxville, Illinois, passed away at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 1999, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. Born November 25, 1926, in Quincy to Jesse and Myra Watters Hunter, he married June Farrar on August 17, 1947, in Avon. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Michael "Mick" (Judy) Rashid of Dunlap; one son, Terry of Friendswood, Texas; one sister, Reta Lawson, of St. Augustine; and three grandsons. He worked for Goff Appliance for 20 years. He had worked at the former Beatrice Meadow Gold Dairy in Galesburg and Spoon River Farm Service and had volunteered at the Knox County Fair for many years. A World War II Army veteran, he was a member of Harry Philblad American Legion Post 749. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Pacific Masonic Lodge 66, AF&AM, and the Order of Easter Star Chapter 880. He was the Knox County Township road commissioner for two terms. Services were held at 1 p.m. Friday at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home with Rev. David Hultberg officiating. Burial was in the Knoxville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or his Masonic Lodge.
B. Gay Ehrenhart
Graveside services were held Saturday, March 20, at 11 a.m. in Roseville Memorial Park Cemetery for B. Gay Ehrenhart, formerly of Roseville. Corman Memorial Home, Roseville, was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Ehrenhart, 64, of New Berlin, passed away January 10, 1999 in her home. Cremation rites were accorded. Memorials may be left to the Alzheimer’s Association. The daughter of Walter and Alma Bayne Enfield, she was born January 9, 1935 in Monmouth. She married Terry Ehrenhart, August 9, 1953 in Anchorage, Alaska, who survives in New Berlin. She also leaves: a son Stephen in Springfield; a daughter Cherilyn Simpson of Rochester; and four grandchildren. Her parents and a daughter preceded her in death. Mrs. Ehrenhart was a homemaker and worked as an office manager for an ophthalmologist. She was a member of the Roseville United Methodist Church and a past member of the Roseville Order of Eastern Star.
Mabryn Varner
Mabryn H. Varner, age 85, of 1624 East Myrtle Street, Canton, formerly of Prairie City, passed away at 10:55 a.m. Friday, March 19, 1999, at Graham Hospital in Canton. Born July 5, 1913, in Prairie City to Lawrence and Harriet Hughbanks Harding, she married Floyd R. "Doc" Varner on December 31, 1931, in Table Grove. He passed away July 22, 1983. One daughter, Margo, and one sister also preceded her in death. Surviving are one son, John of Galesburg; three daughters; Mrs. William (Patricia) Weber of Bushnell, Mrs. Dr. William (Marlene) Dickison of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Mrs. John (Shan) Corelis of Port Byron; two brothers, Dan Harding of Fort Myers, Florida; and Sam Harding of Bushnell; two sisters, Virginia Winters of Roseville and Ruth Swanson of Peoria; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She studied Music at Iowa Wesleyan College. She was a member of Prairie City United Methodist Church, where she served as pianist for many years. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Martin-Hollis Funeral Home in Bushnell. Burial was in Prairie City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Bushnell United Methodist Church.
William L. Steele
A graveside service for William L. Steele, 66, Atkinson, were held Monday, March 22, at 2 p.m. in Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. Rev. Robert Bottoms officiated and military rites were accorded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5083. Mr. Steele died Saturday, March 20, 1999, at 1:08 am.m in Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, Davenport, Ia. Vandemore Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be left to the American Heart Association. A son of of Charles and Lena Strickler Steele, he was born October 10, 1932 in Monmouth. He married Wynona Parrish, September 20, 1952 in Burlington, Ia., who survives. He also leaves: a son, Robert Steele, Geneseo; a daughter, Linda Ganahl of Murphysboro, Tenn.; a brother, Phillip Steele in Florida; and four grandchildren. Mr. Steele was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, 1950-1954 and for the past 28 years farmed in Cornwall Township. He was also a member of the Henry County Farm Bureau.
Martha C. Rock
Martha C. Rock, age 91, of Avon, passed away at 11 p.m. Thursday, March 18, 1999, at her daughter’s home in St. Charles, Missouri. Born February 29, 1908, in Canton to William J. and Lynda Knott Crowl, she married James R. Rock on March 6, 1924, in Ellisville. He passed away January 20, 1994. Three sons, one daughter, three brothers, five sisters and one grandson also preceded her in death. Surviving are two sons, Richard of Bushnell and Arly of Bluffs; five daughters, Betty Morey and Joan Vancil, both of Galesburg, Audrey Tusek of Williamsfield, and Bonnie Wiggins and Judy Dean, both of St. Charles; one son-in-law Harold McNeely, Galesburg; one sister, Nelda Schoonover of Bushnell; 17 grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. She was a nurse’s aide for many years. She was a member of Checkrow Community Church in rural Avon. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m.Sunday at her church with Rev. James Vancil officiating. Burial was in Fiatt Cemetery in Fiatt. Corman Memorial Home, Avon, was in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Appalachian Project or the Navajo Indian Foundation.
Richard L. Hilton
Richard L. Hilton, age 27, of 1632 Florence Ave., Galesburg, died at 10:16 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 1999 in OSF St. Mary Medical Center, 333 N. Seminary Street. He was born September 7, 1971, in Bushnell, the son of Lyle and Bonnie Smith Hilton. Surviving are his mother of Galesburg; uncles and aunts including Jim and Carol Demery, Abingdon, Melvin and Shirley Mosley, Galesburg, and Ron and Lana Harn, Bushnell, and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Sara King. He attended Bushnell-Prairie City schools, and was graduated from Macomb High School in 1991. He participated in McDonough County Special Olympics for several years. Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Bushnell Cemetery. Martin-Hollis Funeral Home, Bushnell was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the McDonough County Special Olympics.
Blake Clayberg
Blake J. Clayberg, age 86, of Avon, died at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, March 28, 1999, at the Care Center of Abingdon. Born May 18, 1912, in Cuba, Illinois, to Carl F. and Ruth A. Williams Clayberg, he married Ethel Fitch in 1933 in Macomb. Surviving are one sister, Annabelle Kailey of Peoria, and several nieces and nephews. Two brothers preceded him in death. A member of Fulton County Farm Bureau, he farmed in the Bushnell and Avon areas for 40 years. He was of the Methodist faith. Graveside services were at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Prairie City Cemetery with Rev. Rick Kerr officiating. Corman Memorial Home in Avon was in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Avon Fire Department.
