Ruth Inez Carr
Ruth Inez Carr, 85, of Macomb, died at 8:43 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19, 2001, at the Elms Nursing Home. She was born July 17, 1916, in Galesburg, the daughter of Jonathon Marion and Matilda Gummerson Todd. She married Laurence R. "Boxie” Carr Oct. 27, 1934, in Galesburg. He preceded her in death May 11, 1992.
She is survived by one son, Laurence R. (Tamara) Carr Jr., Frankfort; one daughter, Joanne (Don) Miller, Wauconda; seven grandchildren, Jonathon Wright, Brittany, Lindsey and Alex Carr, Andrea White, Michelle Dietz and Amanda Miller; and three great-grandchildren, Johnathon and Anthony Botts, and Allison White. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy Wright, and one son in infancy, John LeRoy.
She lived her early life in Galesburg. She was a homemaker and was a secretary for Carr Amusements in Macomb for several years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school there. She was a member of Macomb BP&W Club and Macomb BPOE Deers.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at First Presbyterian Church of Macomb, with the Rev. William Brown officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Music Fund or to the Sunday School Fund.
Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Viola Decker
Viola Decker, 96, of Shelbina died at 5 p.m. Monday, October 15, 2001 in Hannibal Regional Hospital. She had been a resident of the Salt River Nursing Home in Shelbina the past two years after a fall that prevented her from living at home. She was born in Shelbina, March 27, 1905, a daughter of Elijah "Lige” Robert and Nannie Wood White. On October 18, 1924, she married Bernard L. Decker in Shelbina. They had celebrated their 70th anniversary. He died November 19, 1994.
She was a member of Granville Christian Church where she had served in various offices of the church board. She also had served as president of the Christian Women’s Fellowship.
She was a graduate of Shelbina High School. She was a past leader for the Monroe County 4-H. She had crocheted innumerable afghans for friends and family as gifts. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by two children, Bob Decker of Shelbina and Mrs. Robert (Carolyn) Hamilton of Augusta, Ill.; Four grandchildren, Alan Holmes of Sebring, Fla., Ray and Jan Holmes of Augusta, and Mrs. Raymond (Jill) Steiger of St. Louis; three step-children, Mrs. Gary (Becky) Goodman of Southlake, Texas, Eric Hamilton of Carthage, Ill., and Mrs. Curtis (Susan) Eddington of Augusta; and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Luther, Chester and Lawrence; and a sister, Bertha Olbert.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Greening-Eagan-Hayes Chapel in Shelbina by the Rev. Stan East. Music was by Mary Wood and Dennis Million. Burial was in Shelbina Cemetery, the Sunset Slope Addition. Vitiation was from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina. Memorials may be made to Granville Christian Church.
Gene Bassett
Gene Bassett, 79, of Moline, died at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 at home.
He was born May 6, 1922, in Hamilton, Mont., the son of Earl and Emma Amundson Bassett.
He married Gladys Murk on March 6, 1948, in Abingdon.
Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Carolyn (and Julio) Garcia, Aurora; one son, Tom (and Phyllis) Bassett, in France; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother.
He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
He worked at John Deere Plow and Planter for 25 years, retiring in 1984.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Milan.
He was a member of the Andalusia and Rock Island Lions Clubs, and was active with the Andalusia Fire Department, Andalusia City Council and the Boy Scouts.
Funeral services were held Saturday in Family Funeral Services, Milan.
Burial was in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline.
Memorials may be made to Pathway Hospice or the American Lung Association.
Gerald VanMiddlesworth
Gerald G. "Chico" VanMiddlesworth, 56, of Prairie City, died at 11:08 a.m.Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, at his residence.
Born April 5, 1945, in Canton to Charles and Lula Garnes VanMiddlesworth, he married Donna Carley on Feb. 12, 1963, in Prairie City.
He is survived by a special friend, Linda Johnson, Prairie City; one daughter, Mrs. Steve (Christine) Wilkening of Iowa; one brother, Marvin VanMiddlesworth, of St. David; one sister, Jeannine Schoonover of Lewistown; and two grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
He was reared in Canton.
He worked for Ready Foods for one year and then worked for Admiral Corp, in Galesburg for 31 years, retiring in 1996.
Cremation has been accorded. There were no services. Corman Memorial Home in Avon was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Galesburg Community Hospice.
A. Eileen Russell
A. Eileen (Young) Russell, 87, of Wesley Village, Macomb, formerly of Industry, died at 2:31 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at McDonough District Hospital.
She was born Nov. 21, 1913, in Industry Township, McDonough County, the daughter of Edward and Anna Standard Young. She married Glenn Russell Aug. 18, 1934, in Industry. He died Nov. 21, 1999.
She is survived by one son, Richard (Jane) Russell, Industry; a daughter-in-law, Donna Russell, Indian Head Park; six grandchildren, Marcy (Rodd) King, Plano, Texas, Linda (Dan) O’Neill, Macomb, Julie (Mike) Benstent, Willow Springs, Todd Russell, Macomb, Chad (Dorvca) Russell, Adair, and Dr. Eric (Yvonne) Russell, Quincy; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gerald (Virginia) Young, Galva, and Lyle (Mary) Young, Bushnell; one sister, Betty (John) Adair, Macomb; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and her parents, she was also preceded in death by one son, Rodney Russell; one great-grandson, Cody Russell; one brother, Cleone Young; one sister, Illa Price; and one nephew, Edward Young.
She lived all of her married life on a farm in Eldorado Township, moving to Industry after Glenn retired from farming. Before her marriage she worked as a switchboard operator in Industry. After her sons were married she worked at Blue Bell sewing factory in Bushnell and at Western Illinois University. She was a member of the Industry Order of Eastern Star and the West Prairie Church.
Her entire life was devoted to her husband and family. She helped out on the farm. She enjoyed camping, square dancing, horses and grandchildren’s activities.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at the Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home, with Marshall Litchfield officiating. Burial was in the Vance Cemetery, east of Industry.
Memorials may be made to either Wesley Village or the Vance Cemetery.
W. Jean Beaird
W. Jean Varnold Beaird, 77, Galesburg, died at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in the Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville.
She was born Sept. 24, 1924, in Pilot Grove, the daughter of Pleasant H. and Hyrell Grove Hensley.
She married Jesse Bryan in 1941, Donald Barry in 1946, Paul Varnold in 1958, and Charles Beaird in 1979.
Surviving are four sons, Jim (Janeane) Varnold, Sarasota, Fla., David (Marty) Dorff, Osco, Mike (Jane) Barry, Sarasota, Fla., and Bob (Hiroko) Barry, San Diego, Calif.; two daughters, Jackie (Billy) DeJaynes, Abingdon and Judy (Rollie) Hannam, Galesburg; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother and one grandson.
She attended Monmouth High School.
She was the first female security guard at Galesburg State Research Hospital and worked there for 20 years, retiring in 1980.
She was of the Protestant faith.
Funeral services were held at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with Marilyn Anell officiating.
Burial was in the Abingdon Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Community Hospices of America.
Leone Wilmot
Leone Wilmot, 86, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Blandinsville, died at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001, at Springdale Nursing Home in Mesa. She was born Jan. 16, 1915, in Blandinsville, the daughter of Leslie and Nellie Hays Taylor. She married Jerry Wilmot in 1935. He preceded her in death in 1971.
She is survived by one son, Jerry Wilmot, Spokane, Wash.; one daughter, Peggy Martin, Mesa, Ariz.; one sister, Betty Darrah, Galesburg; one grandson; two granddaughters; three great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; and one great-great-granddaughter. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by one grandson, Jimmy Wilmot, in 1969.
A graduate of Blandinsville High School, she was a beautician and worked at Newell’s in Macomb. She and her husband moved to Colorado Spring, Colo., until his death. She then moved to Fountain Hills, Ariz., and was a member of the Grace Community Church, in Tempe, Ariz.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, at the Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home, Macomb, with Russ Reidsma officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Macomb.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Valley, East Office, 2222 S. Dobson Road, Suite 401, Mesa, AZ 85202-6491.
Dr. Gerald H. Long
Dr. Gerald H. Long, D.V.M. age 96 of Mt. Sterling passed away at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Ill.
He was born December 13, 1904 in Bartlett, Iowa the son of Harry and Elizabeth Moore Long. He married Jessie V. Bell on September 1, 1935 in Mt. Sterling and she survives.
He has been a veterinarian since 1934, having the distinction of being the oldest practicing Veterinarian in the United States. He truly was a devoted man to his profession and his animals were his friends. He graduated from Dunlap, Iowa High School with the Class of 1923. He attended Simpson College and the University in Ames, Iowa. He was an active and devoted member of the Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for over 25 years, was the first Layman Speaker for the church, and was a member of the United Methodist Men. He was the 2001 Mt. Sterling Citizen of the Year, a member and past president of the Mt. Sterling Optimist Club where he was given the 1980 "Man of the Year” award, a member and past president of the Illinois Veterinarian Association, and he was also a former member and past president of the Brown County School Board. He enjoyed reading, but his greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and watching them grow up.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie Long of Mt. Sterling; four children; Geraldine Marilyn Schriefer of Champaign, Ill., Benjamin Harry Long and his wife Anita of Mt. Sterling, Marcellus Eugene Long of Mt. Sterling and Justine Diane Welty and her husband Kenneth of Loriane, Ill.; six grandchildren, Arno Henry Schriefer III of Champaign, Ill., Erin Elizabeth Reische and Alexis Jean Long both of Mt. Sterling, Lisa Diane Taylor of Oakford, Ill., Sheila Sue Thompson of North Vernon, Ind. and Kevin Lee Welty of LeClaire, Iowa; eight great grandchildren also survive along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers David, Donald and Carl Long and two sisters Alpha Jones and Pearl Christiansen.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 2, in the Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church with Rev. Julie Allison officiating. A eulogy was given by Karen Laning. Serving as organist was Rhonda Brown and she accompanied vocalist Barb Yingling who sang the hymns "What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and "Precious Lord Take My Hand”. Serving as pallbearers were: Harry J. Long, Bill Roe, Robert Bell, Brian Thompson, Ronnie McCaskill and Jim Taylor. Burial was in the Mt. Sterling City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church. The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is in charge of the arrangements.
Herbert Stoltz
Herbert C. Stoltz, 84, of Beardstown, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville.
Born March 7, 1917, in Aledo to Carl and Edyth Greer Stoltz, he married Frances Saunders on March 27, 1937, in Aledo. She survives.
Also surviving are three sons, James of Colona, Dick of Andalusia and Terry of Upper Saddle Creek, N.J.; one daughter, Maureen Cress, Avon; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Clara Brown of Aledo and Marjorie Lamberton of Sheridan, Ore.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.
He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II.
He worked for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District for 30 years before retiring.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5 at New Boston Cemetery in New Boston.
Sager Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
