Jack Canavan
Shelbyville
Jack T. Canavan, 81, of Shelbyville, died at 6:05 a.m. Friday (June 8, 2001) in St. John's Hospital, Springfield.
Memorial graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Glenwood Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Litteral officiating and military rites by Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to the WW II Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Arrangements by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville.
Mr. Canavan was born on Feb. 14, 1920 in Tower Hill, the son of Thomas Edward and Nell Bertha Clark Canavan. He married Marjorie J. Daggett on June 4, 1942 in Warrensburg, MO.
Surviving are his wife, Marjorie; son, Glenn C. Canavan now of Shelbyville; and sister, Vivian H. Tate of Shelbyville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Gilbert C. Canavan and Glenn E. Canavan.
He was a graduate of Shelbyville High School in 1939, a U.S. Army veteran of WW II and was affiliated with the Baptist church. He retired in 1979 from J.J. Swartz, Decatur where he was shop foreman of the sheet metal department.
Dwight Hodson
formerly of Cowden
Dwight Hodson died, 96, formerly of Cowden, departed this life for his heavenly home at 4:48 p.m. (June 9, 2001) with two of his daughters holding his hand and telling him of their love for him.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday June 14, in the Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Cowden. The Rev. Darrell Hinkle will officiate. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery at Cowden. Memorials can be made to the First Christian Church of Cowden.
He was born July 4, 1904 in Lakewood Twp, Shelby County the son of Zachary and Joanna Wade Hodson. He married Jeannine Moore on Sept. 30, 1932 in Lakewood Twp. Shelby Co., She passed away Sept. 1, 1986.
Surviving are his daughters, Margie Mooney and husband Ansel of Harristown, IL, Nina Henderson and husband Tom of Titusville, FL and Linda Hudson and husband David of Malabar, FL; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and two step great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jeannine; his parents; son, Billy Dwight Hodson; grandson, David Dwight Hudson; two brothers, Granville Hodson and Max Hodson; and sister Emma Padgett.
Mr. Hodson was a member of the First Christian Church of Cowden and the Shelby County Farm Bureau. He was an avid sportsman. He loved baseball, horseshoes , hunting, and later years, fishing. He tilled the soil in Shelby County until his retirement in the 1960's. He then became caretaker for many years of the Mueller Lodge in Decatur, IL in the 1970's. He enjoyed good health until the last year of his life. His daughters and sons-in-law provided a loving home for him in Florida until his death. He was a loving Father and Papaw.
Arline Sphar
Pana
Arline P. Sphar, 93, Pana, died Tuesday (June 12, 2001) in St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Pana. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.
She was born Nov. 6, 1907 in Pana, the daughter Charles Dickerson and Sarah Jane Adams Bryson, deceased.
Surviving are sons, Lester E. of Springfield, Charles W. of Peoria, Richard L. of Franklin, Tenn., Loren of Mount Zion; daughters, Beatrice Sarver of Morton, Carol Stroyeek of Peoria; brother, Charles Dickerson Bryson of Rushville; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband, Lester, parents, three brothers, and four sisters.
She graduated Pana High School, Class of 1926. She was very active in all scouting activities, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and was a Girl Scout Leader. She lived in Pana her entire life except for 2 or 3 years in rural Herrick. She was a cook at Pana Junior High School for over 20 years, retired at age 65.
Elmer Barringer
formerly of Tower Hill
Elmer O. Barringer, 86, of Illiopolis, formerly of Tower Hill, died at 1:20 p.m. Monday (June 11, 2001) in St. Vincent's Hospital, Taylorville.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at McCracken-Dean Funeral home. Funeral Services will be Friday, June 15 in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Rodney Bloomquist, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Taylorville officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery in Pana.
He was born Jan. 11, 1915 in Tower Hill, the son of O.J. and Nellie Ross Barringer. He married Ruby Scoles Dec. 24, 1936. She died May 1956. He then married Harriet Shartzer Sinnard Oct. 6, 1956.
Surviving are wife, Harriet; son, Ronald Barringer and wife Alleen of Macon, Donald Barringer and wife Velma of Niantic, O.J. "Butch" Barringer and wife Becky of Illiopolis, James Barringer and wife Barb of Vass, NC., Allen Barringer and wife Nancy of Stonington, Orville Barringer and wife Kathleen of Dalton City; daughters, Nell Johnson and husband Jim of Kearney, NE., Lila Sterns and husband Don of Illiopolis, Mary Beach and husband Larry of Kincaid, Rose Garner and husband Brian of Illiopolis; step-children, William Sinnard and wife Ginger of Douglas, WY, Sara Blackwell and husband Charles of Alton, MO, Joe Sinnard of Illiopolis; 22 grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three sons, three sisters, and two brothers.
Mr. Barringer was a farmer. He lived in Tower Hill, Assumption, Moweaqua, Dalton City, and Blue Mound. He retired in Illiopolis from Buffalo area in 1985.
Allyn Allen
formerly of Shelbyville
Allyn B. "Coach" Allen, 74, of Savoy, IL, formerly of Shelbyville, died at 7:35 p.m. Sunday (June 10, 2001) in Carle Arbours in Savoy.
Mr. Allen was born Jan. 23, 1927 in Alexandria, VA., the son of Roscoe Raymond and Barbara Ann Gilbert Allen.
The family will receive friends at Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville on Saturday June 16 from 3-5 p.m.
He married Emily Yates Sept. 1, 1947. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Steven Allen and wife Susan of Harrison AR; daughters, Carolyn Allen of Urbana, Cathy Simon and husband Jack of Mahomet, Nancy Beasley and husband Jim of Champaign, and Lisa Davis and husband Dan of Mahomet; brothers, Roscoe Raymond Allen of Peoria and the Rev. Hollis Allen of San Diego, Cal.; sisters, Elma Letterman of Bethesda, Md., Anna Sue Gonzales of San Diego, Calif., Virginia Maquet of Leucadia, Calif. and Hanna Bower of Hemet, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Gilbert Allen.
He held bachelor and a master degrees from the University of Illinois. Most of his working career was as a high school teacher and coach of football, basketball, track and cross-country . He taught and coached in Moweaqua from 1950-53, Shelbyville from 1953-61, Kankakee, IL., from 1961-63, Arlington, IL from 1963-68. In 1968 he moved to Champaign where he owned an operated a teacher placement agency and was involved in the life insurance business. He returned to Shelbyville in 1976 worked in mental health services, insurance and job procurement He served in the United States Navy during W.W.II. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville and was a lifetime member of VFW Post #4829 of Shelbyville. One of his coaching achievements was starting the Shelby Open Track Meet, which became one of the largest high school track meets in central Illinois.
John Mathis
Strasburg
John F. Mathis, 70, of Strasburg, died at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday (June 12, 2001) in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in Strasburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael L. Kesling officiating. Visitation from 9-11 a.m. Thursday in the church. Burial in Richland Cemetery, Strasburg with military rites by Strasburg American Legion Liberty Post #289. Arrangements by Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Strasburg. Memorials may be given to Strasburg United Methodist Church or Strasburg American Legion Liberty Post #289.
Mr. Mathis was born on April 1, 1931 in West Eden-Cypress, IL., the son of John Franklin and Leota Mae Stockdale Mathis. He married Rosabelle Rosine on Nov. 10, 1956 in Oblong. She died on May 25, 1998.
Surviving are his sons, Stanley Mathis and wife Cindy of Shumway, Bradley Mathis and wife Tami of Strasburg and Kevin Mathis and wife Lori of Strasburg; daughter, Denise Macklin and husband Rob of Mattoon; brothers, Wiley Mathis of Shelbyville, Carl Mathis and wife Rita of Henton and James Mathis of Yates Center, KS; sisters, Mary Cress of Strasburg and Daisy Briscoe and husband Leon of Sullivan; and three grandchildren, Paige Kemme of Mattoon, Mark Mathis of Shumway and Wade Mathis of Strasburg.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brother, Arthur F. Mathis in 1926; and sister, Beulah M. Roellig in 1981.
He was a farmer and worked for Anaconda/Anamet Metal Hose in Mattoon, retiring in 1993. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, a member of Strasburg United Methodist Church and a 47 year member of Strasburg American Legion Liberty Post # 289 where he was a past commander.
Virginia Gregory
Moweaqua
Virginia Gregory, 85, of Moweaqua, died 2:05 p.m. Friday (June 11, 2001) in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Services were held 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 11 in Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua. Visitation were 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Burial was in Locust Grove Cemetery, Assumption. Memorials can be made to the Moweaqua First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Gregory was born Aug. 22, 1915, in Findlay, the daughter of Oscar and Flossie Shride Hawley. She married Wayne Gardner Dec. 25, 1934, in Elwin. He preceded her in death Aug. 30, 1993.
Surviving are her son, Richard Gregory and wife Barbara of Moweaqua; sister, Maribell Hawley of Moweaqua; grandson, Michael Gregory of Waterloo, Iowa; and great-granddaughter, Nichole Gregory of Cerra Gordo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, grandson, Jeffrey Gregory, parents and three brothers.
She was a housewife and a member of Moweaqua First United Methodist Church.
Jerry Lock
Lerna
Jerry L. Lock, 41, Lerna, died 5:07 p.m., Wednesday (June 13, 2001) in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.
Services are at Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga with the Rev. Richard Coen officiating. Burial will be in Janesville Cemetery, Janesville. No visitation.
Mr. Lock was born Sept. 7, 1959 in Mattoon, the son of Lyle E. and Goldie (Hill) Lock.
Surviving are son, Bryar Lock of Mattoon; daughter, Andrea Lock of Orange City, Fla.; father and step-mother, Lyle E. and Linda Lock of Carmago; brothers, J. Randy Lock of Toledo, R. Dean Lock of Toledo; sister, Donna J. Sinde of Toledo; half-sister, Kelly J. Lock of Tuscola; step-brother, Jack Bahney of Shelbyville; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and step-brother Homer Bahney, Jr.
Mr. Lock was a salesman in retail sales.
Virgil Sisk
Pana
Virgil C. Sisk, 83, Pana, died 12:09 a.m. Thursday (June 14, 2001) in Pana Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2001 in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home. Burial will be in Tower Hill Cemetery, Tower Hill. Visitation will be 9 a.m. until service time at McCracken-Dean Funeral Home, Pana. Memorials can be made to donor's choice.
Mr. Sisk was born March 25, 1918 in rural Shelby County, the son of Jesse and May Morrison Sisk, deceased. He married Blanche McKittrick on Nov. 30, 1944 in Tower Hill. She survives.
Also surviving are wife; nieces, Carolyn Smith, Arlene Harris; nephews, Don Sisk, Lee Sisk, Ed Sisk, Gene Sisk, and Carl Sisk; and sister, Pearl Sherwood of Decatur.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Maynard Sisk, Clarence Sisk; sister, Irene Culumber; nephew, Robert Sisk; and niece, Lorene Cearlock.
Mr. Sisk lived in the Tower Hill and Pana areas his entire life. He was a farmer and delivered Sugar Creek Dairy Products for 33 years. He was in the U.S. Army, serving in W.W. II.
