Omar Lynn Barry
Pana
Omar Lynn Barry, 72, of Pana died Tuesday, August 28, 2001 at 1:27 p.m. in St. John's Hospital, Springfield.
A Service of Remembrance will be held Friday, August 31, 2001 in the McCracken-Dean Funeral Home in Pana at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor John Hippard officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be made to the Pana Community Hospital Foundation or Carnegie-Schuyler Library.
Mr. Barry was born November 2, 1928 in Pana, the son of W. Merle and Bertha Kimball Barry. He was a graduate of Rosamond High School, a U. S. Army Sergeant during the Korean War, and was a member of the United Mine Workers Union. He was a coal miner his entire working life in Pana, Farmersville, Coffeen and Arizona. He married Carolyn D. Lebon on July 21, 1951 in Pana.
Surviving are his wife, children Mike Berry and wife Barb of Greely, CO; Delores Barry and husband Matt Aleksiewicz of Cottonwood, AZ and James Barry of Prescott, AZ; four grandchildren, Amy Barry; Lora Daiber and husband Mike, Andrea Barry, and Ian Aleksiewicz; brothers and sisters Louise Husman of Phoenix, AZ; Norma Bradley of Champaign, IL; and Lee Barry of Gibson City, IL.
Alice Christopher
Assumption
Alice E. Christopher, 81, of Assumption, died at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2001 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday in Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. Derrick Ritchie officiating. Visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Dollville. Memorials may be given to Tower Hill Christian Church.
Mrs. Christopher was born on August 18, 1920 in Tower Hill, the daughter of Dr. A. J. and Olive Nance Hitt. She was a cook at Root's Cafe in Assumption for many years and a member of the Tower Hill Christian Church. She graduated from Tower Hill High School in the Class of 1932. She married Arthur C. Christopher on December 27, 1939.
Surviving are her husband, Arthur, sons, Ronald L. Christopher and wife Evelyn of New Orleans, LA and David A. Christopher and wife Linda of Cowden; daughter, Carolyn A. Cole and husband Eugene of Tower Hill; brothers James Hitt and wife Dorothea of Tower Hill and William Hitt and wife Ada of Free Union, VA; 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one baby boy in infancy and one brother, John Hitt.
Tina Kay (King) Eccles
Windsor
Tina Kay (King) Eccles, 33, of Windsor, died Tuesday, August 28, 2001 in Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor, with Rev. Joe Eaton officiating. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in the Windsor Cemetery.
She was born, July 10, 1968 in Olney, IL. She married Mark Eccles, September 20, 1986 in Windsor. She was a graduate of Windsor High School and a homemaker.
Surviving are her husband Mark, son Ascen and daughter Alyssa, both at home; mother and father, Pauletta and George Wilkerson of Windsor; twin sisters Martha Elliot and Debra Hardin, both of Windsor; half brother David King of Shumway; seven nieces; four nephews; two great nieces and one great nephew.
She was preceded in death by her biological father, Delbert King, her maternal and paternal grandparents.
Memorials may be made to the Heart Transplant Association, PO Box 6115, Chesterfield, MO 63306 or the American Heart Association.
JoAnn Foster
Shelbyville
JoAnn Foster, 66, of Shelbyville, IL, formerly of Bethany, IL passed away at 11 p.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2001 at her home.
She was born Jan. 5, 1935 in Pana, IL, the daughter of Marvin and Neva Rankin King.
Mrs. Foster held a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, a Masters Degree in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Administration all from Eastern Illinois University. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and the First Christian Church of Cowden. She taught Kindergarten through 12th grade in the Bethany Schools and 7th and 8th grades in Shelbyville Schools. She especially loved softball, and was a pioneer in women's sports programs in Bethany and Central Illinois. She was an accomplished fast pitch softball pitcher and later coached softball, basketball and track. In Bethany, she initiated the Girl's Athletic Association, the Girl's Physical Education program, the Flying Fillies Mascot for girls at Bethany, developed and managed recreation programs in the summer for the youth and senior citizens and taught gymnastics many schools in Central Illinois. Her teams were always highly competitive and well respected. She was a legend to those whose lives she touched.
Surviving are a son Mike Foster and wife Janet of Cowden; daughters Jodi Foster of Lancaster PA and Jana Walls and husband Dr. Jeffrey of San Antonio, TX, grandchildren; Amanda Foster, Chase Foster, Ashley Akers, Austin Walls, and Madison Walls; special friend for many years Bud Munhall; brothers Larry King and wife Wanda of Decatur, IL and John King of LaSalle-Peru, IL. She formerly married Jim Foster, June 12, 1955.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2001 in Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Rev. Marge Overlot will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery at Cowden, IL. Memorials can be made to the JoAnn Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Leo E. "Mule" Armstrong
Tower Hill
Leo E. "Mule" Armstrong, 66, of Tower Hill, died at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2001, in the Shelby Memorial Hospital.
He was born January 1, 1935 in Fancher, IL, the son of Robert and Faye Lewis Armstrong. He married Edwinna Matheny, September 3, 1960 in Decatur and she died February 7, 2001.
He was a farmer and belonged to the Local Labor Union in Shelbyville. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Cowden and served in the U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict.
Surviving are: one son, Rob Armstrong of Lakewood; daughter Marla Young of Sparta ,TN; two grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Wayne Armstrong of Shelbyville; Pat Bialeschki of Farmer City, Russell Armstrong of Cowden, Bill Armstrong of Decatur, Maude Baldwin of El Paso, TX, Forest Armstrong of Forsythe, Max Armstrong of Shelbyville, Jessie Polley of Decatur, Glenna Taylor of Cowden, Marian Lorton of Riverton and Eileen McElroy of Beecher City.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, son Randy Armstrong, brother Richard Armstrong and sisters Betty Armstrong and Joann Cox.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in Mound Cemetery in Cowden with Masonic Rites. Rev. Robert Litteral will officiate. Private family visitation from 1 p.m. until service time in the Lockart & Sons Funeral Home in Cowden.
LaVerne "Doc" Stalets
Pana
LaVerne "Doc" Stalets, 56, of Pana died September 1, 2001 at 1:25 a.m. in Pana Community Hospital.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 5, 2001 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home with Elk Rites at 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be Thursday, September 6, 2001 in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Don Farris officiating. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery, Pana. Memorials may be made to the Pana Community Hospital Foundation or American Heart Association.
Mr. Stalets was born June 12, 1945 in Pana., the son of LaVerne Gordon and Rosalia Altersberger Stalets. He was employed in sales at Schaper Company of Illinois where he had worked since he was 16 years old. He lived his entire life in Pana and was a graduate of the Pana High School Class of 1963. He was a member of the Pana Elks Club, the Pana Quarterback Club and Rosamond Baptist Church. He married Sue McCarty on June 18, 1966. They were later divorced.
He is survived by his mother Rosalia "Toots " Crow, Pana; children Shawndra Smith and husband Gary of Pana; Anthony Gordon "Tony" Stalets and wife Deeanna of Pana; Grandchildren Adam, Austin, Aric, Hannah, Hunter, Dana and Lauren; Brothers Robert Stalets of Pana and Richard Stalets and wife Debbie of Pana ; sisters, Shirley Kuhn and husband Everett, Oreana, IL; and Linda Oller and husband Mike of Shelbyville; step sisters Barb Bourke of Witt and Cindy McFadden of Staunton and several Aunts and Uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1970; step-father Clarence Junior Crow; one brother and one sister, both in infancy.
Dewey E. Little
Mossville
Dewey E. Little, 74, of Mossville, died Aug. 7, at his home.
Little was born Oct. 6, 1926, in Bloomington to Dewey E. and Helen McFarland Little. He married Marion Louise Clybourn on Dec. 31, 1964, in Peoria Heights. She survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Michael (and Madeline) Little of Alabama, H. James (and Gayle) Schurtz of Texas and Richard (and Myong) Hannigan of Nevada; two daughters, Susan Washburn of South Carolina, and Lynn (and Bill) Beale of Chillicothe; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A World War II veteran, he served from 1943 to 1949 in the 101st Airborne elite paratroopers exhibition jumpers.
He worked for Illinois Valley Glass in Peoria for 23 years, retiring as shop foreman in 1985.
He was a member of Masonic lodges in Alabama and Illinois for 43 years.
A memorial service was held August 11 at the Weber Funeral Home in Chillicothe. The body was cremated.
Memorials may be made to Rescue 33.
Gene Goodwin
Gays
Gene Goodwin, 63, of Gays died at 4:15 a.m. Tuesday (September 4, 2001) at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor with Rev. Richard Eident officiating. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in the Windsor Cemetery with the Fireman's Procession to the Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Lincolnland Hospice or for research with the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-4110.
Mr. Goodwin was born April 23, 1938 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Noel and June Shafer Goodwin.
He was presently serving as the mayor of Gays, president of the Moultrie County Water Board and was one of the founding fathers of the Gays Fire Department, serving as a volunteer fireman for 38 years. He was a past member of the Windsor School Board for 13 years, a former board member of the Windsor-Gays Ambulance Service and attended Windsor Christian Church.
He was instrumental in bringing water from Moultrie County to Gays. He was employed as an engineer for Blaw-Knox for 44 years. He was a proud promoter of the historical Gays two story outhouse.
Gene was committed to his work, community and family.
He married Nancy R. Maxedon, April 3, 1960 in Windsor.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy; son Pat Goodwin and wife Kelly of Charleston; daughter Gina Harvey and husband Rob of Largo, FL; grandchildren Beau and Madison Goodwin and Clayton and Nathan Harvey; sister Sojona Weaver of Bellbrook, OH and mother-in-law Elnore Woodard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and step-father Howard Greer.
James Gale Stewart
Moweaqua
James Gale Stewart, 85, of Moweaqua, died at 2:34 p.m. September 3, 2001 in the Moweaqua Nursing and Retirement Home.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8 in Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua, with visitation 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 7 in Seitz Funeral Home. Masonic Services will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday. Burial will be in Westside Cemetery with full Military Honors by American Legion Post #370 of Moweaqua. Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Moweaqua Elevator Fund.
Mr. Stewart was born in Moweaqua on August 10, 1916, the son of Malcolm Wayne and Gwendolin (Duncan) Stewart. He was a local businessman and retired Rural Postal Worker. He was a member of the American Legion Post #370, Moweaqua Masonic Lodge #180 where he became a Master in 1947. He served in World War II in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Moweaqua.
He married Eloise Gregory in 1941.
Surviving are his wife; son James Gregory Stewart and wife Nancy of Florence, South Carolina; Daughter Janis Gale Mahone and husband James of Moweaqua; sister Gwendolin Adams and husband Kyle of Moweaqua; grandchildren Emily Stewart Pace and husband Dale of Columbia, South Carolina; Jessica Stewart of Charleston, South Carolina; Kate Elizabeth Mahone of Chicago, IL; and Gregory Stewart Mahone of Moweaqua.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
