Bernice C. Dilley
formerly of Shelbyville
Bernice C. Dilley 74 of Spring Vista, Calif., formerly of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 2:00 PM Monday, September 17, 2001 in Kindred Hospital in El Cahon, Calif.
Mrs. Dilley was born December 5, 1926 in Los Angeles, Calif. the daughter of Thomas Bruce and Mary Marie Martin Dilley.
She was a homemaker and patron of the San Diego Zoo.
She married Elwood Haacke December 3, 1977 in San Diego and he passed away December 3, 1982.
Surviving are a step daughter Jane Farrell of Decatur, IL and a step granddaughter Joanie M. Keyes and husband Brent of Decatur.
Graveside services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2001 in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville. There will be no visitation. Arrangements by Lockart & Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
Howard Merritt Christman
Grand Blanc, Michigan
Howard Merritt Christman, age 72, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, passed away on September 16, 2001 at Genesys Hospice Care Center, Grand Blanc.
Merritt was born in Tower Hill, Illinois, the son of Howard and Hazel Tilley Christman on November 6, 1928.
He leaves his wife of 52 years, Jean McNeil and children Dennis, Mark and Jeannine, together with their spouses and several grandchildren and great grandchildren; a sister Marimee, and brother Leonard. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother William.
He retired from Grand Blanc Metal in 1995.
Funeral services were Friday, September 21, 2001 at Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Blanc.
Donna and Jeff Johnson and Kathyrn and Monte Corday, cousins, attended the funeral.
Wilbur Eugene Brant
Neoga
Wilbur Eugene Brant, 70, of Neoga passed away Tuesday September 25 at 5:45 PM. in his residence.
Services will be held at the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home in Neoga. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am., Friday September 28, 2001 with visitation two hours before the service. Rev. Ron Lake officiating.
Mr. Brant was born November 5, 1930 in Arkansas City, Kansas to Harold and Virgie (Titus) Brant. He married L. Fern Phillips on November 13, 1951 in Charleston, she passed away August 4, 1993.
Surviving are sons William E. Brant of Neoga; James E. Brant and wife Denise of Neoga, daughter Kathie J. West of Paris, IL., brothers Edgar Brant of Clarksville, MO; Rex Brant of Ft. Scott, Kansas and sisters, Mrs. Sharon Martin of Sarasota Fl., Mrs. Jenny Matteson of Charleston, Mrs. Betty Wilson of Homer, IL., Mrs. Nancy Johnson of Tipton, IL. Also surviving are two grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Mr. Brant was preceded in death by three brothers and 1 sister.
Mr. Brant retired from General Electric Co. of Mattoon after 25 years. He was also a former employee of Sherwin-Williams Co., he was the owner and operator of Brant's Trash service in Neoga for several years. Mr. Brant also served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
Memorial in Mr. Brant's name may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Dorothy B. Beals
Shelbyville
Mrs. Dorothy B. Beals, 72, of Shelbyville passed away on Tuesday, September 25 at 5:32 PM at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Services will take place at Swengel- O'Dell Funeral Home in Neoga with burial in Beals Cemetery in Neoga. The time of the service is 2:30 PM on Friday September 28 with visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday September 27th .Rev. Ron Lake officiating.
Mrs. Beals was born July 9, 1929 in Coles County to Clarence and Edith (White) White. She married Levi Franklin Beals on March 3, 1947 in Charleston, Ill. He passed away on October 8, 1971.
Surviving are sons David L. Beals and wife Georia of Bethany; Walter G. Beals and wife Mary of Henton daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Frances) Bolin of Bethany, Rosemary Beals of Henton, Mrs. Leon (Rosemarie) Rochat of Sullivan, Mrs. Scott (Shirley) Hopkins of Lakewood, Ill., brothers; Stanley White of Neoga, Jerry White of Texas, Larry White of Shumway, Ill.; George White of Montrose, Ill.; Terry White of Trilla, Ill.; sisters; Mrs. Norma Clinton of Mattoon,; Barbara Sanderson of Neoga; Mrs. Phyllis Hennon of Windsor; Mrs. Ruby Pearl Phillips of DeQuoin, Ill., Mrs. Kay Bueker of Toledo, Ill. and Mrs. Joyce Collins of Montrose, Ill. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother one sister and one grandson.
Mrs. Beals is was a former employee of Brown Shoe Co. of Sullivan and Continental Bond Co. of Shelbyville.
Memorials may be made in Mrs. Beals name to the donor's choice.
Daniel C. Miller
Findlay
Daniel C. Miller, 37, of Findlay died at 5:19 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25 in Shelby Memorial Hospital in Shelbyville.
Graveside services will be 4:00 p.m. in Findlay Cemetery, Findlay with Rev. Randy Miller officiating. There will be no visitation. Howe & Yockey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Daniel was born on January 5, 1964 in Dade County, FL, the son of George E. and Viola J. Collins Miller. He was a Marines Corps veteran. He married Sue Rincker Welton on September 23, 1992 in Shelbyville.
Surviving are his wife, Sue; son, Arthur of California; daughter, Brittany of Tennessee; stepchildren, Nicole and Justin Welton of Decatur; mother-in-law, Betty Giberson and husband Norman of Shelbyville; brother Tim Miller of Michigan and sister in California; sister-in-law, Jackie Schoby and husband Rick of Decatur; and niece, Kimberly Blomberg and husband Scott of Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Gaylord Rincker and two brothers.
Mary Smith
Decatur
(Formerly of Shelbyville)
Mary R. Smith, 82, of Decatur, formerly of Quincy and Shelbyville passed away at 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2001 in Imboden Living Center in Decatur.
Mrs. Smith was born on August 5, 1919 in Niantic, Illinois, the daughter of John and Mary Connaghan Hagen.
Mary owned and operated a beauty shop in Shelbyville for over 25 years. After moving to Quincy in 1972, Mary continued to operate a shop at Sunset Home. Mary moved back to Shelbyville after the death of her husband. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Shelbyville.
She married Melvin Smith on February 13, 1946 in Niantic and he passed away on December 22, 1983.
Surviving are her daughters, Pam Blickem and husband Ron of Sycamore, Illinois and Paula Boys and husband Bill of Decatur; grandchildren: Jill Lathrop and husband Ric of Oshkosh, WI; Emily Blicken of DeKalb, IL, John Blickem of DeKalb, Sarah Boys of Decatur and Laura Blicken of Sycamore; great grandchildren: Samuel and Nathaniel Lathrop of Oshkosh, WI; one sister Hilda Blankinship and husband Bob of Dallas, Texas; one brother James Hagen of Dallas, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Marjorie Graves and two brothers John Hagen and an infant brother.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Monday, December 3, in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Shelbyville. Father John Sohm will officiate. Visitation will be at 11:00 AM until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville.
Arrangements are by Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
Memorials can be made to Pathways to Independence, 2715 N. 27th St. in Decatur, Central Illinois Special Olympics 2044 Walnut Grove Ave. Decatur or to the National Hemophilia Foundation, Campaign for a Cure, New York City.
Her family would like to thank her extended family at Imboden Living Center and Dr. Marlon Muenes for their wonderful care and friendship.
Mary Louise Declerck
Moweaqua
Mary Louise Declerck, 76, of Moweaqua went to her eternal home at 8:25 PM on December 1, 2001 in St. Mary's Hospital.
Mass will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday in the St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church with Fr. Alan Hunter officiating.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday in Seitz Funeral Home in Moweaqua. Wake service will be at 8 PM on Tuesday.
Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Assumption.
Memorials may be made to St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church.
Mrs. Declerck was born on February 23, 1925 in Moweaqua, the daughter of John and Susan Smorado Herich.
She was a member of the St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society of the Church.
She married Phillip Declerck on October 28, 1949 in Macon, Illinois.
Surviving are her husband, her daughters, Diane and husband Paul Workman of Cerro Gordo and Mary Jo Robinson of Moweaqua. Also surviving are her grandchildren Dr. Aaron and wife Darlene Workman of Murphysboro, Amy and husband James Malone of Mt. Zion, Matthew Workman of Cerro Gordo.
Her brother Joseph Herich and wife Frances of Overland, MO also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John.
Mary had a great love of animals and nature. She will be sadly missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.
Clarence "Ray" Steele
Rowlett
Clarence Raymond "Ray" Steele, 58, of Rowlett, a loving husband and father, passed away on November 29, 2001. He was born on May 6, 1943 in Windsor to Joseph and Sadie (Leiby) Steele. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam.
Mr. Steele is survived by his wife, Darlene Steele; children Rhonda Sue Medina and husband Abel of Franklin, WI; James Richard Moore and wife Judy of Pueblo, CO; Daniel Everett Moore and wife Cheryl of Rowlett; Teresa Lynn Lancaster and husband Chris of Paris, Texas and Vincent Samuel Moore and wife Abby of Quinlan, Texas; mother Sadie Ellis Steele of Pana; grandchildren, Johnell Rae Arnett of Paris, Stevie Nicole Moore of Rowlett, Lindsay Rene Thoms and husband Bryan of San Diego, CA; Dillon Everett Moore of Rowlett, brothers and sister; William Oliver Steele of Pensacola, FL; Thomas Wayne Steele of Decatur; Patsy Mae Roberts of Pana; step-grandchildren: Doug, Greg, Geoffrey, David and Kala and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Oliver Steele, two brothers and a sister.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, December 2 at the Rest Haven Funeral Home Rowlett Chapel, with Dr. Aubrey Patterson officiating. Interment was in Rest Haven Memorial Park of Rockwall. The family received visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday at the funeral home.
Wayne Ponting Lowe
Moweaqua
Wayne Ponting Lowe, 74, of Moweaqua died at 3:55 AM on December 2, 2001 in St. Mary's Hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday in the Seitz Funeral Home in Moweaqua with Pastor Betty Mahaffey officiating with visitation from 5 to 8 PM on Monday evening.
Burial will be in Westside Cemetery with Full Military Honors by Moweaqua American Legion Post #370.
Memorials may be made to the Moweaqua North Park or Moweaqua Peace Meals.
Mr. Lowe was born in Moweaqua on February 2, 1927 the son of Wayne and Lois Adams Lowe.
He was a member of the 1st United Methodist Church in Moweaqua and the Moweaqua Masonic Lodge, the Springfield Consistory, Ansar Shrine in Springfield, American Legion Post 370, the Macon Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
He was a Veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. He was the former owner of the L & W Food Mart in Moweaqua for 28 years, he later retired from St. Mary's Hospital Security.
He married Evelyn 'Boots' Lowe in Moweaqua on July 4, 1948.
Surviving are his wife, his daughter Louise 'Pug' Lowe of Moweaqua, granddaughter Angela Althoff of Winter Park, Florida and his sister Sherry and husband John Wempen of Moweaqua.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
