B. P. "Bernie" Weber, 77, of rural Lerna, passed away at 2:47 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, 1999, at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
The graveside funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning at the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Greg Sexton officiating. The funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the Broadway Christian Church with the Reverend William Stark officiating. Visitation was held from 3:00 p.m. until time of service Sunday afternoon at the Broadway Christian Church. The Schilling Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
The organist, Mrs. Lavonna Stroud, played "Shall We Gather At The River?", "In The Garden," "Rock Of Ages," "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder", and "Amazing Grace."
The pallbearers were James Abbott, Mike Abbott, Randy Jones, Dennis Cisna, James Richter, and James Fleshner.
B. P. was born in Coles County on June 9, 1922, a son of Joseph P. and Pearl Edith Louthan Weber. He married Joan E. Sampson on February 15, 1947. Survivors include his wife, Joan E. Weber of rural Lerna; one son, Steven D. Weber and wife Kathleen "Kate" of Ipswich, England; one daughter, Karen Sue Michalski and husband Michael of Zionsville, Indiana; one brother, Joseph Peter Weber Jr. and wife Uldine of Bradenton, Florida; one sister, Virginia Dolce and husband Emil of Mattoon; four grandchildren, Sara L. Weber and Ellen M. Weber, both of Ipswich, England, and Paul D. Michalski and Scott J. Michalski, both of Zionsville, Indiana.
Mr. Weber worked for Blaw Knox, retiring in 1987, following twenty-five years of service.
Ruby Akers
Ruby M. Akers, 77, of Mattoon, passed away at 10:30 p.m. Friday, December 24, 1999, at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation Center in Mattoon.
The funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the Schilling Funeral Home with the Reverend Henry Graham officiating. Burial will be in the Humboldt Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.
Ruby was born in Jasper County on February 2, 1922, the daughter of Edward and Florence Griffith Swick. She married Robert Donald "Shorty" Akers Sr. on February 7, 1942. He preceded her in death on August 7, 1987. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Othel Swick, and by an infant sister.
Survivors include three sons, Robert Donald Akers Jr., and wife Sue of Mt. Morris, William Terry Akers and wife Donna of Oakland, and Stephen Gene Akers of Arcola; one daughter, Judith Louise "Judy" Rohr of Trilla; two brothers, Hershel Swick and wife Carol of Trilla and Carl Swick of Neoga; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Akers was a homemaker.
Dorothy Briggerman
NEOGA - Dorothy M. Briggerman, 71, of Neoga, died at 5:15 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 23, 1999) at Lakeland Health Care Center, Effingham.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga, with the Rev. Michael Kesling and the Rev. Glenn Baker officiating. Burial will be in Neoga Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
She was born Dec. 18, 1928, in Coles County, the daughter of Pearl O. and Opal G. Walden Baker. She married Luther F. Briggerman in 1967. He died in 1978.
Surviving are three brothers, Frank Baker of Decatur, Charles Baker of Neoga, and Warren Baker of Buckner, Mo.; one sister, Mrs. William (Betty) Woods of Penrose, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Mrs. Briggerman was a retired seamstress with Kern Manufacturing Company, Neoga. She was a member of the Gaskill United Methodist Church, and a 34 year member of the Neoga American Legion Auxiliary.
Memorials may be made to the Gaskill United Methodist Church, Shelby County.
Kathryn Rose Cook
ARCOLA - Kathryn Rose Cook, 89, of Arcola, IL passed away at 4:56 p.m. Saturday, December 25, 1999 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 28, 1999 at the Edwards Funeral Home 221 E. Main St. Arcola, IL. Rev. Patricia Jones will officiate and burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, December 27, 1999 at the funeral home.
Mrs. Cook was born January 16, 1910 in rural Chesterville, IL, a daughter of Burt and Emma (Kinder) Rollings. She married Raymond Lester Cook on April 20, 1930 in Dorans, IL. He passed away May 4, 1959.
She is survived by one son, Raymond Lee Cook and his wife Sue of Arcola, IL; one daughter, Janet Oakes of Oakland, CA; five grandchildren, David Cook and his wife Lisa of Louisville, KY, Larry Cook and his wife Diane of Lincoln, IL, Bryan Cook and his wife Shani of Gulf Stream, FL, Stephanie Oakes of San Francisco, CA, and Steven Oakes of Oakland, CA; seven great-grandchildren, Bret Paulus and Kendall Paulus, Maxwell Cook, William Cook, Adam Cook, Jamie Cook and Wyatt Cook; one brother, Max Rollings and his wife Lorene of Peoria, IL; one sister-in-law, Thena Rollings of Arcola, IL; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, three sisters, Ione Stevens, Orpha Covey, Modesta Gilbert, and two brothers, John and William Rollings.
Kathryn was a member of the First Christian Church of Arcola where she belonged to the Christian Womens Fellowship Club. In 1974 she retired from Collegiate Cap & Gown after 25 years of service. Kathryn was an avid book reader and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Memorials may be made to the Arcola Public Library, for the building fund or for books.
Flo Laura Cox
HINDSBORO - Flo Laura Cox, 97, of Hindsboro, passed away at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, December 26, 1999 at Boxwood Nursing Home in Newman, IL.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 28, 1999 at the Mullen Cemetery in Montrose, IL. Rev. Robert Lee will officiate. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 1999 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main, Arcola, IL.
Mrs. Cox was born on January 17, 1902, in Cumberland County, IL, a daughter of John Sherman and Nettie Hendrix Teets. She married Orville George Cox on November 18, 1922 in Effingham. He passed away on September 20, 1967.
She is survived by one son, Pearl Cox and his wife Kay of Oakland, IL; one daughter, Pauline Cox of Hindsboro, IL; one sister, Hallie Kingery of Rantoul, IL; four grandchildren, Fred Cox of Kansas, IL, Steve Cox and his wife Linda of Oakland, IL, Jerry Cox and his wife Chris of Oakland, IL, and Janna Woodard and her husband James of Oakland, IL; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one son Virgil, two brothers, Ernest and Joe, one sister Ruby Chernick, and one granddaughter Darla Cox.
Flo was a member of the Woodbury Methodist Church in Cumberland County. She was a homemaker and enjoyed quilting, gardening and spending time with her family especially her grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Antioch Baptist Church or to the Hindsboro Christian Church.
Ralph E. Davis
Ralph E. Davis, 75, of Edinburg, formerly of Windsor, died at 2:55 a.m. Sunday (December 26, 1999) in St. Vincent's Hospital, Taylorville.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday in the Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in the Windsor Cemetery.
He was born November 10, 1924 in Shelby Co., IL the son of John and Florence Spencer Davis.
He was a retired farmer and formerly operated the Case Implement, Ford automobile agency, Western Auto and the V & S Variety Store all in Windsor.
Surviving are son Darrel Davis and wife Debbie of Windsor; daughters Karolyn Davis of Shamrock, OK, Joan White and husband Ron of Decatur, Rose Mulligan and husband Mike of Oreana and Darlene Jent of Decatur; brothers Dan Davis of Casey and Paul Davis of Gibson City; sisters Beulah Williams of Gibson City and Ruby Cameron of Windsor; eleven grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren and very special friend Wanda Robison of Edinburg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
Memorials may be made to the Windsor High School sports program.
Juanita Fairchild
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - Juanita B. Fairchild, 83, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Friday (Dec. 24, 1999) at the Fayetteville City Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. The Nelson Funeral Home, Fayetteville, Ark., is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Jan. 8, 1916, in Mattoon, the daughter of Vernon and Marguerite Buchanan Brown. She married Dr. Robert S. Fairchild Sr. He survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Robert S. Fairchild Jr., of Tennessee and William Vernon Fairchild, MD of Fayetteville, Ark.; two daughters, Kathryn M. Fairchild of Fayetteville, Ark., and Anna Fairchild Heath of Blytheville, Ark.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Fairchild was Emeritus Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Arkansas, retiring in 1982. She was an officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp where she taught at the Officers Candidate School during the early years of WW II.
Drusilla Herschberger
ARTHUR - Drusilla Herschberger, 97, of Arthur, died at 4:40 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 25, 1999) at her home.
The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Jake Miller residence. Friends may call anytime prior to the service. Burial will be in Yoder Cemetery, Arthur. McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Arthur, is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Jan. 13, 1902, in Arthur, the daughter of Benjamin C. and Mary Yoder Yoder. She married Annanias B. Herschberger in 1928. He survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Henry Herschberger of Middlebury, Ind., David Herschberger of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada, Ura Herschberger of Arthur, and Omer Ray Herschberger of Niles, Mich.; two daughters, Mrs. Levi (Laura) Diener of Arcola and Mrs. Jacob (Fannie Mae) Helmuth of Lovington; one half brother, Walter Yoder of Arthur; one half sister, Lena Plank of Arthur; 23 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, three brothers, and two sisters.
Mrs. Herschberger was a member of the Old Order Amish Faith.
Carrye Hutcherson
MATTOON - Carrye Hutcherson, 66, of Mattoon, died at 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 26, 1999) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Arrangements are pending at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home.
