SULLIVAN - Midge Farris, 72, of Sullivan, died at 9 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at her home.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan, with Pastor Dave Starr officiating.
Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
She was born Sept. 2, 1928, in Goreville, the daughter of Robert A. and Cora E. Foster Hudgens.
She married Don Farris in 1947; he died in 1990.
Surviving are three sons, Dave Farris of Arthur, and Doug and Rob Farris, both of Sullivan; one daughter, Nancy Giovanini of Pontiac; one sister, Augusta Voss of Melbourne, Fla.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one infant son.
Mrs. Farris was a former classified and circulation manager for the Moultrie County News (now News-Progress) and bookkeeper for Al's Toyville, both of Sullivan.
She was a former Girl Scout Troop No. 37 leader and former Water Safety chairwoman for Moultrie County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
She participated in organizing celebrations for Moultrie County's 125th anniversary and the county's Illinois Sesquicentennial in 1968.
Memorials may be made to Sullivan Fire and Ambulance Service or Faith Fellowship Church, Melbourne, Fla.
Rodney Gandy
PANA - Rodney M. Gandy, 61, of Pana, formerly of Effingham, died at 3:35 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at St. Vincent Hospital in Taylorville.
The funeral will be 3 p.m. Sunday at the Epperson Funeral Chapel in Mattoon with the Rev. Dan Morgan officiating.
Burial will be in Jewett Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral chapel.
He was born Nov. 20, 1939, in Clinton, the son of Fred and Golda Kingery Gandy.
Surviving are his mother, Golda Gandy of Pana, and two brothers, Jack and Bill Gandy, both of Pana.
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother.
Memorials may be made to donor's choice in care of Epperson Funeral Chapel.
Meriam Merimee
CHARLESTON, IL - Meriam A. Merimee, age 86 of Charleston, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2001 at Hammond-Lane Homes of Charleston.
Services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 19, with Father Chris Brey presiding.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, February 18.
Services and visitation will be held at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston.
Following the services, interment will be held in Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston.
Meriam was born July 4, 1914, in Mattoon, Illinois, the daughter of Jerome and Mabel (Fuller) Gass.
She married Owen Roger Merimee in February, 1933.
He preceded her in death December 25, 1981.
Survivors include two children, James P. Merimee and his wife Nell of West Lafayette, Indiana and Shirley A. Bell and her husband Vic of Chenoa, Illinois; five grandchildren, Trisha Merimee of Carlsbad, California, Cheryl Bryant of Bonner Springs, Kansas, Jay Bell and his wife Marci and Doug Bell, all of Chenoa and Dee Mallory and her husband Tim of Fairbury, Illinois; nine great-grandchildren; Nicole Behrens and Kayla Bryant of Bonner Springs, Stephanie Bell, Joshua Bell, Joey Bell, Kelli Bell and Sammy Bell, all of Chenoa and Morgan Mallory and Clay Mallory, both of Fairbury; one brother, Woodrow S. Gass and his wife Sara Lou of Mattoon, and three sisters, Nina Popham of Ft. Myers, Florida, Martha Stegemeier of Wilmington, Delaware and Patricia Norris and her husband Robert of Sarasota, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; three brothers, Paul Gass, Roy Gass and Donald Gass and one grandson, Gregory Bell.
Meriam was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Charleston, Women's Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 of Charleston and Ladies of the Elks - Charleston Lodge No. 623.
She retired as an Inspector from the Charleston Brown Shoe Company in 1979.
Meriam was a lady of many interests including antiquing, collecting, gardening, bowling and wintering in Florida.
Her friends always found her to be faithful and a friend who possessed a great sense of humor.
Her family will fondly remember her as an inspirational and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Meriam's family requests that memorials in honor of this special and unique person be made to Hospice of Lincolnland or Hammond-Lane Homes Activities Fund.
Memorials may be made during the visitation or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.
Sherry Neathery
PANA - Sherry Lynn Neathery, 43, of Pana, formerly of Bethany, died at 4:09 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) at Pana Community Hospital.
Visitation will be 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the McCraken-Dean Funeral Home in Pana.
No service is planned.
She was born Aug. 15, 1957, in Pana, the daughter of Gerald Lee and Sandra Lee McCain Cohan Sr.
Surviving are her mother and stepfather, Sandra and Roy Linn of Pana; one son, Steven Neathery of Pana; six brothers, Gerald Cohan Jr. and Mike Cohan, both of Sullivan, Joe and Jack Cohan, both of Bethany, Jeff Cohan of Arlington, Texas, and Rick Cohan of Arthur; and one sister, Debra Johnson of Pana.
She was preceded in death by her father and one son.
Memorials may be made to the Steven Neathery Education Fund c/o Scott State Bank, Bethany.
Doris Phillips
SULLIVAN - Doris B. Phillips, 75, of Sullivan, died at 11:43 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 15, 2001) in the Sullivan Health Care Center.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Phillips Catholic Church, Lake City, S.C.
There will be no local service.
Burial will be in Edgecombe Memorial Park Cemetery, Tarboro, N.C.
The Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan, is in charge of local arrangements.
She was born Dec. 15, 1925, in Red Springs, N.C., the daughter of Miles and Mary Ruth Blount Jordan.
She married Benjamin Franklin Phillips in 1964; he died in 1984.
Surviving are two daughters, Brenda Bassett of Sullivan and Edith Walters of Laurel Hill, N.C.; three sisters, Catherine Applewhite of Coward, S.C., Helen McDaniels of Bennetsville, S.C., and Maude Holoman of Hope Mills, N.C; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.
Memorials may be made to Catholic charities or the American Heart Association.
Esther Trout
CASEY - Esther Grace Trout, 91, of Casey, died at 6:20 a.m. Friday (Feb. 16, 2001) at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind.
The funeral will be 2:30 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Casey with the Rev. Tom Marsh officiating.
Burial will be in the Washington Street Cemetery, Casey.
Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the church.
The Markwell and Son Funeral Home, Casey, is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born March 31, 1909, in Martinsville, the daughter of Elmer and Nancy Ann Collier Rupp.
She married Kenneth Trout; he preceded her in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Jean Brussell and Marty Crouch, both of Casey; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers and six sisters.
Mrs. Trout was a retired store clerk at the Main Street Pharmacy in Casey, where she had worked for 24 years.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Casey.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Casey.
Anna Aschermann
ARTHUR - Anna M. Aschermann, 82, of Arthur, formerly of Lovington, died at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 14, 2001) in the Arthur Home, Arthur.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Lovington.
Burial will be in the Keller Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
She was born on Oct. 21, 1918, in Danville, the daughter of Douglas and Esther Stroud Kinkade.
She married Rondo Newberry in 1959; he died in 1987. She then married Donald Aschermann in 1991; he died in 1999.
Surviving are one son, William R. Mercer of Arthur; two daughters, Barbara Wallace of Arthur and Penny Abbott of Tolono; one stepdaughter, Rowena Newberry of The Colony, Texas; two brothers, Robert and Charles Kinkade, both of Lovington; one sister, Virginia Campenalla of Sylmar, Calif.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Aschermann was a member of the Lovington Christian Church and the Lovington American Legion Auxiliary.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation.
Marilyn Diepholz
Marilyn Joan Diepholz, age 66, of Mattoon, passed away at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2001, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services celebrating her life will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Schilling Funeral Home with the Reverend Barbara Short officiating.
Burial will be in the Dodge Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday morning at the funeral home.
Marilyn was born November 26, 1934, in Coles County, the daughter of Art and Irene Graham Swank.
Survivors include one son, Rodney Lee Diepholz of Mattoon; two daughters, Tammy Lyn Bennett and husband Mike of Bethany and Becky Ann Diepholz of Mattoon; a half-brother, J. Art Swank and wife Jana of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren, Lana Orsborn of Mattoon, Nicole Diepholz and Kevin Diepholz, both of Charleston, and Leah Carter and Hannah Carter, both of Mattoon; one great-granddaughter, Liberty Morgan Shupe of Mattoon; her aunt, Nellie Collinsworth of Mattoon; and two cousins, Jack Collinsworth and wife Madonna of Mattoon and Cindy Wrenn and husband George of Flat Rock, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Gary Lee Diepholz, and one sister, Judith Swank.
Mrs. Diepholz worked for Brown Shoe Company, General Electric, Anaconda Metal Hose as a welder, and retired as a teller in 1995 from First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust.
She was a member of the Marshall Avenue Christian Church, Women of the Moose, and was a former member of the Eagles Club.
Memorial gifts in her honor may be made to the American Lung Association.
Josephine Bull
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Josephine P. Bull, 63, of Valparaiso, Ind., formerly of Etna, died Saturday (Feb. 10, 2001).
The Bartholomew Funeral Home, Valparaiso, Ind., was in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Sept. 17, 1937, in Etna, the daughter of Olaf G. and Florence Turner Cole.
She married Harold Bull in 1971; he survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Donald and Ronald Bull of Valparaiso, Ind.; one daughter, Susan, also of Valparaiso, Ind.; and two brothers, Glenn "Bud" Cole of Mattoon and John Cole of Neoga.
She was preceded in death by two sisters.
Mrs. Bull was a member of the Washington Evangelical Free Church in Valparaiso.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Mary Dees
Mary Ruth Dees, of Springfield, formerly of Trilla, passed away at 8:50 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2001, at the Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield.
Funeral services celebrating her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Schilling Funeral Home in Mattoon with the Reverend Ed Stephens officiating.
Burial will be in the Beals Cemetery, east of Trilla.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.
Mary Ruth was born August 3, 1903, in Coles County, a daughter of William Franklin and Flora Elinor Laymon Beals.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include one daughter, Elinor Ruth Morgan and husband Gary of Springfield; three grandchildren, Cherianne Cameron and husband Allen of Urbana, Jeremy Morgan and wife Tricia of Portland, Oregon, and Christopher Morgan of Jacksonville; and one great-granddaughter, Sarah Grace Cameron of Urbana.
Mary Ruth was formerly active in breeding and raising Hereford cattle.
She was a member of the Neoga Christian Church and later attended the Toledo Methodist Church while residing in Toledo.
She was also a member of the Eastern Star and White Shrine.
