ARCOLA, Illinois - Evelyn Mae Knaus, 80, of Arcola,
died at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001 at the Odd
Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Sept.
7, 2001 at the Arcola United Methodist Church, 121 S.
Locust Street, Arcola, with Rev. Margaret Misal as
officiant. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at
Shrader Funeral Home, 204 N. Locust in Arcola.
Mrs. Knaus was born April 29, 1921, in East St. Louis,
a daughter of Norman and Mae Vandeventer Hampton,
Sr. She married Roy W. Knaus on Sept. 6, 1941; he
preceded her in death on Dec. 17, 1985.
Survivors include 2 sons, John Gary Knaus and friend
Kathy Daugherty of Illiopolis; Mark Knaus and wife
Sharon of Effingham; 1 brother, Norman F. Hampton,
Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri; 5 Grandchildren, Kim
Thompson, Trisha Miller, Joshua, Jeromy, and Kylie
Knaus. She was preceded in death by 2 sons and 1
brother.
Mrs. Knaus graduated from Mattoon High School in
1939. She was a homemaker and did catering for
church affairs and weddings. She was a member of the
TOPS Club in Humboldt and the Arcola United
Methodist Church.
Memorials are suggested to the Arcola United Methodist
Church.
Jack Redman Newgent
August 31, 1917 - September 3, 2001
The son of Henry Shelby Newgent and Rena Redman
Newgent.
The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul's
United Methodist Church. Visitation will be one hour
prior to the service at the Church. Memorials may be
made to Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation, 4676 N.
Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL 32935
Born in Mattoon, IL, on August 31, 1917, Jack "Pop"
Newgent passed away September 3, 2001. Jack and
Martha Newgent moved to Melbourne in 1941 after
Jack graduated from college and accepted a job
teaching Math, Industrial Arts and Mechanical Drawing
at Melbourne High School Newgent also taught the first
Driver's Education course in the state of Florida. During
these early years at Mel-Hi, Newgent made and tested
the first pair of water skis in the area. The skis were
made of barrel slats and tested in the then one large lake
at Wells Park. He also served in the volunteer Coast
Guard patrolling the Indian River during World War II.
All boats on the Intercoastal Waterway where stopped
and inspected for illegal cargo.
Soon after arriving and hearing numerous complaints
that there was no place in town to pass the time and
hang out, Newgent decided to provide a spot. He named
his "spot" Pop's Casbah. The name came partly from a
comic strip, "Penny Pringle" in Jacksonville's
Times-Union. There was a Casbah in the strip and
Newgent was nicknamed Pop when his students found
out he was going to be a father. Overnight, the then ice
cream and sandwich shop became the town's most
popular hangout. More than 50 years later, Pop's
Casbah at 2005 Waverly Place is still one of
Melbourne's best known restaurants. The restaurant was
sold in the early 50s to Newgent's cousin John Cassady
and is presently owned and operated by the Reese
family.
After selling the Casbah, Newgent went to work for the
Brevard County School Board as coordinator of a
veterans training program. Newgent himself was an
Army Air Corps veteran, stationed as a flight instructor
in Laredo, TX. During this time he also had a dance
band that played at Friday night dances all over
Brevard. They were known as "Newgent's Nuggets,
Eight Bars of Golden Rhythm." A year after Newgent
sold the Casbah he went to work at Patrick Air force
Base as a Civil Engineer overseeing all contracts at the
base. He later retired from Patrick as Chief of the Civil
Engineering Department.
Over the years he was a long standing member of the
Melbourne Rotary Club, past President of The Society
of Military Engineers, past President of The Rolling
Sams Camping Club, and a member of the governing
board of St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha, and
three children: daughter Joyce Thorsby of Oklahoma,
son Steve and wife Carol Newgent of Kissimmee and
daughter Dee and husband John Clayton of Indian
Harbour Beach. Grandchildren are Chuck Burley, Alan
Burley, Angela Jones, Stacey Newgent-Reid, Carla
Bronson, Steve Newgent Jr., Henry Newgent II, Jayson
Clayton, Kyle Clayton, Desiree Clayton, and Cassady
Clayton. Great grandchildren are Samantha White,
Reston Bronson, SeBelle Bronson, Trystan Jones,
Tanner Jones, Henry Newgent Ill, Hailey Newgent, and
Landry Newgent.
To sum up life in Jack's own words, "Any day you get
up and breath is a beautiful day."
Oral Vance
HUMBOLDT - Oral MoLee Vance, 88, of Humboldt,
died at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at the
Convalescent Care Center in Mattoon.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Shrader
Funeral Home, Arcola, with the Rev. Jack Woods
officiating. Burial will be in the Humboldt Cemetery.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral
home.
She was born Nov. 30, 1912, in Coles County, the
daughter of Rufus and Ida Jenkins Bennett. She
married John Vance in 1931; he died in 1976.
Survivors include two sons, Dale and Fred Vance, both
of Humboldt; one brother, Willis Bennett of Humboldt;
one sister, Nell Ruetz of Kankakee; two grandchildren;
three great-grandchildren; and one
great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, two
brothers and one sister.
Mrs. Vance was a homemaker. She was a member of
the Humboldt Rebekah Lodge and the TOPS Club of
Humboldt.
Barbara Burge
LOVINGTON - Barbara Jean Burge, 67, of Lovington,
died 11:15 p.m. Monday (September 3, 2001) in St.
Mary's Hospital, Decatur.
Graveside funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m.
Friday in Keller Cemetery, Lovington with Rev. Kevin
Ray officiating. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. Thursday in
Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan. Memorials are suggested
to the Lovington First Christian Church.
Barbara was born May 14, 1934, in Atwood the
daughter of Thomas R. and Fannie E. Black Livengood.
She was a homemaker, a member of the Lovington
First Christian Church and the Lovington American
Legion Auxiliary. She married William H. Burge on
August 30, 1958 in Lovington and he preceded her in
death on December 8, 1997.
Surviving are her son: Frederick L. Mossbarger of
Champaign; daughters, Gaile Booker of Sullivan, Linda
K. Curran and Mrs. Dennis (Connie M.) Fedie both of
Lovington; grandchildren, Rhonda Lea West , April
Michelle Curran, Christopher William Curran, Bobbi
Lea Askins, Joshua Paul Fedie, Andrew Scott Askins,
Brian Dean Booker; great-grandchildren, Owen Patrick
West, Karsyn Nicole West, Kaylea Michelle Curran.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and
two sisters.
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 11:00 a. m. Friday in the
Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor with Rev.
Richard Eldent officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00
to 8:00 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 American Brain Tumor
Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL
60018-4110.
He was born April 23, 1938 in St. Louis, MO the son of
Noel and June Shafer Goodwin. He is presently serving
as the mayor of Gays, president of the Moultrie Co.
Water Board, one of the founding father's of the Gays
Fire Department serving as a volunteer fireman for 38
years, past member of the Windsor School Board for 13
years, former board member of the Windsor-Gays
Ambulance Service and attended the Windsor Christian
Church.
He was instrumental in bringing water from Moultrie
Co. to Gays. He was employed as an engineer for
Blaw-Knox for 44 years. He was the 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 of Shelbyville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother
and step-father Howard Greer.
James Hampton
WABASH, Ind. - James LeRoy Hampton, 64, of
Wabash, Ind., formerly of Charleston, died at 9:16 p.m.
Friday (Aug. 31, 2001) at Wabash County Hospital.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. today at the
Gradstaff-Hetgen Manchester Avenue Chapel, Wabash,
Ind. Burial will be in the Marion National Cemetery,
Marion, Ind.
He was born Jan. 26, 1937, in Charleston. He married
Glenna Sparks in 1961; she survives.
Other survivors include two sons, James Hampton of
Wabash, Ind., and William Hampton of Akron, Ind.;
three daughters, Christine Sprague of Fort Wayne, Ind.,
and Tanya and Cathi Hampton, both of Wabash, Ind.;
three brothers, Wayne and William Hampton, both of
Charleston, and Clinton Hampton of Yoder, Ind.; 10
grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Hampton retired from the U.S. National Guard and
was in the Air Force for 12 years.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer
Society.
Claudine Martin
CASEY - Claudine Beatrice Martin, 93, of Casey, died
at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2001) at Heartland Manor
Nursing Center in Casey.
The funeral will be noon Friday at the Markwell
Funeral Home, Casey, with the Rev. Dick Chapman
officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, Yale.
Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the
funeral home.
She was born April 4, 1908, in Charleston, the daughter
of Oakley Madison and Ollie Brooks Hopkins. She
married Virgil Martin in 1929; he died in 1981.
Survivors include one daughter, Roberta Ashley of
Casey; four grandchildren; and seven
great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two sons.
Mrs. Martin was a cook at the Casey High School for
more than 20 years, and had also worked at the Casey
Shoe Factory and as an aide at the Casey Nursing
Home. She was a member of the New Hope
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of
the Areta Chapter 79 Order of Eastern Star, Casey,
White Shrine and the Casey Senior Citizens Kazoo
Band.
Memorials may be made to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Children's Home.
B. Lee Ramsey
OMAHA, Ill. - B. Lee Ramsey, 67, of Omaha, Ill., died
at 5 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 2, 2001) at M.D. Anderson
Hospital in Houston.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Cox
Funeral Home in Ridgway, Ill. Burial will be in the Old
Cottonwood Cemetery near Ridgway. Visitation will be
4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
He was born Nov. 1, 1933, in Ridgway, the son of Jess
and Pearl Rister Ramsey.
Survivors include his wife, Colleen Ramsey; two sons,
Barry Ramsey of Champaign and Russell Ramsey of
Ridgway; one brother, Dr. Charles Ramsey of
Charleston; three sisters, Wilma Harrington of Ridgway,
Genevieve Hutchison of Omaha, Ill., and Lola Stoer of
Cuba, Mo.; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Ramsey was a farmer and an Army veteran of the
Korean conflict. He was a member of the New Hope
General Baptist Church in rural Ridgway, the
Barbershoppers and member of various farm
organizations.
GLENNA CURTNER
Glenna Frances Curtner, age 59, of Mattoon, passed
away at 5:10 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2001, at the
Carle Foundation Hospital.
Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday
morning at the Schilling Funeral Home with the
Reverend Ed Stephens officiating. Burial will be in the
Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from
5:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
Glenna was born February 27, 1942 in Coles County a
daughter of Glen W. and Sarah F. Bailey Plummer. She
married William E. "Bill" Curtner on June 14, 1958. He
survives.
Other survivors include one son, Troy A. Curtner of
Mattoon; one daughter, Toni White and husband
George of Montrose; her father, Glen W. Plummer of
Mattoon; one granddaughter, Stephanie L. Curtner of
Terre Haute, Indiana; five brothers, Richard Plummer
and wife Glenda of Trowbridge, Gerald Plummer and
wife Judy of Pacific, Missouri, Bob Plummer and wife
Nancy of Mattoon, Glen Plummer and wife Patty of
Martinsville, and Kevin Plummer and wife Sheri of
Charleston; and four sisters, Sheryl Brown of Rantoul,
Jeanne Farris and husband Charles "Chuck" of Rantoul,
Gayle Golden and husband Pink of Effingham, and
Anna King and husband Reverend Bill King of
Burlington, Iowa; and special friend, Gayla Haskamp
and family.
She was preceded in death by her mother, one brother,
John Plummer and one infant brother and one infant
sister.
Mrs. Curtner retired from General Electric in 1999 after
thirty two years. She attended Buck Grove Community
Church.
Memorial gifts may be made to American Cancer
Society or to the Buck Grove Community Church.
JANICE WAGNER
Janice Kay "Jan" Wagner, age 60, of Mattoon, passed
away at 10:10 p.m. on Sunday, September 2, 2001, at
Douglas Care and Rehabilitation.
Funeral services celebrating her life will begin at 1:30
p.m. on Friday at the Schilling Funeral Home with the
Reverend Kenneth Pate officiating. Burial will be in the
Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from
noon until time of service Friday at the funeral home.
Jan was born December 6, 1940, in Mattoon, a daughter
of E. B. and Mary Maxine Cheever Kibler. She married
Robert E. Wagner on November 25, 1971. He survives.
Other survivors include two nephews, Brit H. Zachow
and Kirt H. Zachow, both of Mattoon; three nieces, Joli
A. Lovingood of Elk Ridge, Maryland, Amy A. Rerrick
of Linthicum Hts., Maryland, and Lora A. Zachow of
Elk Ridge, Maryland.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Jo Ann
Zachow.
Mrs. Wagner was the owner/operator of the Kibler's
Variety Shop.
