CLARKSVILLE - Mack E. Findley, 91, of Clarksville died at 12:15 a.m.
Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at Burnsides Nursing Home, Marshall.
A graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Clarksville Cemetery
with the Rev. R.L. Norris officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the
American Legion Post 90 and VFW Post 5975. Visitation will be 4 to 8
p.m. today at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Chapel, West Union, and from 7
a.m. until service time Wednesday.
He was born May 29, 1910, in Clark County, the son of Edward and Eva
Hornbrook Findley. He married Catherine Millhouse in 1935; she survives.
Mr. Findley was retired from the Clark County clerk's office where he had
served a number of years as deputy county clerk. He served 30 years in the
Navy and earned the rank of lieutenant JG. He was a member of the Clark
County American Legion Post 90, Marshall.
Reba Jones
DANVILLE - Reba Gates Jones, 87, of Danville, formerly of Martinsville,
died at 2:15 a.m. Monday (Oct. 29, 2001) at the Danville Care Center.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Greenwell Funeral Home,
Martinsville, with the Rev. Gene Southard and the Rev. Art Orndorff
officiating. Burial will be in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Martinsville. Visitation
will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
She was born Aug. 24, 1914, in Martinsville, the daughter of Bert
VanHouten and Stella Johnson VanHouten. She married Ralph Gates in
1932; he died in 1964. She married Bob Jones in 1977; he died in 1988.
Survivors include three sons, Robert "Bob" Gates of Martinsville, Larry
Gates of Tangier and Ralph Gates of Danville; two daughters, Leona
Williams of Longview, Texas, and Shirley Lindsley of Danville; one sister,
Linda Owens of Logansport, Ind.; 20 grandchildren; 42
great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, two brothers, one grandchild
and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Jones was a homemaker and member of the Ridgeview Baptist
Church, Danville.
Alma McNeel
DENVER - Alma Dean McNeel, 86, of Denver, formerly of Charleston,
died at 6:50 a.m. Monday (Oct. 29, 2001) at the Autumn Heights Health
Care Center, Denver.
A private family graveside service will be conducted at Fort Logan National
Cemetery at a later date. The Ollinger Funeral Home in Lakewood, Colo.,
is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Oct. 25, 1915, in Coles County, the daughter of William and
Eva Ferguson McNamer. She married Ben F. McNeel; he preceded her in
death.
Survivors include two sons, David McNeel of Dallas and Larry McNeel of
Phoenix; two daughters, Karen J. Eschweiler and Berta Sue Oakley, both
of Lakewood, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and four
great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, two sisters and one
grandchild.
Gerald Gilbert Nichols
Gerald Gilbert Nichols, 79, of Mattoon died at 7:10 P.M. Saturday at his
residence.
Funeral services celebrating his live will be held at 10 A.M. today at the
Epperson Funeral Chapel with Rev. Ronald Dickinson officiating. Burial
will be in Zion Hill Cemetery with Full Military Rites by the Mattoon VFW
#4325. Visitation was conducted Monday evening at the funeral chapel.
Gerald was born Sept. 16 1922. He was the son of Ira Lee and Violet Okal
(Gosnell) Nichols. He married Dee Harris Dec. 12, 1946 in Newton, IL.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dee Nichols of Mattoon; one
daughter, Judy Wallace and her husband Harold of Humboldt; four sons,
Gary Nichols and his wife Sharon, Rick Nichols, Larry Nichols and his wife
Connie, and Tim Nichols all of Mattoon. One brother, Don Nichols and his
wife Kathleen of Newton. One sister, Mary Webb of Newton. Ten
Grandchildren, Annette Willard and husbands Terry, Yvette Runner and
fiancee Allen Rickelman, Tony Nichols and wife Lisa, Maureen Nichols,
Angie Niebrugge and husband Kent of Teutopolis, Kristin Daniels and
husband Nick of Edwardsville, Brie Nichols, Laney Nichols, Alex Nichols
all of Mattoon, Kasey Nichols of Bethany. Three Great Grandchildren,
Austin, A.J., and Ivy Nichols all of Mattoon. Three nieces and two
Nephews also survive.
Three sons, Lee, Mike, and Randy Nichols; one Grandson, George Michael
Runner; two brothers; and his parents preceded him in death.
Gerald worked for the Street Dept. for the City of Mattoon for ten years
where he retired in 1987. Gerald was a WW II veteran. He earned the
Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Ribbon, W/2 Bronze Star, American
Theatre Campaign Ribbon, two overseas Service Bars, Victory Ribbons,
Philippines Liberation Ribbon, W/2 Bronze Stars. He retired at the Rank of
Staff Sergeant in 1946.
Gerald was a member of the Mattoon Eagles Club, the VFW of Mattoon,
and the Mattoon American Legion. He was also a former member of the
Mattoon Moose Lodge 803. Gerald spent many hours volunteering for the
American Legion's Heart Fund and the Eagles Cancer benefits, where he
became Eagle of the Year. He delivered Meals on Wheels. He had a great
love for volunteering his time to help others. Gerald was a good husband
and a loving father. He was a man with many friends. In all, Gerald had a
great love for his family and life. Memorials may be made to the
Lincolnland Hospice or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Mrs. Emily M. Rentfrow
NEOGA, Ill. - Mrs. Emily M. Rentfrow, 82, of Neoga, Ill., died at 1:30
p.m. Monday, (Oct. 29, 2001) at Lakeland Health Care Center, Effingham,
Ill.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Mary of the Assumption
Church in Neoga, with Father Robert DeGrand of Sigel and Sr. Pat Theis
of Neoga officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery in Sigel, Ill.
Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. with a wake service starting at 7 p.m. today at
the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, Neoga.
She was born June 7, 1919, in Cumberland, County, a daughter of John T.
and Cecilia M. (Kleiss) Walk. She married Roland Rentfrow on Dec. 2,
1939, in Neoga, Ill.; he survives.
Other survivors include sons, Roland D. "Ronnie" Rentfrow and wife
Marilyn of Neoga, Ill., Robert E. Rentfrow of Jacksonville, Ill., and John
Rentfrow and wife Laura of Shelbyville, Ill.; daughter, Diane Ballinger and
husband Danny of Neoga, Ill.; sisters, Mrs. Edith Sudkamp of rural Sigel,
Ill. and Mrs. Thelma Mette of Effingham, Ill.; step-sister, Mrs. Juanita
Vonderhide of Teutopolis, Ill.; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and
one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by one sister, one step brother, three half
brothers, one half sister and one grandson.
Mrs. Rentfrow was a housewife and homemaker. She was a member of St.
Mary of the Assumption Church of Neoga, Ill., the Ladies Council and St.
Mary of the Assumption Church of Neoga, Ill.
Memorials may be made to donor's choice.
Alma Brown
Alma Elizabeth Rebecca Brown, 95, of Arcola, IL passed away at 4:30
a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001 at the Arcola Health Care Center in
Arcola, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at
the Edwards Funeral Home 221 E. Main St., Arcola, IL. Rev. Robert Clark
will officiate. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be from
5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, October 29, 2001 at the funeral home.
Alma was born April 11, 1906 in Champaign, IL. She was a daughter of
John F. and Mary (Schroeder) Nofftz. She married Fred Herschel Brown
on September 6, 1925 in Champaign, IL. He passed away May 1, 1973.
Survivors include: 1 Son: Donald Brown and his wife Sue (Massey) of
Ozark, MO; 2 Daughters: Eleanor Bright of Arcola, IL, Edith Edwards and
her husband Kenneth of Arcola, IL; 10 grandchildren: Roger Bright and his
wife Johnetta of Arcola, IL, Stephen Bright and his wife Paula of Mattoon,
IL, Paul Bright and Michelle of Arcola, IL, Janis Marie Walk and her
husband Steve of Mattoon, IL, James M. Logan and his wife Carol of
Camargo, IL, Jack L. Logan and his wife Linda of Arcola, IL, John W.
Edwards of Tucson, AZ, Brenda Brown of Ozark, MO, Karen Singer of
Springfield, MO, David Massey-Brown and his wife Lisa of Springfield,
MO; 2 step-grandchildren: Barbara Ann Stenger and her husband Boyd of
Tuscola, IL, Donald Edwards and his wife Jeannete of Newman, IL; 21
great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Fred; 1 grandchild
Christopher Robin Brown; 7 sisters Opal Keene, Marie Kurtzweg, Helen
Ennis, Elsie Sinder, Wilhemena Fredericka Caroline Nofftz, Augusta Nofftz
and Florence Nofftz and 2 brothers Clarence Nofftz and Howard Nofftz.
Alma was a member of the First Christian Church of Arcola and very active
with Arcola Senior Citizens. She was also on the Democratic Women
Committee.
Alma and her husband Fred came to Arcola in the 40's and they operated
Brown's Cafe for which she was the office manager. She also managed
Brown's Apartments for many years.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Arcola.
Richard Davis
Richard W. Davis, 76, of Mattoon, IL passed away at 7:55 a.m. Saturday,
October 27, 2001 at his residence in Mattoon, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at the
Mattoon First General Baptist Church, 708 S. 9th St., Mattoon. Rev.
Steven Gray and Rev. David Edwards will officiate. Burial will be in
Resthaven Memorial Gardens of Mattoon. Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00
p.m. Monday, October 29, 2001 at the church. Edwards Funeral Home
221 E. Main St., Arcola, IL is in charge of arrangements.
Richard was born July 4, 1925 at Coles Station. He was a son of Cyrus
Alvin and Lillian Deliah (Perry) Davis. He married Wilma Florence Cole on
October 25, 1942 in St. Louis, MO.
Survivors include Wife: Wilma Davis of Mattoon, IL; 5 Children: Sue
Bryant and her husband Grady of Ooltewah, TN, Richard Davis Jr. and his
wife Lori of Mattoon, IL, Barbara Gordon and her husband Mike of
Mattoon, IL, Mary Anne Moulton of Batavia, IL, Willa Kay Davis of
Springfield, IL; 14 Grandchildren: David Edwards, Rhonda Brown, Brenda
Edwards, Greg Bryant, Pam Carver, John Paul Davis, Bernard Bradley
Davis, Dan Gordon, Mike Gordon, Joshua Gordon, Jody Moulton, Corey
Moulton, Bethany Nicole and Whitney Kathleen Roy; 16
Great-Grandchildren: Elizabeth Edwards, Kelly Edwards, Matthew
Edwards, Emily Edwards, James Stevens, Alisha Stevens and Christine
Stevens, Brook MIller, Cody Allen, Mikie Gordon, Courtney Gordon,
Kanen Byard, Marisa Gordon, Curtis Gordon, Marla Gordon, Haley
Moulton; 1 Brother: Franklin Davis of Mattoon, IL; 3 Sisters: Charlotte
Louthan of Mattoon, IL, Helen Lilly of Sullivan, IL, Marilyn Brown of
Umah, AZ.
His parents and two grandsons Richard Davis 3rd and John Christopher
Gordon preceded him in death.
Richard was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Mattoon and
he retired from Young Radiator.
Flora Fidler
CHARLESTON - Flora Greer "Bobbie" Fidler, 95, of Charleston, passed
away at 9:55 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001 at the Hilltop Convalescent
Center.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 2, 2001
at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home with Reverend John Fidler
officiating. Interment will be Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. at Roselawn
Cemetery, Charleston. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday
evening at the funeral home.
Flora was born January 2, 1906 in Hutton Township, daughter of James
and Josephine Rennels Mitchell. She married Reign Scoville Fidler,
September 4, 1926 in Effingham, he died in 1969. Survivors include: a
daughter-in-law: Marcia Fidler Brown; grandsons: James Fidler, John Fidler
(wife Wendy); great-grandsons: Joseph Fidler and Christopher Fidler; all of
Springfield. Nephew: Joel Mitchell of Jacksonville, FL; cousins: Genevieve
Rennels and Morris Rennels, both of Charleston also survive. She was
preceded in death by her son: Bill Fidler, two brothers, and three sisters.
Mrs. Fidler was crowned the first "Miss Charleston" in 1925. She was a
homemaker and member of First Presbyterian Church.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Charleston.
Vivian Laue
MATTOON - Vivian Laue, 86, of Mattoon, died at 12:18 p.m. Sunday
(Oct. 28, 2001) at the Douglas Health Care Center.
Arrangements are pending at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home.
Mabel Morgan
Mabel Bernice (Smith) Morgan, 89, of Mattoon, formerly of Trilla and
Windsor, passed away at 8:10 a.m. on Sunday, October 28, 2001 at the
Mattoon Health Care Center in Mattoon.
Mabel was born March 29, 1912, in Shelby County, IL, the daughter of
William Henry and Georgia Anna Brown Smith.
She married Wm. Roy "Red" Morgan March 12, 1943 in St. Charles, MO.
Roy passed away February 6, 1992.
Mabel was a retired school teacher. She taught ten years in one room
country schools in Shelby County and seventeen years in the Neoga
Community School District, teaching at Pioneer. She was a member of the
Retired Teachers Association and the Neoga American Legion Auxiliary.
She attended the Trilla Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Trilla and had
been a member of the Calendar Club.
Mabel is survived by one daughter Barbara Buckley and her husband
Walter of Mattoon. Two sons, John Morgan and his wife Martha of
Rockville, IN and Carl Morgan and his wife Pat of Florissant, MO. Three
Grandchildren Penny Davies and her husband Jeff of Bloomingdale, IN,
Michael Morgan of Bloomingdale, IN and Alyssa Morgan of Florissant,
MO. One Great Grandchild Amber Davies of Bloomingdale, IN. One
Brother Capt. Ralph Smith of Wesley Chapel, FL and many nieces and
nephews.
Five brothers and Five Sisters preceded her in death.
Services for Mabel will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday October 30, 2001 at
the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home in Neoga with Rev. William L. Rolman
Jr. of Trilla officiating.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29, 2001 at
the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home. And also one hour before the Funeral
Service. Burial will be in the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens of Mattoon.
Memorials may be made to the new Neoga Middle School Library.
