BETHANY - Geraldine Woolridge, 76, of Bethany, died at 8:56 a.m. Friday (Nov. 2, 2001) at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the McMullin-Young Funeral Home, Sullivan. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Moultrie County Memorial Park, Bethany.
She was born April 7, 1925, in Shelby County, the daughter of Roy and Lauful Gerard Denier. She married Cecil Woolridge Sr. in 1950; he died in 1998.
Survivors include one son, Cecil Woolridge Jr. of Harvard; two daughters, Mary Katherine Hall of Wittman, Ariz., and Linda Book of Bethany; one brother, Victor Denier of Kirksville; one sister, Laurice Burcham of Decatur; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, one brother and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Woolridge attended the New Life Tabernacle Church, Sullivan.
Memorials may be made to donor's choice.
Josephine Coffey
ARCOLA - Josephine Gladys Coffey, 99, of Arcola formerly of Hindsboro, passed away at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, (October 31, 2001) at Douglas Care and Rehabilitation Center in Mattoon, IL.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2001 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main, Arcola, IL, with the Rev. Donald Winch officiating. Burial will be in the Van Voorhis Cemetery in rural Hindsboro. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time on Saturday.
Mrs. Coffey was born September 4, 1902 three miles North of Hindsboro, IL, a daughter of Eugene Walter and Carrie America (Waters) Green. She married George Davis Coffey on June 7, 1924 in Tuscola, IL. He passed away on November 9, 1969.
Survivors include two sons, George Wesley Coffey and his wife Olga of Arcola, IL, Carlysle "Spud" Coffey and his wife Barbara of Nip-N-Tuck, IL; five grandchildren, John Coffey and his wife Cindy of Phoenix, AZ, Ralph Coffey of Charleston, IL, Marilyn Holmes and her husband Ted of Mattoon, IL, Shelly Benson and her husband Doug of Monticello, IL, Sheila Jo Coffey of Bradenton, FL; seven great-grandchildren, Neil and Lisa Coffey of Phoenix, AZ, Ryan, Amy and Andrew Coffey of Charleston, IL, Ted "TJ" Holmes of Mattoon, IL, Emily Benson of Monticello, IL.
Mrs. Coffey had been a member of the Hindsboro Methodist Church most of her life. She was a member of the Douglas County Historical Society and a Charter Member of the Douglas County Genealogical Society.
Vivian Demoss
GREENUP - Vivian R. Demoss, 80, of Greenup, died at 10:12 a.m. Thursday (Nov. 1, 2001) at the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home, Mattoon.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Bishop Funeral Home, Greenup.
Irene Lear
FON DU LAC, Wis. - Irene M. Lear, 80, of Fon Du Lac, Wis., formerly of Mattoon, died Friday (Oct. 26, 2001) at her residence.
Burial was in Fon Du Lac, Wis.
She was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Sadoris, the daughter of Earl and Gertie Jackson Beals. She married Frank Lear; he survives.
Other survivors include one son, Leo Ray of Fon Du Lac, Wis.; five daughters, Wanda Elder of Missouri, Barbara Cherry of Florida, and Phyllis England, Patti Sterr and Kay Lear, all of Fon Du Lac, Wis.; one sister, Letha Hidlebaugh of Mattoon; one grandchild whom she raised, James, at home; 20 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Lear was preceded in death by three brothers and one great-grandson.
Bernard McAlister
LERNA - Bernard M. McAlister, 66, of rural Lerna, died at 10:10 a.m. Thursday at his residence.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Schilling Funeral Home.
LOIS OZEE
Lois M. Ozee, age 98, of Clinton, Mississippi, formerly of Humboldt, passed away at 3:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at the Care Center in Clinton, Mississippi.
Graveside services celebrating her life will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Dodge Grove Cemetery with the Reverend Lana Robyne officiating. No visitation is planned. The Schilling Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Lois was born September 25, 1903, in Coles County, a daughter of John and Maude Prather Fox. She married Charles Lloyd Ozee on June 6, 1928. He passed away on April 21, 1943. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, her parents, one sister, Edith M. Clark, and one brother, Ernest Q. Fox.
Survivors include one daughter, June O. Bragg of Brandon, Mississippi.; three grandchildren, Jon F. Bragg and wife Nancy of Columbus, Mississippi, Deborah J. Vaughn and husband David of Richland, Mississippi and Amy J. Busfield of Florence, Mississippi; nine great-grandchildren, Jon and Joey Bragg, Taylor Pritchett, Ben, Jacob and Katelyn Busfield, and Tiffany, Bailey and Jordan Vaughn; three sisters, Mrs. Irma Abell of Mattoon, Mrs. Grace Guthrie of Decatur and Mrs. Pauline Ozee of Dorans; and sister-in-law, Mrs. Louise Ozee of Inverness, Fla.
Mrs. Ozee was a former member of the United Methodist Church of Humboldt and enjoyed quilting.
Harold Snodgrass
LERNA - Harold E. "Gene" Snodgrass, 73, of Lerna, died at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 30, 2001) at his residence.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Calvary Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church, Toledo. Burial will be in Janesville Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. The Barkley Funeral Home, Toledo, is in charge of the arrangements.
He was born March 20, 1928, in Janesville, the son of Matt and Bertha Brewer Snodgrass.
Survivors include one brother, William Snodgrass of Waukegan.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Mr. Snodgrass retired from Associated Springs, Mattoon, and Cottonwood Township supervisor. He was a member of the Calvary Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church, Toledo; American Legion Post 764, Toledo; Danville Consistory; a life member of the Greenup VFW Post 4598; and was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict.
M. Lucile Zimmerman
BROCTON - Martha Lucile Zimmerman, 87, of Brocton, died at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 31, 2001) at Boxwood Healthcare Center, Newman.
A graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ashmore Cemetery with Virgil Haynes officiating. No visitation. The Taber Funeral Home, Oakland, is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Sept. 7, 1914, in Ashmore. She married Hussie G. Zimmerman in 1950; he died in 1992.
Survivors include one stepson, Jerry Zimmerman of Tilton, and two step-grandchildren.
J. Gladys Coffey
ARCOLA - Josephine Gladys Coffey, 99, of Arcola, formerly of Hindsboro, died at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 31, 2001) at the Douglas Care and Rehabilitation Center, Mattoon.
Arrangements are incomplete at Edwards Funeral Home, Arcola.
Raymond Huxley "Cookie" Cook
GAYS - Raymond Huxley "Cookie" Cook, age 72, of Gays, passed away at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 3, 2001 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with Reverend Barbara Short officiating. Interment will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Raymond Huxley Cook was born October 24, 1929 at Kemp, Illinois, a son of Theodore and Mary Ann Denny (Rogers) Cook. He married Nan Louise Sewell December 1, 1951 at Mattoon, Illinois, she preceded him in death December 19, 1980. He is survived by his children Steven Lee Cook of Mattoon, JoEllen Young and her husband Keith of Gays and their children Keri Ann and Brian Scott Young; Kenny Cook of Mattoon and his daughter Blair Nicole Cook and Kay Lynn Lanter of Bloomington, Illinois and her children Hayley Lynn and Connor Ray Lanter. Raymond is also survived by a brother, LeRoy Cook and his wife Alma of St. Cloud, Florida and a sister Betty Hunt of Intercession City, Florida. One brother, Alva Cook preceded him in death.
Mr. Cook was a member or the Marshall Avenue Christian Church and was a charter member or the Eagles Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was a member of the American Legion and Moose Lodge. "Cookie" was employed for twelve years with the Mattoon School System and for eighteen years as park superintendent for the City of Mattoon. He was an avid golfer and sports fan and refereed many high school and junior high school football games. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Marshall Avenue Christian Church or the Mattoon Junior Football League.
GEORGE O'DELL
George Raymond O'Dell, age 75, of Mattoon, passed away at 7:21 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30, 2001, at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services celebrating his life will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Schilling Funeral Home with the Reverend John Connett officiating. Burial with military rites by the V.F.W. Post 4325 will be in the Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.
George was born November 22, 1925, in Cooks Mills, a son of Ray Syrus and Alma Carpenter O'Dell. He married Norma Woodard. He later married Leona M. Stout on July 13, 1968.
Survivors include his wife, Leona M. O'Dell of Mattoon; four sons, David R. O'Dell and wife Cheryl S. of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Johnny R. O'Dell and wife Lynn of Humboldt, George W. O'Dell and wife Chasta of Mattoon; Marc R. Stout and wife Irene of Mt. Prospect; two daughters, Billie J. Thomas and husband Gayland of Warrensburg, Karen L. Grandon and husband William of Atlanta; three brothers, Joe O'Dell, Howard O'Dell and Charles "Chuck" O'Dell, all of Mattoon; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three infant brothers and one infant sister.
Mr. O'Dell was a World War II Navy veteran. He was a member of the Teamsters Local 26. George loved to play guitar and played with many area bands.
