obituaries

Jan 20, 2026

Zola Mae "Toby" Clifton , 89, of Centralia passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Centralia Manor. She was born on May 31, 1936, in Centralia, the daughter of Rev. James Verle and Julia Helen (Sinclair) Clifton.

Toby is survived by her many special nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Phyllis Clifton; extended family members, and friends. They will...

Jan 19, 2026

Roland E. Miller Sr. , 90, of Centralia passed away into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Monday, January 19, 2026. He was born by the hands of a midwife on September 18, 1935, in Beckley, WV, the son of Lee T. and Lelia (Staples) Miller. He married Evon Killion on June 6, 1959, in Centralia and she...

Jan 18, 2026

Whitney Marie Lawson-Williams ,34, of Laveen Az gained her wings to be with the lord Sunday January 18th, 2026. Whitney was born on January 8th, 1992, in Phoenix Az. She is the daughter of Calvin Lawson Sr and Felisicia Lytle.

Whitney leaves behind her husband Melvin William and their two children Peyton and Logan Williams of Phoenix...

Jan 17, 2026

Wayne Keeling , 91, of Vernon passed away Saturday, January 17, 2026, at St. Louis University Hospital. He was born on June 14, 1934, in Elizabethtown, the son of John Louis and Lola Louise (Crowell) Keeling. He married Brenda Thompson in May of 1996, and she preceded him in death on April 16, 2018.

Survivors that will...

Jan 13, 2026

Charlene Crabtree , 74, of Salem passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, MO. She was born on May 20, 1951, in Centralia, the daughter of Dorothy (Harding) Crabtree and Robert W. "Bob" Crabtree.

Survivors that will remember Charlene's sweet smile and positivity include her daughter, Tammy Crabtree of Centralia; grandson, Brayden...

Jan 6, 2026

Richard "Rick" A. Gelsinger , 68, of Kinmundy passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family, at Odin Health Care. He was born on September 2, 1957, in Breese, the son of James and Delores May (Gizzy) Gelsinger. He married the love of his life, Daisy McElyea on April 15, 2000, in Sandoval and...

Jan 5, 2026

Bonnie Jean (Maroon) Ward , age 93, of Centralia, Illinois passed away on Monday, January 5th, 2026, with her loving family by her side. She was born on October 29, 1932, in Centralia, Illinois, the daughter of John Calvin Maroon and Selma (Bierman) Maroon. Bonnie worked at the Centralia Evening Sentinel, where she met the love of her life,...

Dec 30, 2025

James "Jimmy" Richard Haskell, 80, of Centralia passed away, into the arms of Jesus, Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Axiom Healthcare in Mt. Vernon. He was born on July 20, 1945, in Sacramento, California, the son of Gary and Thelma (Smith) Mulder.

James was a devoted man of faith whose life was rooted in his love for...

Dec 20, 2025

David Krietemeyer , 78, of Centralia passed away Saturday, December 20, 2025, at his home. He was born on August 5, 1947, in Centralia, the son of Kenneth "Bud" and Mary Lou (Knott) Krietemeyer. He married Sheila Futrell on November 9, 2012, and she preceded him in death on May 12, 2024.

Survivors include two sons, Chris...

Dec 19, 2025

Margaret Pepple , 97, passed away on December 19, 2025, at home with her children at her side in Palo Alto, California.

Margaret was born in Odin, Illinois, the eldest of two children, to Elester "Leck" Harville and Martha (VanSant) Harville. She attended Odin School 1st grade through high school, where she graduated twice! She graduated from...

Dec 12, 2025

Walter Grimes , 67, of Centralia passed away Friday, December 12, 2025, at Centralia Manor in Centralia. He was born on May 30, 1958, in New Madrid County, Arkansas, the youngest son of six children to, Walter and Jewell (Timms) Grimes.

Survivors include his nieces and nephews, Cindy Payne, Mindy Konhorst, Beth Baggett, Dianna Lee, Jerry Grimes,...

Dec 8, 2025

Teresa Anne Thompson , 73, of Centralia passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, at her home, Warren G. Murray Center in Centralia. She was born on June 28, 1952, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Carl and JoAnn (Taft) Thompson.

Survivors include her sister, Mary Lou Stiff of MO; brothers, Edward Thompson of IL, and Anthony...

Dec 7, 2025

David Britt , 83, of Patoka passed away peacefully, Sunday, December 7, 2025, at his home. He was born on May 13, 1942, in Vandalia, the son of Raymond O. and Doris Mae (Good) Britt. He married Barbara Jones on June 20, 1964, in Patoka and she preceded him in death on June 6, 1999. He married Cathy Dodd...

Dec 2, 2025

Charles Joseph Lane Jr. , Chuck to those who knew him well, was born in Madison, Wisconsin on April 27, 1960.

He was raised in Centralia, Illinois where he enjoyed fishing with his father in his youth. During Chuck's young adult years, he enjoyed drag racing with his friends. He wasn't afraid to go FAST, and if...

Nov 30, 2025

Howard L. Maschhoff , 95, of Hoyleton passed away Sunday, November 30, 2025. He was born, February 16, 1930, in rural Hoyleton, the son of Albert and Ella (Schaeffer) Maschhoff. He married June Vore on July 15, 1961, in Wamac, and she preceded him in death on November 17, 2015.

Survivors that will remember Howard as a...

Nov 26, 2025

James Earl "Jim" Lance , 81, of Centralia passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at his home. He was born on March 21, 1945, in West Frankfort, the son of Glenn and Virginia (Lewis) Lance. He married Sandra French on March 5, 1983, in Centralia and she survives him in Centralia.

Along with his beloved wife of...

Nov 26, 2025

Linda J. Jones DeKalb , 75, of Sandoval passed away peacefully, after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at her home. She was born on February 14, 1950, in Centralia, a Valentine's Day gift of love to her parents, Clarence F. and Florence H. (Deien) Beckmann. She married Larry Jones and they later divorced. She...

Nov 26, 2025

Kenneth Norris "Slick" Walker, 74, of Patoka passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. He was born on October 11, 1951, in Centralia, the only son of Deneen "Slick" and Lucille (Norris) Walker. He married the love of his life, Susan "Suzy" Jennings on October 20, 1973, in Patoka, and she survives...

Nov 24, 2025

Gary W. Hood, 78, of Patoka passed away Monday, November 24, 2025, while vacationing with family in Riviera Maya, Mexico. He was born on April 16, 1947, in Tuscola, the son of William and Grace (Thompson) Hood. He married the love of his life and best friend, Stacy Cain on July 30, 1995, in Patoka and she survives him....

Nov 22, 2025

Verta Lee Splechter , 90, of Sandoval passed away peacefully Saturday, November 22, 2025, at High Point Residence in Centralia. She was born on October 5, 1935, in Sandoval, the daughter of Owen and Margaret (Jordan) Skeen. She married the love of her life, Bobby Leo Splechter, on May 9, 1952, and he preceded her in death on May...