Obituaries

May 2, 2018

Raymond H. Hays, age 91, of rural Alexis, Illinois, passed away at 6:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at his residence. He was born June 10, 1926 in Perry, Illinois, the son of Roy Edward and Francis Alta (Gaylor) Hays. Ray attended schools in Perry, Keithsburg, Aledo, and Viola. He graduated from Viola High School. Ray served his...

May 2, 2018

William James “Billy” Johnson, 59, of Galesburg, died on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 9:18 am, at his home in Galesburg.  Billy was born on May 31, 1958. He was the son of James and Evelyn (Parmenter) Johnson. He married Mary Varnold in Galesburg, November of 1995. She preceded him in death on July 25, 2015. Billy is survived by...

May 1, 2018

R. JoAnne Adams, age 82, of Oquawka, Illinois; passed away at Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth, Illinois on May 1, 2018 at 11:55 pm. JoAnne was born on March 15, 1936 in Fairbury, Illinois and is the daughter of John and Jessie Irene Jordan Pingel. JoAnne was raised and attended public schools in Fairbury and graduated from Fairbury High...

Apr 30, 2018

Richard L. "Dick" Speer, age 91, of Kirkwood, Illinois, passed away at 4:03 P.M. on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth, Illinois. He was born on August 16, 1926 in Kirkwood, Illinois, the son of Thomas "Roscoe" and Hazel Vera (Lanphere) Speer. Dick rode his pony Billy to Coonville Elementary School and then drove a...

Apr 30, 2018

Gert Bent, 96, of Galesburg, died at 6:23 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2018 at Seminary Manor, Galesburg. Gert was born May 21, 1921 in Macomb, the daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Clark) O’Donnell. She married Oliver D. “Cy” Bent on October 11, 1944 in Bushnell. He preceded her in death on September 14, 1963. Gert is survived by two...

Apr 29, 2018

Billy D. Smallwood, age 90, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at Monmouth Nursing Home on Sunday, April 29th, 2018 surrounded by his loving wife and children. Billy, the son of C. Roy and Madeline M. Estill Smallwood, was born on February 22, 1928, in Monmouth, Illinois. Bill was raised in Monmouth, where he attended Monmouth Public Schools and graduated...

Apr 28, 2018

Paul J. Bethell, age 89, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at 7:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth, Illinois. He was born on January 23, 1929 in O'Fallon, Missouri, the son of Herbert and Mary (Sipes) Bethell. Paul attended schools in the Aledo, Illinois area. He proudly served his Country with the United...

Apr 27, 2018

Elsye Frantz, 93, of Dahinda, died at 5:10 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2018 at Heartland Health Care and Rehab, Galesburg. Elsye was born March 29, 1925 in St. Joe, Michigan, the daughter of Franz and Aurelia (Wellsandt) Endt.  She is survived by two daugthers, Robin (Joe) Kunzer of Dahinda and Corey Frantz of Naples, FL;one son, Bob Frantz of...

Apr 25, 2018

Apr 24, 2018

Shirley Ann Rohr, age 70, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 7:53 P.M. on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. She was born on May 12, 1947 in Kirksville, Missouri, the daughter of James Wilbur and Helen Louise (Clary) Jones. Shirley was raised in the Monmouth area and attended Monmouth High School....

Apr 23, 2018

Leilani Mae Carson, infant daughter of Trimaine Carson and Autmn Fletcher, was born a quiet birth, Monday, April 23, 2018 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg. Leilani is survived by her parents of Monmouth; a brother, Silas Carson; and two sisters, Sofia Dixon and Anyah Carson. She is also survived by paternal grandmother, Lanisha Carson of Portland, OR,...

Apr 22, 2018

Alice Kay Vacca, 52, of Galesburg, died at 10:12 p.m. Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Galesburg. Alice was born on June 6, 1965 in Galesburg, the daughter of Roy Ray and Helen Christine (McLaren) Beaty.  She married Melvin Knipe.  She later married John Vacca.  Alice is survived by one son, Matthew Knipe of Galesburg; one daughter, Katie Knipe of...

Apr 19, 2018

Susan E. "Susie" Goff, age 99, of Biggsville, Illinois, passed away at 10:46 A.M. on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at Oaklane Nursing and Rehab in Stronghurst, Illinois. She was born September 14, 1918 in Kirkwood, Illinois, the daughter of Roy V. and Carrie L. (Carnes) Larimer. Susie was reared and educated in the Rozetta area and graduated from Kirkwood...

Apr 18, 2018

Debra Kay Rodriguez, 63, of Galesburg, died at 11:23 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in the emergency room at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg. Debbie was born December 8, 1954 in Galesburg, the daughter of Clair Henry and Frances Josephine (Miner) Stremmel. She married Steven Rodriguez on October 16, 1971 in East Galesburg. Debbie is survived by her...

Apr 13, 2018

Pamela Sue Petty, 63, of Galesburg, died at 9:20 a.m. Friday, April 13, 2018 at her son’s home in Abingdon. Pam was born November 19, 1954 the daughter of Loren Everett and Evelyn Jean (Uhren) Petty. She is survived by one son, Lance (Samantha) Petty of Abingdon; one daughter, Marchalle M. (Jon Wintheiser) Petty of Galesburg; five grandchildren, Kayla...

Apr 11, 2018

Richard Leo “Dick” Traff, 77, of Wataga, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Galesburg. Dick was born October 30, 1940, in Galesburg to Paul E. and Dorothy D. (Ballard) Traff. He lived in various cities in Central Illinois, including the Quad Cities and Galesburg. He lived in Wataga for the last 40 years of his life. He loved...

Apr 11, 2018

Ellen Jekabson, 81, of Galesburg, died at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville. Ellen was born October 30, 1936 in Latvia, Russia.  She attended Chicago area schools.  SHe is survived by one daugther, Jennifer Winter of Wisconsin along with one granddaughter, Fina Brockman of Florida. Visitation will be 10:30 am to 11...

Apr 6, 2018

Scott R. " Toad " Welch, age 64, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at 11:35 pm on Friday April 6, 2018 at the OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. Scott was born on April 2, 1954 in Monmouth, Illinois and is the son of Kenneth L. and Alice Senders Welch. He was reared and educated in the...

Apr 5, 2018

Elizabeth A. "Libby" Shrader, age 82, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at Seminary Manor in Galesburg, Illinois on Thursday April 5, 2018 at 1:39 am. Libby was born on January 13, 1936 in Egowah, Arkansas and is the daughter of Alvin J. and Gladys L. Duckin Fields. She was raised and educated in Arkansas, then the family moved to...

Apr 1, 2018

Wendell L. "Wendy" Sage, age 58, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 1:46 A.M. on Sunday, April 1, 2018 at his residence. He was born in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Wendell and Betty (Pyles) Sage. Wendell was educated in the Stronghurst and Monmouth School Districts. He was a veteran, proudly serving his Country in the United States Army....