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R. Leslie 'Jim' Finn
WEST FRANKFORT -- R. Leslie 'Jim' Finn, 80, of West Frankfort, passed away at 7:32 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at Herrin Hospital. He was born on Nov. 19, 1923, in West Frankfort, to Revell W. Finn and Bertha (Menees) Finn. He married Wanda (Furlong) Finn on June 7, 1947, in West Frankfort, and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter, Linda Finn of South Bend, Ind. ; a granddaughter, Chloe Kaitlin Finn of South Bend, Ind. ; brother, Robert and wife Joan Finn of West Frankfort; three nieces, Debrorah and husband Doug Cordts, of West Frankfort, Penny and husband Paul Mueller of Springfield, and Mary and husband Gary Poole of Benton; one nephew, Bob J. and wife Bennie Finn of Carterville; and several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in West Frankfort. He served in the U. S. Navy Air Corps during World War II. He was also a member of the West Frankfort Masonic Lodge No. 567 and the United Mine Workers of America. He had formerly worked at Old Ben Mine No. 15 and Classic Coal near Pittsburg and had also worked at Olins. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort, with Minister Gene Fox officiating. Burial will be in the Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort. Masonic rites will be conducted on today at 7 p.m. at the funeral home by Lodge No. 567. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion of Orient and the VFW of West Frankfort. Memorial contributions can be made to The American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Joan Ferrrell
RALEIGH -- Joan Ferrell, 63, died at 1:53 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2004, at home. Arrangements are incomplete at Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado.
Crystal Morrison
GOREVILLE -- Crystal Morrison, 54, died at 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, in St. Louis University Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Blue Funeral Home in Goreville.
Neil Tracy
McLEANSBORO -- Neil Tracy, 58, died at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at home. Mr. Tracy is to be cremated as per his request and a private family service will be held. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Harre Funeral Home of McLeansboro is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Blair
WEST FRANKFORT -- Mary Blair, 59, died at 1:42 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort.
Hildegard Raphjen
PERRYVILLE -- Hildegard Raphjen died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. Arrangements are incomplete at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville.
Rita R. Bretscher
CARBONDALE -- Rita R. Bretscher, 89, died at 1:28 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Mrs. Bretscher was born on July 13, 1915, in Springfield, to F. R. and Dell (Fairles) Jordan. She married Carl E. Bretscher on Sept. 12, 1942, in Springfield. He survives. She was preceded in death by two brothers. Mrs. Bretscher was a graduate of Milwaukee Downer College, which is a part of Lawrence University, and she also graduated from Oglala Lakota College. She had taught art in the Springfield grade and high schools until her retirement. She had obtained her pilot's license. Mrs. Bretscher received an appreciation award for her work with the VFW. Services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, with the Rev. Kim Magwire officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield. Visitation will be today from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Huffman-Harker Funeral Home in Carbondale. Memorials may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, where she was a member.
Fred Speers
CARTERVILLE -- Fred Speers, 79, of Carterville, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004 at Carbondale Memorial Hospital. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004, at Riggin-Pillatsch Funeral Home in Carterville. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Carterville, with military rites performed by the Marion VFW Hyde-Pillow Post 1301. Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Activities Fund at the Marion Dialysis Center or to the Tri-C Scholarship Fund. Fred was born on Aug. 14, 1925, in Knight's Prairie Township in Hamilton County, to Fred and Opal (Benbrook) Speers. He married Patricia A. Holmes on May 29, 1952, in Benton. He is survived by his wife, Pat of Carterville; daughter, Sue Speers of St. Louis; son, Stuart Speers of Carterville; brother and sister-in-law, Hubert and Harriet Speers of West Frankfort; sister and brother-in-law, JoAnn and Jim Summers of Indiana, and several nieces and nephews. Fred was preceded in death by his parents; son, Scott Speers; and half-sister, Virginia Moore. Fred owned and operated Speers Signs in Carterville for several years. He honorably served his country as a Seabee in the U. S. Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. Fred was an avid golfer and served as secretary for the Egyptian Seniors Golf Association. He owned harness horses and raced the county fair circuit for several years.
Kenneth Hutchison
MOUNDS -- Kenneth Wayne Hutchison, 57, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at home. Mr. Hutchison is being cremated and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Jones Funeral Home, Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements.
Crystal E. Morrison
GOREVILLE -- Crystal E. Morrison, 54, passed away at 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at St. Louis University Hospital. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at Blue Funeral Home in Goreville, with Dr. Ron Ferguson officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2004, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Busby Cemetery, Goreville. Mrs. Morrison was born on Dec. 9, 1949, in Carbondale, to Charles Rayburn and Juanita (Murry) White. She married Jerry D. Morrison on June 11, 1967, in Goreville and he survives. Other survivors include daughter, Mindy Morrison of Springfield; Andy Morrison of Goreville; grandchildren, Eden, Chayne, Kelsey, Makayla, Kolton and Drew Morrison; brothers and sisters-in-law, Eddie and Lisa Simmons of Sparta, B. J. and Patty Simmons of Modesto, CaliF. Rusty White of Franklin, S. C., Danny White of Goreville, and Rodney White of Vandalia; and sister, Donna Duvall of Marion. She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Eric Morrison. She was an active member of the Goreville United Methodist Church. She was formerly a Methodist Church pastor. She was a member of the Women's AgloW. She loved to fish and work around her home. Crystal was a friend to all and will be greatly missed.
Roy E. Gene Smith
MARION -- Roy E. Gene Smith, 88, of Marion, formerly of West Frankfort, passed away at 7:29 a.m. Oct. 18, 2004, at Heartland Regional Hospital in Marion. He was born on Oct. 21, 1915, in Williamson County, to Willis Smith and Laura (Harris) Smith. He married Allegra Violet (Melvin) Smith on July 19, 1937, in West Frankfort and she preceded him in death on Nov. 28, 2001. He is survived by two sons and their wives, Robert and Elaine Smith of Edwardsville, and Monty and Patty Smith of Carbondale. Also surviving are grandchildren, Gary, Larry, Marty and Mason Smith and Elise Redmann, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Allegra Violet Smith, by two sisters, Ruby Rotramel and Gladys Beal and by three brothers, Paul, Elvis and Raymond Smith. Mr. Smith was a member of the Antioch United Methodist Church of West Frankfort, the United Mine Workers of America and the VFW of West Frankfort. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a retired coal miner having worked at Old Ben Mine No. 26. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at the Antioch United Methodist Church of West Frankfort, with the Rev. Tim Gossett officiating. Burial will be in the East Fork Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday to the Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort and after noon Thursday at the church.
