Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Helen Meek
Helen Meek, 85, of 1200 E. Grant St, Macomb, formerly of Blandinsville, passed away at 6:55 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2010 at Wesley Villiage healthcare Center of Macomb.
She was born on December 4, 1924 in hire township, McDonough County, Illinois to Gilbert and Hazel Irish Keithley. She married
Willis Meek at her parent’s home on December 6, 1946 near Blandinsville. He preceded her in death on October 21, 2005.
She is survived by one daughter, Len (Ken Lincoln) Meek of Millersville, Missouri, One sister in law, Joan Keithley Lindsey of Macomb, one brother in law, Wayne Meek of Ohio, several nephews and one niece.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Carol Meek in 1961, two brothers, Lee Keithley and Bud Keithley, and one sister, Gertrude Farris.
Helen lived all of her life in the Blandinsville area before moving to Macomb. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for many years last working at Western Illinois University.
She was a member of Blandinsville United Methodist Church, McDoungh District Hosptial Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary.
Her interests were her family, friends, and volunteer work.
Funeral services will be held at 11a.m. Friday September 17, 2010 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funral Home in Blandinsville with Rev. Don Riley officiating. Burial will be in Glade City cemetery in Blandinsville. Visitation will be held from 5-7p.m. Thursday evening at the Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to McDonough District Hospital Hospice.
Ronald L. Phoenix
Ronald L. Phoenix, 88, of 10030 East 1200th Road, Macomb, passed away at 3:50 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Macomb.
He was born on May 23, 1922 in Colchester to Thomas and Mildred Moon Phoenix. He married
Martha Fitch on October 1, 1942 in Kahoka, Missouri.
Surviving are one son, Roger (Jan) Phoenix of Sunrise Beach, Missouri; one daughter, Lana (Randy) Willey of East Peoria; two granddaughters, Roni Miller of Lakeland, Florida and Jaun`ae Bacon of Cerro Gordo; three grandsons, Roman Phoenix of Mundelein, Bob Hetherington of Creve Coeur and Jim Danner of Okinawa City, Japan and ten great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Linda Kay Danner and his spouse of 62 years, Martha Fitch Phoenix.
He was a lifelong resident of the Macomb area other than living at The Lake of the Ozarks for five years following his retirement.
His professional career was work as a civil engineer and registered land surveyor including being a draftsman at Camp Ellis during the war years and then working at Tiernan Engineering in Macomb prior to establishing Phoenix Engineering with his partner, Keith Tracey.
His hobbies included building and flying remote controlled model airplanes which led to building his own ham radio equipment. His call letters, N9BA was known to all operators in the area.
He loved flying airplanes and taught ground school at Macomb Airport.
He was a past member of the Macomb Elks Lodge #1009, Macomb Masonic Lodge, Toastmasters International and Lake Ozark Radio Club.
A Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, September 3, 2010 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend John Douglas officiating. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Macomb. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
Memorials may be made to MDH Home Healthcare.
Joyce Powell Gentry
Joyce Powell Gentry, a mother of seven children, retired rural route mail carrier, swimmer and dog lover, died on July 26, 2015.
Born on April 23, 1939, Joyce was the only daughter of Randolph Adair Powell and Clemma Claudine Reese of Louisiana, Missouri. At just two years old, her father died when his Riverview Lines bus was in a tragic accident. His death would impact her for the rest of her life.
After the accident, her mother married
Henry Harrison Morton, Jr. Soon Joyce’s sister, Phyllis Morton Hunter, was added to the family. All three family members have preceded Joyce in death.
Joyce graduated from Louisiana High School where she was a cheerleader, basketball and softball player. In 1955, she was crowned queen of the Louisiana River Festival. Joyce attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, for one year to study engineering.
In the summers, Joyce loved swimming at the sandbar north of the bridge on the Mississippi and there she met Benjamin Francis Gentry of Bowling Green. They were married
on March 14, 1959 at St. Joseph’s Church in Louisiana. The couple was divorced in August of 1978 leaving Joyce with full custody of their seven children. Ben Gentry died in June 2002.
The legacy of Joyce Powell Gentry is found in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her seven children, Timothea Thorne Gentry-Harris (Steve) of Macomb, Thaddeus Adair Gentry (Lisa) of Schaumburg, Tiffani Mari Griffin (Jeff) of Ashland, Ore., Joy Anastasia Gentry of Arlington, Mass., Gabrielle Claudine Gentry of Portland, Ore., Benjamin John Gentry (Renee) of Macomb, and Gunnar Powell Gentry of Macomb.
Ten grandchildren, Danica Rist (Montgomery), Reese Gentry, Samantha and Jeremy Gentry, Joshua and Finn Griffin, Jasper Gentry, Benjamin, Payton and Boston Gentry; seven great grandchildren, five nieces and five nephews.
One of Joyce’s proudest accomplishments was seeing her children attend college through student loans, scholarships, and work. They attended Monmouth College, Northeastern University, Western Illinois University, Northwestern University, Boston College, Springfield College and Lesley University.
Mentored by Harry Crowcroft of Quincy, Joyce worked as the first female rural route mail carrier in Macomb. Neither snow, nor rain or heat, would keep Joyce from completing her appointed rounds until she retired. She loved delivering mail in the country while watching crops grow from planting to harvest.
Joyce was also a member of the St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Macomb, where all of her children were confirmed and her sons served as altar boys.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of these organizations:
Joyce instilled her love of swimming in her children who were all members of the Dolphin Swim Team. Donate to: YMCA of McDonough County 400 East Calhoun, Macomb IL 61455, or online at www.macombymca.org.
After Joyce retired, she became known as the "Milk Bone Lady" giving treats to dogs at area dog parks. Donate to: McDonough County Humane Society, 1743 N. Lafayette Street, Macomb, IL 61455.
A private family memorial service will be held on August 7, 2015 in Louisiana, Mo.
John Luther Crandell
John Luther Crandell, 69, of Macomb, passed away at 9:44 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
He was born on November 27, 1945 in Peoria to Luther and Rosanna Worley Crandell. He married
Sheri Coker Smith on August 12, 1978 in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Chris (Rachel) Smith of Macomb and Neil (Cameo Robeson) Smith of Charleston, South Carolina; two daughters, Kellee (Dr. Michael) Mustard of Bloomington and Michelle Crandell of Washington; seven grandchildren, R.J. Roberts and Michael Jordan of Washington, Brady and Kellan Smith of Macomb, Ava and Judd Smith of Charleston, South Carolina and Jaycee Tibbitts of Bloomington and one sister, Jill (Fred) Thomas of East Peoria.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Kathy Ferre.
John lived and worked in Peoria early in his life. He moved to Macomb in 1978. He worked for the Macomb Fire Department for 28 years, retiring in 2003 with the rank of Lieutenant. He and Sheri co-owned Art City since 1999.
He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War on the AE-14 USS Firedrake.
He was a member of the Macomb American Legion, Macomb VFW, 40 et 8, AE/AOE Sailor’s Association and the Macomb Country Club where he got a hole in one.
He was an avid golfer and bowler.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2015 at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb with Reverend Donnie Case officiating. Full military rites will be conducted at the funeral home following the services by the Macomb American Legion and Macomb VFW. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to McDonough County Animal Shelter or the Wounded Warrior Project.
