Danny Adkins
TUSCOLA - Danny Edwards Adkins Sr., 58, of Tuscola died at 2:20 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 5, 2000) at Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home in Tuscola with the Rev. Dick Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
He was born Jan. 25, 1942, in Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., the son of Samuel and Delcia Mae Cross Adkins. He married Betty Smiley in 1962. She survives.
Also surviving are his mother, Delcia Mae Adkins of Tuscola; two sons, Danny Adkins Jr. and Steve Adkins, both of Tuscola; one daughter, Tammie Messer of Tuscola; three brothers, Robert Adkins of Newman, Tim Adkins of Tuscola and Henry Adkins of Villa Grove; three sisters, Sue Ingram and Joan Mattingly, both of Oakland and Linda Seaton of Parkville; and six grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his father, two sons and one daughter.
Mr. Adkins was a handyman and a member of the Kemp United Church of Christ in rural Arcola.
Ed Benton
MATTOON - Ed Benton, age 53, of Mattoon, passed away at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, August 3, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 6, 2000, at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve Shepherd officiating. Interment will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery with military rites by the United States Navy. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Wayne Edward Benton was born November 26, 1946 at Mattoon, Illinois, a son of Wayne M. and Helen L. Lash Benton. He married Brenda Pedigo April 19, 1969 at Mattoon, she survives. Also surviving are his father, Wayne M. Benton of Mattoon, his children, Melissa Benton and Rachel Benton of Mattoon and Brandon Benton, at home; sisters, Judy Weemer of Decatur, Carol Arnold of Mattoon and Lynda Luthy of Decatur. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Taylor and Mackenzie Benton of Mattoon, special aunt, Jean Gammill of Humboldt and several nieces and nephews, all of which he dearly loved. Ed was preceded in death by his mother and one brother, Bill Benton.
Mr. Benton was a maintenance supervisor for World Color Press and was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Viet Nam conflict. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Eagles Lodge.
Virgil Blakeman
CASEY - Virgil V. Blakeman, 85, of Ashmore, formerly of Casey, died at 10:15 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 5, 2000) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Markwell & Son Funeral Home in Casey with the Rev. Ray Finney officiating. Burial will be in the Mount Olive Cemetery, South of Martinsville. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
He was born July 21,1915, in Johnson Township, the son of John and Lottie Steward Blakeman. He married Nellie Maxine Newberry in 1937. She died in 1984.
Surviving are one son, Maurice Blakeman of Plant City, Fla.; one daughter, Denise Shumaker of Ashmore; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Blakeman was a retired oil field worker and farmer.
Louise Brewer
GREENUP - Louise Brewer, 90, of Greenup died at 2:30 p.m. Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at the Cumberland Nursing Center in Greenup.
The funeral was at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Barkley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dan Smith officiating. Burial was in the Greenup Cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
She was born Oct. 14, 1909, in Hidalgo, the daughter of Charley and Aura Edwards Paul. She married Russell Brewer in 1929. He died in 1980.
Surviving are two daughters, Nina Sugiura and Helen Ryan, both of Greenup; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, five sisters and one grandchild.
Mrs. Brewer was a retired school teacher and a member of the Liberty Hill United Methodist Church in rural Greenup.
Harlan Cottingham
CHARLESTON - Harlan E. Cottingham, 83, of Charleston died Sunday (Aug. 6, 2000) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Arrangements are incomplete at Caudill-King Funeral Home.
Beatrice Curtright
MARTINSVILLE - Beatrice Curtright, 79, of Martinsville died at 9:55 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 5, 2000) at the Birchwood Nursing Home in Casey.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Greenwell Funeral Home in Martinsville with the Rev. George Nika, Billie Ray Ulrey and David Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Richwoods Cemetery in Westfield. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
She was born Sept. 14, 1920, in Hazel Dell, the daughter of Milbourne and Addie Lansbery Chapman. She married Wilbur Curtright in 1943. He died in 1984.
Surviving are one daughter, Karen Rardin of Martinsville, three grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one sister.
Mrs. Curtright was a homemaker and member of the Martinsville Bible Church.
Doris Easley
CHARLESTON - Doris H. Easley, 88, of Charleston, formerly of Clay City, died at 11:55 a.m. Sunday (Aug. 6, 2000) at her residence.
Private family services will be at a later date.
She was born Aug. 5, 1912, in Clay City, the daughter of John D. and Hattie M. Brissenden Bones I. She married Gale H. Easley in 1933. He died in 1971.
Surviving are one son, Gerald Easley of Gold Hill, Ore.; one daughter, Carolyn Gail McKee of Charleston; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Mrs. Easley was a homemaker and member of the Clay City Methodist Church and Order of the Eastern Star.
Willis Harl
SULLIVAN - Willis Franklin Harl, 64, of Sullivan died at 5:03 p.m. Friday (Aug. 4, 2000) at his residence.
The graveside funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the French Cemetery in Allenville with the Rev. Henry Graham officiating. There will be no visitation. McMullin-Young Funeral Home in Sullivan is in charge of the arrangements.
He was born Feb. 15, 1936, in Allenville, the son of Willis T. and Mable Moran Harl.
Surviving are two brothers, Jerry Harl of Lincoln and David Harl of Mattoon; two sisters, Barbara Minor of Sullivan and Bonnie Sue Phillips of Polk City, Fla.
He was preceded in death by two brothers.
Memorials may be made to the Moultrie County Beacon.
Berdina Harper
MATTOON - Berdina M. Harper, 86, of Mattoon died at 3:45 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 5, 2000) at Douglas Care and Rehabilitation Center.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. E.E. Elliott officiating. Burial will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of service on Tuesday at the funeral home.
She was born April 12, 1914, in Cumberland County, the daughter of Claude A. and Grace May Greenwood Walker. She married Ralph D. Harper in 1933. He died in 1990.
Surviving are one son, Jack G. Harper of Mattoon; two daughters, Chearie M. Myers of Charleston and Vera J. Adams, both of Mattoon; two brothers, Lloyd Walker of Tampa, Fla., and Wilb Walker of Mattoon; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son.
Mrs. Harper was a homemaker and owner/operator of the Berdina's Beauty Shop for many years. She was a 74-year member of the First Baptist Church and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Seven County Kidney Fund or the Gambro Dialysis in Mattoon.
