Obituaries

In Memory Of: Gwendolyn “Gwen” Summers Gwendolyn “Gwen” Summers, 71, of Whiteash, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 12:38 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. Gwen was born December 4, 1940 in Johnston City to Ernie Cletus and Esther (Martin) Williams. She married Larry Everett Summers on June 21, 1958 in Johnston City. Gwen and Larry shared 33 of marriage together before he preceded her in death on August 6, 1991. Gwen was a homemaker. She was of the Christian faith and attended the Family Worship Center in Johnston City. She attended Johnston City High School and was part of the class of 1960. Gwen was very crafty and enjoyed working with her hands. She loved ceramics and painting. She also loved spending time with her family and enjoyed the company of her pets. “Gwen had an infectious laugh and a vibrant smile that will live on as we remember her. Her life spent with her beloved husband, raising their cherished family was her most precious accomplishment”. Survivors include, two daughters, Deanna “Dee” Francisco and husband Archie of Novato, CA, Kimberly Summers of Whiteash; two grandchildren, Stephanie Hanna and husband Jeremy of Rohnert Park, CA, Laura Francisco of Novato, CA; sister, Pat Kelley and husband Louie of Whiteash; brother, Ernie Bill Williams and wife Jennifer of Spillertown; two aunts and an uncle, Ruby and Roger Randolph of Centralia and Nancy Williams of Marion. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Elizabeth “Betty” (Funkhouser) Williams; sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Lajune Daugherty; sister, Nancy Thetford; sister, Betty Williams and a brother, Bill Patterson. Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City with Rev. Charles Jennings officiating. Interment will be at a later date in Dillingham Cemetery east of Johnston City. Visitation will be 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Williamson County Humane Society (No Kill Animal Shelter). Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please join the family in honoring the memory of Gwen Summers by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!

In Memory Of: Beverly Rose Sanders Beverly Rose Sanders, 75, of Johnston City, passed away 3:10 p.m., Monday, January 30, 2012 at Herrin Hospital with her children by her side. Beverly was born January 4, 1937 in Johnston City to Robert and Elizabeth (Gray) Coulson.   Beverly was a homemaker. She was a very loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a Christian. Her hobby was reading. Survivors include her children, Robin Willett and husband David of Johnston City, Robert Sanders and wife Janet of Herrin, Scott Sanders and wife Kim of Benton, Jamie Binkley and husband Jason of Marion; nine grandchildren, Amy Sweitzer and husband Joe of Cape Girardeau, Shannon Detering and husband Nick of St. Louis, Misty Cargal and husband Adam of Johnston City, Ryne Sanders of Herrin, Nate Sanders of Edwardsville, Jesse Sanders of Benton, Alec, Kaia and Kaela Binkley all of Marion; four great grandchildren, Jackson Detering of St. Louis, Joey Sweitzer of Cape Girardeau, Brennan and Reese Cargal of Johnston City; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Jean Coulson of Johnston City. She is also, survived by several nieces and nephews including one special niece, Janice Stocks. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Stella Colombo; three brothers, William, Harry and Calvin Coulson. Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, February 3, 2012 at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City with Rev. Ed Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City.     Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. til 1:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral Home. Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Manna Mission Angel Tree Program. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please join the family in honoring the memory of Beverly Rose Sanders by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!

In Memory Of: Roscoe “R.J.” Jones, Jr. Roscoe “R.J.” Jones, Jr. , 64, of Marion, passed away 12:10 p.m., Sunday, January 29, 2012 at his residence. R.J. was born January 5, 1948 in Marion to Roscoe and Dorothy Mae (McGee) Jones.   R.J. was a carpenter by trade and enjoyed working with his hands. He was a veteran of the United States Navy having served his country honorably during the Vietnam War. He was of the Christian faith. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and being outdoors. R. J. is survived by two daughters, Chastity Jones of Marion and Elizabeth Norris and husband Jason of Dykersburg; five grandchildren, Chelsea Bonney of Marion, Brock Jones of Marion, Devin Richelle, Aleah and Noah Norris of Stonefort; mother, Dorothy Jones-Barter of Marion; sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and David Paroz of Marion; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Luella Jones of Johnston City; three nieces, Laura Cocker of Marion, Jeri Nix of Marion, Toni Buhman and husband Matt of Savannah, MO. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his father; step-father, Jim Barter; brother, Jerry Jones; and two nieces, Stephanie Douglas and Traci Lyn Wolf. Celebration of Life Services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City with Clydell Williams officiating. Military rites will be accorded at the funeral home by the Marion VFW, American Legion and members of the Illinois National Guard Military Honors Team. Visitation will be 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please join the family in honoring the memory of Roscoe “R.J.” Jones, Jr. by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!

In Memory Of: Hazel Vinson Hazel Vinson, 96, of Energy, passed away 9:25 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Helia Healthcare in Energy.   Hazel was born August 6, 1915 in Ullin, Illinois to Oscar F. and Lydia May (Thompson) Billingsley. She was first married to R.L. Britton, after his passing, she married Dennis Perry and later married James Vinson. All of which have preceded her in death Hazel was a retired beautician and homemaker. She was a member of the First Church of God in Herrin for over 25 years, where she was an active member until her health began to fail her.   Hazel enjoyed crocheting and cooking. She especially enjoyed Christmas each year when she would give her homemade bread as gifts. She loved to spend time with her daughter, Alida Bevis and her chihuahua, Tiki. Survivors include, her daughter Alida Bevis of Herrin; grandson, Brian Bevis of Marion and her church family at the Herrin First Church of God.   She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; an infant sister and three brothers, Sylvie, Charlie and Walter Billingsley. Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City with Rev. Dan Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Herrin First Church of God. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City is entrusted with the arrangements. Please join the family in honoring the memory of Hazel Vinson by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!

In Memory Of: Link L. Hoffard Link L. Hoffard, 93, of Johnston City, passed away at 4:28 a.m., Sunday, January 15, 2012 at his residence with his family by his side. Link was born June 10, 1918 in Johnston City to Frank and Ethel (Rogers) Hoffard. He married Naomi (Hunter) on May 10, 1941 in Jackson, Missouri. Link and Naomi shared 62 years together before she preceded him in death on March 14, 2004. Link was retired, having worked at Norge in Herrin for 28 years. He was also a farmer and enjoyed gardening. Link was a veteran of the United States Army, and served his country honorably during WWII.  For most of his life he attended the church his mother founded, Gospel Mission Church in Johnston City.   Link loved being outdoors, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed spending time with his family.   He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Dwight and Gay Hoffard of Johnston City, Estel and Debbie Hoffard of DuQuoin; two daughters and sons-in-law, Norma (Hoffard) Stevens and husband Steve of Hot Springs Village, AR, Joy (Hoffard) Pulley and husband Rick of Mt. Airy, MD; eight grandchildren, Kim (Hoffard) Holman and husband, Chad, Candy Hoffard, Shayne Crawshaw, Destry L. Hoffard, Jason Hoffard and wife, Jackie, Tiffany (Hoffard) Hammel and husband, Kyle, Caleb Pulley and Rachel Pulley; six great grandchildren, Brianne Davis, Kelsey Smith, Brendan Smith, Clayton Hoffard, Carson Hoffard and James Lee Holman; one great great grandson, Braycen Cramm. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, Virginia Dahmer, Lucille Lewis and Yvonne Doughty.   Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2011 at Pyle Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Cockburn officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City. Military honors will be accorded by VFW post 1301, American Legion post #147 and members of the Illinois National Guard Military Honors Team. Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home. The family request that memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Troop #19 of Johnston City. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please join the family in honoring the memory of Link L. Hoffard by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!

In Memory Of: Howard Lee “Woody” Wright Howard Lee “Woody” Wright, 60, passed away peacefully at 10:05 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at his residence with his loving family by his side. Woody was born January 23, 1951 in Marion to Kenneth Earl and Delsie (Davis) Wright. He married Rose Mary “Crickett” Clendenin on July 5, 1971. Woody and Crickett have shared 40 years of marriage together. Woody was retired having worked in Housekeeping at Herrin Hospital. He was previously employed by Old Ben and Zeigler #4 Coal Mines. While he was in high school he worked at Bracy’s Grocery Store on Grand Avenue in Johnston City. He was of the Christian faith. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Crickett Wright of Johnston City; son, Kenneth Wright and family of Johnston City; April Brown of Herrin; three grandchildren, Jeff and Laci Brown of Herrin, Abi Wright of Carlyle, IL.; two sisters, Delonda Haslauer of Rosamond, CA., Brenda Binkley of Marion; one brother, Hugh Wright of Johnston City. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Juanita Winn and Bonnie Turnage; brother, Dewey Wright and a special aunt, Sharon Cobb. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City with Rev. Barry Robertson officiating. Interment will follow in Freedom Cemetery south of Marion. Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. Pyle Funeral Home in Johnston City is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Memorial envelopes are available at the funeral home. Please join the family in honoring Howard Lee “Woody” Wright by posting your memories and tributes. Click here to leave a message for the family!