Obituaries

Feb 11, 2023

Eric Donaldson Gower, 82, of Annapolis, IL, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. He was born on June 22, 1940, in Nyack, NY, the son of Claude Gower & Virginia Donaldson, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his stillborn son, Joseph...

Feb 7, 2023

Linda Wernz, 66, of West Union, IL, passed away unexpectedly on February 7, 2023, at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, IN. She was born on January 10, 1957, in Oconomowoc, WI, the daughter of Marvin & Beverly (LaRue) Van Metre, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law, Robert Wernz; her...

Feb 5, 2023

Marion "Bub" Bailey, 78, of Palestine, IL, passed away on February 5, 2023, at BridgePointe Health Campus in Vincennes, IN. He was born on November 5, 1944, in Flat Rock, IL, the son of James & Iva (Bathe) Bailey. He grew up in the Flat Rock area, where he attended school before transferring to the Robinson school district. He...

Feb 2, 2023

Mary Kathryn (Knoblett) Rodgers, 90, of Robinson, IL, passed away on February 2, 2023, at Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson. She was born on February 29, 1932, in Alice, TX, the daughter of O.H. & Ada (Stokes) Knoblett. After graduating from Robinson Township High School in 1948, Mary went to work as a secretary for the Cox & Cox...

Jan 29, 2023

Judith Colliflower Eckert, 85, of Hutsonville, IL, passed away on January 29, 2023, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. She was born on July 10, 1937, in Palestine, the daughter of Dolph & Elizabeth (Newlin) Colliflower. Judy grew up in the Lamotte Prairie/Hutsonville area, where her Colliflower, Newlin, Swinger, Cox, and Layton ancestors settled before Illinois became a...

Jan 27, 2023

Anna Jean Purcell, 85, of Palestine, IL, passed away on January 27, 2023, at Robinson Rehab & Nursing in Robinson, IL. She was born on December 14, 1937, in Oaktown, IN, the daughter of Parmer Waldroup & Cordia "Sis" (Neer) Waldroup, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brother, John Waldroup,...

Jan 27, 2023

Robert "Bob" Fox, 76, of Robinson, IL, died unexpectedly on January 27, 2023, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Evansville, IN, following an accident from a fall at his home. He was born May 27, 1946, in Marion, IL, to Robert and Veta (Fowler) Fox of Marion, IL. He was married to his wife of 44 years, Nancy.

Jan 19, 2023

Leonard Weck, 86, of rural Robinson, IL, passed away on January 19, 2023, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, IN. He was born on May 12, 1936, in rural Annapolis, IL, the son of Rex Weck & Effie Fern (Galey) Weck. He grew up in the rural Annapolis area, where he daily lent a hand on the family farm,...

Jan 17, 2023

Stanley Alan Batman, 80, of Oblong, IL, died unexpectedly on January 17, 2023. He was born on June 11, 1942, in Robinson, IL the son of Maurice and Veda Batman. Stan spent 8 years in the US Navy, serving on submarines including the Sam Houston. He returned to Robinson and was employed at Marathon Oil Company until his retirement....

Jan 14, 2023

Melodie Ann Fugate, 65, of Palestine, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Evansville, IN. She was born on November 14, 1957, in Reno, NV, to Gerald "Larry" Moisan & Joyce (Lombard) Moisan, both of whom preceded her in death. She married William "Bill" Fugate on September 15, 2009, and he preceded her...

Jan 12, 2023

Morris Dean "Dean-O" Jordan, 77, of Palestine, IL, passed away on January 12, 2023, surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home. He was born on September 24, 1945, in Palestine, the son of Beauford "Boots" & Edith Dale Jordan.

He grew up in Robinson, IL, and joined the United States Navy in...

Jan 10, 2023

Virginia G. Goff, 83, of Hutsonville, IL, passed away on January 10, 2023, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. She was born on September 24, 1939, in Hardinville, IL, the daughter of Everett Littlejohn & Gladys (Melton) Littlejohn-Coatney. She grew up in the Hardinville area and married Joe Goff at the age of 16. The Goffs soon started...

Jan 10, 2023

Fredric Alan Liffick, 66, of rural West Union, IL, passed away unexpectedly on January 10, 2023, at his home. He was born on March 4, 1956, in Robinson, IL, the son of Wilbert Sherman Liffick & Virginia Irene (Ballard) Liffick. According to this natural-born storyteller, his parents paid the doctor a chicken for delivering their baby! Fred grew up...

Jan 9, 2023

James "Jimmy" Brown, 36, of Flat Rock, IL, passed away on January 9, 2023, following a brief but valiant fight with cancer. He was born on October 23, 1986, in Robinson, IL, the son of Robert & Sherri Brown. He grew up in the rural Flat Rock area, where he would develop a lifelong passion for animals. He held...

Jan 3, 2023

Mandy Goff, 86, of Robinson, IL, passed away on January 3, 2023, at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL. She was born on July 24, 1936, the daughter of Amos Henry & Gracie Ellen (Goff) Higgins. She grew up in the Port Jackson area and eventually graduated from Oblong High School. She married Norman Goff on June 15,...

Jan 2, 2023

Meredith Jean "Gramsy" Shaffer, 88, of Robinson, IL, formerly of Palestine, IL, passed away on January 2, 2023, in the comfort of her home, with her beloved family by her side. She was born on July 11, 1934, the daughter of Oris & Grace (Cooper) Conrad, both of whom preceded her in death. She married James Ferral "Shaf" Shaffer,...

Jan 1, 2023

Christy Fox, 63, of Lawrenceville, IL, died unexpectedly on January 1, 2023, at her home in Lawrenceville. She was born on January 15, 1959, in Lawrenceville, to James "Bud" & Norma (Padgett) Spencer, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Jim Spencer, and her sister, Jean Lankford.

Dec 31, 2022

Betty Ruth (White) Newlin, 87, of Palestine, IL, passed away on December 31, 2022, at Robinson Rehab & Nursing. She was born on February 19, 1935, in Melrose Township, Clark County, IL, the daughter of Carl & Ruth (Baker) White, both of whom preceded her in death. She married Ira T. Newlin on December 21, 1957, and he preceded...

Dec 30, 2022

Eloise Cline, 86, of Palestine, IL, formerly of Normal, IL, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Carriage Crossing Senior Living in Arcola, IL. She was born on August 31, 1936, in Hume, IL, the daughter of Charles Leslie Cline & Ruth Esther (Simpson) Cline, both of whom preceded her death. She was also preceded in death by...

Dec 29, 2022

Dixie Fellows, 85, of Robinson, IL, passed away on December 29, 2022, at Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson. She was born on September 22, 1937, in Racine, WI, the daughter of James & Beulah (Winkler) Woodland, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Jane Shipman; her son, Jimmy Ray...