obituaries

Jul 4, 2025

Melody G. "Mel" Oye, 62, passed away on July 4th, 2025 at 2:48 p.m. at Carle Hospital, after a quiet battle with cancer. Mel was loud in every way — her voice, her laugh, and especially her wardrobe. A proud lover of neon colors and a good handbag (the bigger, the better), she never once faded into the background....

Jun 27, 2025

Kelly Gale Castleman-Staley, 53, of Carbondale, IL (formerly of Decatur, IL), died Friday, June 27, 2025 at Liberty Village, Carbondale, IL.

Kelly was born February 9, 1972 in Decatur, daughter of Richard and Frances (Luck) Castleman. During her youth, she was active in Decatur YMCA Gymnastics team for many years.  Kelly graduated from Eisenhower High School in...

Jun 24, 2025

Ralph Joseph "Joe" Waldrop of Champaign, formerly of Tuscola, went to be with Our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

Joe was born on the family farm west of Villa Grove on April 27, 1938. He was the fifth child of Ralph and Elizabeth Burrows Waldrop. His parents, sisters: Ruth McIntosh, Betty Martin and brothers: John...

Jun 23, 2025

Gaila (Grubb) Ross of Monticello, formerly of Tuscola, died on Monday, June 23, 2025, surrounded by her children and the dedicated staff at Piatt County Nursing Home.

A visitation is scheduled from 3 to 5 pm on Saturday, July 12 at the Tuscola United Methodist Church. A private family inurnment will follow.

Gaila was born...

Jun 23, 2025

Othella "Kitty" Eblin, 92, of Tuscola, passed away at 10:31 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Haven of Tuscola, Tuscola, IL.

Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2025 at the Brown Cemetery, rural Mt. Erie, IL.

Kitty was born on May 14, 1933 in Mt. Erie, the daughter of...

Jun 20, 2025

Evelyn Carrillo, 85, of Atwood, passed away at 8:15 a.m., Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Haven of Tuscola, Tuscola, IL

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Atwood, 231 North Illinois Street, Atwood, IL with Dr. Lanny Faulkner officiating. Burial will follow in the Mackville...

Jun 20, 2025

It is with great sadness that the family and loved ones of Cynthia Jean "Cindy" Moore, 65, of Jacksonville, Florida, formerly of Arcola, announce her sudden passing on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 1:00 a.m. EST at Baptist Medical Center Downtown, Jacksonville, Florida.

Cindy was born August 22, 1959 in Mattoon, the daughter of Robert and Myrna...

Jun 16, 2025

Sue A. Binder, 88, of Hammond, IL, passed away on Monday evening, June 16, 2025 at her residence.

Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Hammond Cemetery with Rev. Leland Legg officiating. No visitation will be held.

Sue was born October 28, 1936 in Olney, the daughter of...

Jun 15, 2025

Samuel "Sam" D. Melton, 78, of Tuscola, passed away at 12:48 a.m. Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Sam was born on December 4, 1946 in Murdock, IL the son of John and Leona Long Melton.  He married Mary E. Benson on October 16, 1970. They lived on the farm in Tuscola for...

Jun 5, 2025

Cynthia Rose Demaree, 71, of Tolono, IL passed away peacefully at Arbor Rose in Tolono surrounded by her loving family at 4:15pm on Thursday June 5, 2025, following a battle with dementia.

Born on May 28, 1954, in Brazil, IN, Cindy was the daughter of the late William and Margaret Johnson. She grew up in Arthur, IL...

May 26, 2025

Denese E. Benison, 70, of Crystal Lake, IL, passed away at 9:30 a.m., Monday, May 26, 2025 at her residence.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Arcola Cemetery, Arcola, IL.

She was born on July 16, 1954 in Tuscola, the daughter of John Andrew and Patricia Ann...

May 25, 2025

Betty Louise Emberton Jones, 95, of Tuscola, passed away Sunday May 25, 2025.

Betty was born May 19,1930 in rural Douglas County to Earl and Bernice McCoskey Emberton. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1948.

Betty married Edward L. Jones on June 1,1950 in Charleston. They enjoyed almost 55 years of marriage until Ed's...

May 22, 2025

It is with great sadness that the family of Diann Smith Hance announce her sudden passing on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at the age of 66 with her family by her side.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 42 years, Ronald W Hance; children: Benjiman Hance (Jamie) and Amanda Rubush (Jeremy); grandchildren: Gabriella, Aydan,...

May 21, 2025

Vida Jean Murry, 82, of Tuscola, passed away at 11:06 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL surrounded by her family members and friends.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL.  Visitation will be...

May 21, 2025

Charles E. "Chuck" Dewey, 83, of Tuscola, passed away at 10:35 a.m., Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Mattoon Rehab and Health Care Center, Mattoon, IL

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery with...

May 18, 2025

Gayle Lynne Fornshell, 61, of Arthur, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon.

Gayle was born November 28, 1963 in Carlinville, the daughter of Eldon and Sherron (Ruberg) Vance.  She married Lester William "Bill" Fornshell III in Sullivan on   October 20, 2020.

May 14, 2025

James Douglas Honn, affectionately known as Doug to his family and friends, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2025, at the age of 73. He was born on March 21, 1952, in Mattoon, Illinois, to James B. Honn and Barbara (Bryant) Honn.

Doug married Sheila (Bee) Honn in 1974, and together they shared 50 years of love,...

May 11, 2025

Barbara Dean Gerichs, 89, of Arthur, died at 9:40 p.m. Sunday, May 11, 2025 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

Private family service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur, with Danny Powell as officiant.  Burial will follow in the Arthur Cemetery.

...

May 7, 2025

Stephanie Kay Lambrecht, 55, of Tuscola, passed away peacefully in the early hours on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

She is survived by her 2 daughters: Emily Lambrecht and Heather Lambrecht, brother-in-law: Jason Nyenhuis and 3 grandchildren: Blake, Sylas and Hudson.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her father...

May 6, 2025

Peggy Joan Gregory, 87 of Atwood, passed away at 8:40 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at the Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Family Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the Cartwright Cemetery, rural Tuscola, IL

Peggy was born on October 7, 1937 in Tuscola, the daughter of Clifford...