Area Obituaries

Loren Arnold Barger, age 91, passed away at Carrier Mills Rehab Care Center. He was born September 30, 1930 in Pope County to Loren S. Barger and Roena Alma Williams Barger. After graduating from Pope County High School in 1948 he went to Caterpillar Tractor Co. in East Peoria. He served two years in the…

Jo Ann Hathaway-Baldwin, 53, of Elizabethtown, died at 5:37 a.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Hardin County General Hospital. Jo Ann was born October 9, 1967 to Donald Earl and Sandra Lee (Nevious) Hathaway. Jo Ann attended Macedonia Baptist Church. Jo Ann is survived by her husband, George J. Baldwin; son, Zachary T. Sisco of…

Robert “Bobby Jo” Foster, 56, of Rosiclare, Illinois died at home on Friday, October 8, 2021. Bobby is survived by his children, Jonathan Randell (Kelli) Smith, Dalton Joseph Foster, April Dale Foster, Brayden Lee Foster/Mason, Haley Faye Foster, Jenna Rose Foster, Courtney (Jenny) Renfroe; mother, Mary Anna McGhee; siblings, Football (Donna) Gulley, Chrissie (Mike Cox)…

Larry L. Vaughn Sr, 70, of Elizabethtown, IL, formerly of Manteno, IL, died on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at his home. He was born May 4, 1951 in Manteno, the son of John H. and Esther L. Vaughn. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Vaughn of Elizabethtown; children, Larry L. Vaughn Jr. of Manteno,…

Eileen Sturgill, 77, of Elizabethtown, died on Friday, October 1, 2021, in Marion, Illinois. Eileen is survived by her children, Michael (Julie) Sturgill, Cynthia (Geoff) Geittmann, and Cheryl Sturgill; grandchildren, Jessica Goins, Madeline Avripas, Nathaniel Irwin, Samuel Irwin, Seth Sturgill, and Sadie Geittmann; and great-grandchildren, Kenley Avripas, Graham Goins, and Maylee Avripas. She was preceded…

John D. O’Connor, Sr., passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. He was born April 12, 1943 in St. Louis, IL. Surviving is his wife, Kay; sons, John (Christy) O’Connor, Jr., and Matthew (Lindsey) O’Connor; grandsons, Liam O’Connor, Dexter O’Connor, and Noah Adams; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. John…

March 27, 1947 – October 2, 2021 William Dewayne Ashford, age 74, of rural Rosiclare, Illinois, passed away at 1:12 a.m., Saturday, October 2, 2021, at his home, with his family by his bedside. William Dewayne, better known to his family and friends as “Dewayne”, was born on March 27, 1947, in Rosiclare, Illinois, the…

Bobby Gene “Leroy” Bates, age 82, of Brownfield, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Center in Paducah, KY. He was born in Metropolis on May 17, 1939, to Douglas and Helen (Fowler) Bates. He graduated from Carrier Mills High School. Leroy, as he was affectionately known, volunteered…

Barney Furman Bush, Shawnee/Cayuga of Herod, Illinois, died on Saturday, September 18, 2021. He was born in Harrisburg on August 27, 1944 to Ruth Evangeline (Vinyard) Bush and Ownly Furman Bush. His maternal grandparents were Clyde and Etta (Tyer) Vinyard and his paternal grandparents were Robert and Hattie (Reynolds) Bush. Mr. Bush is survived by…

James Wayland Potts, 86, of Herod, IL passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Harrisburg Medical Center. James is survived by his wife of 66 years, Norma J. Lindsay Potts; daughter, Kathy (Ernie) Pennell, Cave-in-Rock, IL; son, James Burtis Potts of Herod, IL; granddaughters, Brandi Pennell of Cave-in-Rock, Amanda (Adam) Morton of Raleigh, IL,…