All Obituaries

Jerry Bert West, 54 of Nokomis passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at 6:38 a.m. at his residence in Nokomis. He was born on January 7, 1964 in Hillsboro, IL the son of Ray Eugene and Betty Ruth (Nicholes) West. He married Rita Cushing on February 10, 1990 in Assumption, IL. Jerry worked as the superintendent of the Nokomis quarry. He was a scout master for ten years for cub scouts and boy scout troop 99 of Nokomis. He also loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and his purple martins. He...

Lolita McConnell, 64 of Taylorville passed away on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 1:10 a.m. at her residence in Taylorville, IL. She was born on November 17, 1953 in Pana, IL the daughter of Don and Shirley (Pastor) Griffiths. She married Dennis McConnell on August 1, 1969 in Union City, TN and they later divorced. Lolita worked at Bob Ridings in Taylorville doing licensing and title work. She is survived by her Daughters: Denean (Companion Chris Orange) Etchison of Pana, IL; Amanda (Shawn)...

Natalie H. Upchurch, 87 of Taylorville passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11:12 a.m. at Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, IL. She was born on February 25, 1931 in Taylorville, IL the Daughter of Homer and Helen (Hunter) Martin. She married George Upchurch on July 3, 1952 in Taylorville, IL and he preceded her in death on April 20, 2014. Natalie worked as a Catalog manager at JC Penny’s.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Taylorville, IL,...

Myrtle Marie McCaslin, 105 of Nokomis passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 2:10 p.m. at Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Nokomis. She was born on July 8, 1913 in Montgomery County, IL the daughter of Sherman Henry and Ida Bell (Revis) Sanders. She married Earnie McCaslin on October 12, 1930 and he preceded her in death on August 17, 1972. Surviving are her Son: Randy McCaslin of Nokomis, IL; Daughters: Connie (Ronald) Hughes of Sheridan, IL; Vivian Eileen Hill of...

Anna Marie McVey, 91 of Taylorville passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 10:50 p.m. at Meadow Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taylorville, IL. She was born on September 13, 1927 in Blue Mound, IL the Daughter of Joseph and Jane (Rigsby) Nolen. She married Joseph McVey on March 7, 1944 and he preceded her in death on February 13, 1991. Anna worked as a waitress in her younger days and later she helped her husband on the farm. She is survived by her Daughters:...

Billie Earlene Beard-Johnson (affectionately known as "Auntie Beans"), 71, of Sherman, Illinois formerly of Corcoran, California, passed away on September 28, 2018 at 5:42 p.m. at The Villas Senior Care Center surrounded by family. Billie was born on July 28, 1947 in Chicago to Bill and Marcella Beard. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Billie was the owner and operator of Oak Tree Press Publishing Company...

Shirley Dunkirk, 78 of Taylorville passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 1:15 p.m. at her home in Taylorville, IL. She was born on February 16, 1940 in Taylorville, IL the daughter of Chester and Zelma (Peacher) Basil. She married Donald Dunkirk on February 16m 1957 in Kincaid, IL. She is survived by her Husband of 61 years Donald Dunkirk of Taylorville, IL; Sons: Mike (Renee) Dunkirk of Edinburg, IL; Jim (Terra) Dunkirk of Springfield, IL; Daughters: Debbie (Leonard) Gesell of...

Robert Ellis, 66 of Taylorville passed away on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 5:17 p.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL. He was born on July 25, 1952 in Lincoln, IL the son of Jack and Mary Helen (Lee) Ellis. He married Sandy Johnson and she preceded him in death. Robert worked as a bricklayer in the Bricklayers Union Local #8 in Springfield, IL. The world has lost a good, kind, gentle man.  His friends called him Cowboy. Although he had many endearing qualities, the one...

Justin Craig, 32 of Springfield, IL passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 11:19 a.m. at his home in Springfield, IL after a long and brave battle against Ewing Sarcoma. He was born on March 9, 1986 in Taylorville, IL the son of Lori (Bill) Buschon and John (Marlene) Craig. He married his long-time fiancé Vanessa Martin on November 9, 2016 in Seattle, WA. He was the Senior Systems Engineer for Epic Games. Justin was an exceptional human being, who achieved far beyond the...

Joseph Robert Brown, 31 of Des Moines, IA, passed away of natural causes on Sept. 18, 2018 at his home in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born on March 11, 1987 in Concord, Calif. He is a graduate of Walnut Creek High School in Des Moines and was working in the food services industry. Joe had a passion and talent for music from a very young age. He played bass guitar and loved playing music with his family. He cherished being a big brother to his younger sisters and he devoted much of his life to...