Obituaries

Lois J. Goodson, 78, of Albion, Illinois passed away at 1:59 a.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at her residence. She was born October 29, 1933 in Wayne County, Illinois. Her parents were Albert Simms and Ella Medler. On February 15, 1953 she married Allen Goodson in Albion and he preceded her in death. Lois was a telephone operator, and employee of Meissners and Champion. She was a member of Olive Church and was a major worker at the Edwards County Historical Society. She is survived by son Allen (Renee) Goodson, Jr. of Allendale, Illinois; two brothers: Robert Simms of Mt. Carmel, Illinois and Larry Simms of West Salem, Illinois; sister Wanda Roosevelt of Albion; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers: Don and Bill Simms, and an infant sibling. Visitation for Lois J. Goodson will be held Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 6 to 8 and funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 3, 2012 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Edwards County Historical Society. Nales Funeral Home in Albion in charge of arrangements.

Kenneth “Ken” M. Gill, 89 of Albion, Illinois passed away Monday, January 30, 2012 at Rest Haven Manor in Albion. Ken was born September 17, 1922 in rural Albion, Illinois. His parents were Lyman and Myrtle (Durham) Gill. He married Patricia Henderson, May 30, 1964 at the First United Methodist Church in Albion with Rev. Gail Hines officiating and she survives. Ken was a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service until retiring. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Albion, a member of the Albion VFW, and a former member of Albion Rotary Club. He served his country during WWII in the European theatre. He enjoyed his family, friends, loved to play his guitar, working in his yard and flowers and gardening. Wood working was one of his specialties. Another pastime was fishing, which took him to lakes in Canada, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He is survived by his wife Pat of Albion, 3 daughters; Charlotte McKechnie of Collinsville, Illinois; Karin (Phil) Gray of Albion, Illinois; Cindy Hocking of Albion, Illinois; two sons; Scott (Fay) Hedrick of Noble, Illinois; Gil (Kathleen) Hedrick of Hudsonville, Michigan; one sister; Virginia Tice of Pittsfield, Illinois; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Rev. Robert Gill and his first wife Anna Hogue Gill. Funeral service will be Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Albion with visitation starting at 12 noon until time of service at the church. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Albion. Ingram Funeral Home of Albion, Illinois is entrusted with all arrangements. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Albion. Online condolences may be made at www.ingramfh.net.

Zelma E. Smithpeters, 82 of Albion, Illinois passed away Friday, January 27, 2012 at Olney Health Care and Rehab in Olney, Illinois. Zelma was born February 28, 1929 in Springerton, Illinois. Her parents were Rene and Viola (Wheeler) Rockett. She married Merrill Weber and he preceded her in death. She worked as a seamstress for Johnnye Manufactory of Albion for many years. She was a member of the American Legion and VFW Ladies Auxiliary at Grayville, Illinois. She was also a great gardener and well known for her vegetables. She is survived by one daughter, Carolyn Selheimer of Schertz, Texas and one son, John (Marianne) Weber of Albion, Illinois. She is also survived by four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, four brothers, two sisters and one grandson. A graveside service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society. Ingram Funeral Home of Albion, Illinois is entrusted with all arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.ingramfh.net.

Robert Shupe, Sr., 91, of Peoria, Arizona formerly of Albion, Illinois passed away at 12:15 p.m., January 20, 2012 at Hospice of the Valley, Peoria, Arizona. He was born on September 14, 1920 in Albion, Illinois. His parents were Wesley Shupe and Parthenia Collins Shupe. On April 23, 1941 he married Mildred Orr Shupe. Robert was a Methods Analyst, member of the Methodist Church, and U.S. Army Veteran of World War II receiving four Bronze Stars. He is survived by two sons: Robert Shupe, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona and Greg (Diane) of Fountain Hills, Arizona; daughter Cindy (Ivan Butterworth) Shupe of Glendale, Arizona; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Mildred. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of 11 a.m. service, January 31, 2012 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Albion, Illinois. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with Bro. David Shain officiating. Memorials may be made to AMVET Squadron 7, 17030 Enterprise Rd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268.

Jackie “Jack” Earl Cowling, 80 passed away Monday, January 23, 2012 at his residence. Jack was born June 20, 1931 in Browns, Illinois. His parents were Earl and Ethel (McRoberts) Cowling. He married Nancy Baker, March 29, 1968 at the Marion Christian Church of West Salem, Illinois and she survives. Jack worked at Champion Lab for 25 years. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Albion, Illinois. He loved his family, especially enjoying his grandkids and grand dogs. He is survived by his wife Nancy, two daughters: Brenda Lea (Jahue) Briggs of West Salem, Illinois and Anita Sue (Mark) Pettigrew of Albion, Illinois; 5 grandchildren: Jason Allen Briggs, Jennifer Rose Briggs, Crystal Lynn Smith, Harold Robert Briggs and Mariah Dawn Pettigrew; two great-grandchildren: Benjamin Eveland and Ava Briggs; and ten nieces and four nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters: Margaret Jean Kissen, Mary Ann Cowling, Shirley June Weir, Beverly Jane Reynolds; two brothers: Robert James Cowling, Sr. and Donald Leon Cowling, Sr.; and one nephew, Barkley Cowling. Funeral service will be held Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Ingram Funeral Home in Albion, Illinois. Burial will be in Browns Cemetery in Browns, Illinois. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ingram Funeral Home in Albion, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Browns Cemetery, American Cancer Society or the Edwards County Senior Citizens. Online condolences may be made at www.ingramfh.net.

Billie Mac Blackford, 75, of Fairfield, Illinois passed away at 8:41 a.m. Friday, January 20, 2012 in WayFair Restorium in Fairfield. Billie was born December 14, 1936 at Mill Shoals, Illinois. His parents were Lewis Blackford and Flossie Opal Bond Blackford. He married Gayala Walters on April 22, 1988 at Paducah, Kentucky. He was retired from Airtex Products and attended the Mill Shoals Gospel Assembly Church. Billie is survived by wife Gayala Blackford of Fairfield; three sons: Cal Blackford of Albion, Illinois, Scott and wife Emma Alligood of Dacula, Georgia, Michael and wife Kathy Alligood of Metcalf, Illinois; five daughters: Brenda and husband Richard Qualls of Decatur, Illinois; Opal and husband Clyde Decker of Hasty, Arkansas, Lisa and husband Ralph Yancey of Harrison, Arkansas, Jackie and husband Sam Haas of Albion, Illinois and April and husband Tim McGill of Panama City Beach, Florida; sister Elouise Carlock of Mill Shoals; 23 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation was held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Gospel Assembly Church in Mill Shoals. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 22, 2012 at the Church. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Maple Hill Cemetery with Bro. John Reed and Bro. Bob Peach officiating. Memorials may be made to Mill Shoals Gospel Assembly Church.

Genevieve J. Moats, 94, of Fairfield, Illinois passed away at 6:19 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2012 at Deaconess Hospice Care Center in Evansville, Indiana. She was born June 9, 1917 in Albion, Illinois. Her parents were Joseph Elliott and Celia Ellen Snelling. On September 26, 1936, she married Charlie F. Moats in Fairfield. He preceded her in death on October 28, 2002. Genevieve was a homemaker and former member of Mt. Erie United Methodist Church. She attended Ellen Moore United Methodist Church. She is survived by four daughters: Joselene (Kelly) Smith, Mava Moats, Mary Moats, and Dora (Allen Schnell all of Fairfield; grandchild Larissa (David) Branstetter of Evansville, Indiana; step-grandchild Lisa Smith of Kings Mountain, Kentucky; one great-grandchild, three step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren; nephew Tex Moats of Fairfield; niece Janice Jones of Newburgh, Indiana and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, and one sister. Visitation will be held Monday evening, January 23, 2012 from 6 to 8 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in McKendree Cemetery with Rev. Brett Yates and Rev. Jim Williams officiating.