U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Louie Earl 'Bud' 'Snoopy' Grammer
MARION -- Louie Earl "Bud" "Snoopy" Grammer, 54, passed away at 8:05 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in St. John's Breech Medical Center in Lebanon, Mo. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, in Blue Funeral Home in Marion, with the Rev. Don Colson and Pastor Cindy Freeland officiating. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery
in Marion, with military rites by Marion VFW Post 1301. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Mr. Grammer was born Aug. 31, 1948, in Murphysboro, to Louie Earl and Maeceal Benton Grammer. Survivors include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Tammy and John Simmons of Johnston City, Teresa and Steven Hilliard of Marion, and Tracy Grammer of Marion; a son, Brian Grammer of Marion; three grandchildren, Megan Simmons, Cameron Bond and Hailey Hilliard; his mother and stepfather, Maeceal and Shirley Yearian of Oraville; three sisters, Sandy Cherry of Kentucky, Helen Murphy of California, and Leveda Mae Grammer of Missouri; the mother of his children, Patricia Grammer; and his loving companion and her family, Brenda Kay Crain, Clyde Stevenson, Richard and Dana Taylor and Dustyn and Autumn Taylor. He was preceded in death by his father, two sisters, Virginia and Carol Jean, and a brother, Johnny Grammer.
Rebecca Baty
SESSER -- Rebecca C. Baty, 80, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in her son's home in Blue Island. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Brayfield- Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, with the Rev. Harl Ray Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mrs. Baty was a retired waitress. She was a member of Lady's Auxiliary of Sesser American Legion and VFW. She was born Aug. 16, 1923, in Valier to James and Rebecca (Clark) Morrison. She married Lawrence Baty March 28, 1945, in Chicago. He preceded her in death July 29, 1996. Survivors include four sons and two daughters-in-law, James and Martha Baty of Blue Island, Robert and Delores Baty of Kansas City, Kan., Orville Baty of Streator and Larry Baty of Steator; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and two sisters.
Jeanette Choate
GRAND CHAIN -- Jeanette Choate, 78, died at 1:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at home. Arrangements are incomplete at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.
Josephine Cole
NORRIS CITY -- Josephine Wright Cole, 88, of Mattoon, formerly of Norris City, passed away at 7:32 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center in Mattoon. Josephine was born May 16, 1915, in Norris City, the daughter of Thomas Fleetwood and Jessie (Black) Wright. She married Kenneth Cole on Oct. 26, 1941, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Aug. 22, 1968. She is survived by her children, Martha Ann Whitson and husband Charles of Colorado Springs, Colo., Ann Jeanette Norberg of Mattoon and Thomas Kenneth Cole and wife Margaret Ann "Corky" of Vienna; grandchildren, Scott and Sean Whitson, Thomas Richard Carter and wife Susan, Eric Cole and wife Meesha and Tonya Jo Frehner and husband Greg; great grandchildren, Nicholas and Jacob Whitson, Thomas Edward, Nicholas and Calen Carter, Makenzie Price, Jamee Tyler and Ashlyn Cole; niece, Shirley Medley and husband Don; nephew, Bobby Joe Karnes and wife Pat; six great-nieces and nephews; as well as exceptional friends and caregivers, Sherrie Huffman, Kaye Hohn, Vickie Christman, Suzy Hart and Kim Key. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Jessie Maxine Karnes and grandson, Steven Earl Whitson. Mrs. Cole was a member of First United Methodist Church of Norris City and the Order of the Eastern Star. She had been employed as a legal secretary for Texas Eastern Pipeline at Norris City, was a White County Sheriff's Department special deputy where she took care of jail operations and dispatching and she worked for Martin and Bailey Distributors in Carmi. Josephine has lived in the Norris City area all her life but had made her home with her daughter Ann in Mattoon for the past 18 years. Mrs. Cole was a devoted wife and mother. Her family was her first and foremost interest. She always enjoyed her extended family as well and would give her all in making her children's activities memorable from making Halloween costumes to making sure Christmas and large family gatherings were special events. Services for Josephine Wright Cole will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in Campbell Hill Funeral Home of Norris City, with the Rev. Randy McGhee officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery
in Norris City. Friends may visit from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Campbell Hill Funeral Home in Norris City. Memorial contributions may be made in Josephine's honor to the Adult Day Care Center in Mattoon.
Veragene Middendorf
JOHNSTON CITY -- Veragene Middendorf, 81, of Peoria, formerly of Johnston City, died at 5:27 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, in her family home. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, at the Murman and Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City. Graveside services will immediately follow in East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Energy, with Sister Catherine Wellinghoff officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association of Illinois and Iowa. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Veragene was born on Aug. 29, 1921, in Johnston City, the daughter of Walter L. and Ruth A. (Milligan) Biehl. She was a school teacher for forty-three years. She worked for twenty-one years at Peoria District 150 at North Moor School. She was also a sales clerk at Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the Illinois and National Education Associations, and Peoria Area, Illinois and National Retired Teachers Associations. She is survived by one daughter, Bobbye Middendorf; one son-in-law John Salovaara of Chicago; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Eugene 'Gene' Spani
WEST FRANKFORT -- Eugene "Gene" Spani, 88, of West Frankfort, died at 6:25 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, in Parkway Manor in Marion. Gene was born June 20, 1915, in Benton, to Louis Spani and Pauline Lena (Kaemper) Spani. He was married to Zella Boner in Bardstown, Ky., on June 2, 1938, and she survives. Also surviving are two nieces Sharon Moss of Memphis, Tenn., and Doris Restivo of Freeman Spur. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary Ellington and Doris Huie. Gene was a member of the First Christian Church and the Franklin County Country Club both in West Frankfort. He served with the U. S.
Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945. For many years he was a salesman for Long-Airdox and retired in 1981. Services for Gene Spani will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in the Parker-Reedy Funeral Home, with Minister Gene Fox officiating. Burial will be in Boner Cemetery
in West Frankfort. Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the First Christian Church and will be accepted at the church or the funeral home.
Lewis Johnson Jr.
CAIRO -- Lewis Johnson Jr., 62, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo, with the Rev. Darryl Cox officiating. Burial will be in Mound City National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday in the church. Massie Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph DeRosa
SWANWICK -- Joseph DeRosa, 61, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, in his home. The body was donated to science and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Pyatt-Harrawood Funeral Home in Coulterville is in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Wynn
TAMAROA -- Wanda Marie Wynn, 68, died at 11 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, in Pinckneyville Community Hospital in Pinckneyville. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa, with the Rev. Joseph Crowe officiating. Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery
in Tamaroa. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Paradise Cemetery
and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Henry O. Rogers
OLMSTED -- Henry O. Rogers, 89, died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, in the Union County Hospital in Anna. Arrangements are incomplete at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge.
Doris Cline
KARNAK -- Doris Shearer Cline, 72, of Paducah, Ky., died at 12:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, in Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Maple Lawn Cemetery
in Paducah, with the Rev. Patrick Kelley officiating. There will be no visitation. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.
Mark Loomis
ANNA -- Mark Finley Loomis, 49, of Belleville, formerly of Anna, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, in his home in Belleville. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity and envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Jewell Simmons
HERRIN -- Jewell Simmons, 90, died at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, in Shawnee Christian Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Van Natta Funeral Home in Herrin.
Orval Hilliard
MARION -- Orval J. Hilliard, 85, passed away at 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, in the home of his daughter, surrounded by his family. He was born Dec. 14, 1917, in Marion, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tanner) Hilliard. Orval was united in marriage to Violet Willard on Aug. 14, 1977, in Marion. He first married Ollie Mifflin and to this union were born his daughter Sue and son Tommy. He later married Wanda Kneezle and to this union were born his sons James and Danny. He was a life member of Fellowship Lodge 89 A. F. and a.m. of Marion, was of the Protestant faith and served in the U. S.
Army. He worked for three years in the 50s in Greenland building the Tooley Air Force Base. He retired after working for more than 20 years as a steel mill crane operator for U. S. Steel in Gary, Ind. Orval is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Earl Sigler of Marion; three sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas O. and Egie Hilliard of Marion, James and Rhoda Hilliard of Marion and Danny and Barbara Hilliard of Marion; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; one sister, Louise Walker of Marion; two brothers, Fred Hilliard of Marion and Gene Hilliard of Marion and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters, Marie Stevens, Rita Pollack, Mary Hickey, Ethel Hilliard and Maude Hilliard; seven brothers, Perry Hilliard, Bob Hilliard, Sneed Hilliard, Willis Hilliard, Raymond Hilliard, Frank Hilliard and Clyde Beasley and three granddaughters, Karen Lee Hilliard, Rita Mae Hilliard and McKenna Deaton. Services for Orval J. Hilliard will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home in Marion, with the Rev. Edward L. "Shorty" Alsip officiating. military rites will be conducted at the funeral home by VFW Heyde-Pillow 1301 of Marion. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Aug. 26 at Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home in Marion. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in memory of Orval be in the form of contributions to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the American Cancer Society. Memorials may be mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, P. O. Box 370, Marion, IL 62959. Memorial contribution envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Those needing additional information may contact the funeral home by calling (618) 993-2121.
