U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Gerry Weir
RED BUD -- Gerry Weir, 78, of Red Bud, passed away at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, in Lakeview Memorial Gardens-Reiss Chapel in Fairview Heights, with the Revs. William Graves and Bob Koch officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel. She was born to the late William and Louise (Langenwalter) Schmitt on April 23, 1926. She married Jack Weir on Sept. 14, 1946, and he preceded her in death on Sept. 7, 1975. She owned and operated Gerry's Closet Clothing Store in Red Bud for 10 years. She was a member of St. Peters United Church of Christ in Red Bud. Survivors include three children and their spouses, Judy and Steve Flowers of Indianapolis, Ind., Jane and Mark Johnson of Waterloo, and Jim and Mary Jo Weir of Chester; one son-in-law, Norm Roy of Red Bud; two brothers, B. J. 'Nobbe' Schmitt of Highland and Jack L. Schmitt of Belleville; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; and one daughter, Joy Roy. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Shelia Niemeier
TILDEN -- Shelia D. Niemeier, 52, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004, in Sparta Community Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Wilson Funeral Home in Tilden.
Jacqueline Walker
CREAL SPRINGS -- Jacqueline Sue Walker, 63, died at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004, in Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. Arrangements are incomplete at Blue Funeral Home in Marion.
Delmar Gossett
MULKEYTOWN -- Delmar Gossett, 83, died at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, at home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004, in Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with Brother Kurt Jensen officiating. Interment will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mr. Gossett was a coal miner at Freeman No. 3 in Waltonville for 42 years until he retired. He was both a deacon and a 45-year member of the First Christian Church in Mulkeytown. He was a 60-year member of the United Mine Workers of America. He was an
Army veteran of World War II. He was born Feb. 26, 1921, in Osage, to Samuel I. and Elizabeth (Davis) Gossett. He married Anna Jane Gossett, and she preceded him in death on March 18, 1995. Survivors include three children and their spouses, Gordon and Pat Gossett, Sue and Bob Osborn, and James and JoAnn Gossett, all of Mulkeytown; his special friend, Helen Perryman of Elkville; 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Jeff and Darcey Gossett, Brent and Angie Gossett, Kara and Glen Pinkham, Amy Gossett, Amanda and Scott Thomas, Bobby and Carrie Osborn, Ed Gossett, Shawn Gossett, Jayma and Eric Mueller, Kim and Jeremy Mays, and Lindsey Gossett; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five sisters, three brothers, one granddaughter and one great-grandson.
Robert Harold Cruse
MOUNDS -- Robert Harold Cruse, 85, of Jensen Beach, Fla., formerly of Mounds, died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in the Parkway Health and Rehab in Stuart, Fla. Mr. Cruse was born in Grand Tower and lived in Jensen Beach for 48 years, moving from Mounds. Before his retirement in 1981, he was a purchasing supervisor for the Martin County School District for six years. He served in the
Army. Mr. Cruse was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Billy Agnes (Gunn) Cruse, who died on Nov. 27, 1999. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Mikal and Cindy Cruse and their three children, all of Jensen Beach, Fla.; one daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Bob Becker and their three children, all of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; one sister, Helen Hock of Detroit, Mich.; and three great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, in the Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, with the Rev. Kelly Cox officiating and interment following. Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge is in charge of the services. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to the Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie, 1201 Southeast Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997.
James Fark
HARRISBURG -- James O. Fark, 64, died at 3:28 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in Harrisburg Medical Center. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in Sunset Lawn Cemetery, with the Rev. Kendall Jones officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Reed Funeral Chapel.
Roena Smith
SHAWNEETOWN -- Roena F. Smith, 73, died at 9:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in Harrisburg Medical Center. Services will be at 6 p.m. today in Vickery Funeral Chapel in Shawneetown, with the Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be private in Westwood Cemetery
in Shawneetown. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Emma French
McLEANSBORO -- Emma French, 97, died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in the McLeansboro Health Care Center. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, with the Rev. John Lee Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery
in McLeansboro. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Anna Ott
McLEANSBORO -- Anna M. Ott, 88, of Belleville, formerly of McLeansboro, died at 4:10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in the Lincoln Home in Belleville. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in St. Clements Catholic Church in McLeansboro, with Monsignor Joseph Lawler officiating. Burial will be in St. Clements Cemetery
in McLeansboro. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, with a rosary service at 7 p. m.
Victor Russell
ANNA -- Victor Russell, 84, of Alamo, Texas, formerly of Anna, died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004, in Mission Hospital in Mission, Texas. Arrangements are pending at the Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.
John H. Erby II
CARTERVILLE -- John H. 'Jack' Erby II, 84, of Carterville, died at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in Oak Grove Rehabilitation and Skilled Care in Carbondale. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin, with Monsignor Ken Schaefer officiating. Burial will be in San Carlo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Meredith-Waddell Funeral Home. Memorials may be made Hospice of Southern Illinois or San Carlo Cemetery
fund.
William George Jr.
AVA -- William George Jr., 76, died at 2:50 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004, in the Rehab and Care Center in Murphysboro. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava, with President Riley 'Rick' Fletcher and President William Burke officiating. Burial will be in Walker Hill Cemetery
in Grand Tower. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarium Fund.
Sandra Testory
WEST FRANKFORT -- Sandra Testory, 67, died at 8:40 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, in Herrin Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at the Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort.
John Casey
CAMBRIA -- John J. Casey, 80, died Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, at home. Arrangements are pending at Riggin-Pillatsch Funeral Home in Carterville.
Margaret E. Carter Henry
CARBONDALE -- Margaret E. Carter Henry, 84, of Carbondale, died on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004, in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Margaret was born on Nov. 9, 1920, to Louis and Martha (Mills) Hertter. She married Chelsea L. Carter in 1939, and he preceded her in death at the young age of 34. She later found happiness and married Chester W. Henry, who died in 1955. Margaret also suffered the loss of her daughter and best friend, Karen F. Carter; her sister, Mary Miller; and her brother, Louis Hertter II. Margaret was a longtime member of The Door Christian Fellowship Church and never lost her faith even when life dealt difficult blows. She leaves her family with the philosophy, 'To do whatever it takes with a smile, and joy in the heart. Survivors include two sons, Chuck Carter and wife, Edwina, and Jerry Henry and fiancee, Debbie Hess, all of Carbondale. Gram will be greatly missed by her four grandchildren, Tim Carter, Emily Carter and husband, Bill Wilkison, Matt Carter and wife, Carla, and Tracey Ellis, and her three great-grandsons, Andrew and Michael Wilkison and Cody Norris. She also leaves several nieces and nephews. Visitation will precede the funeral service from 9:30 to 11 a.m. today at Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale. Services will follow immediately, with the Rev. Terry Haynes officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes. Association Research Foundation. It was Margaret's wish that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren never suffer the consequences of this disease.
Elizabeth 'Betty' Stuart
CAIRO -- Elizabeth F. 'Betty' Stuart, 85, of Cairo, died Sunday morning, Nov. 28, 2004, in Daystar Care Center in Cairo. Miss Stuart was born on Jan. 10, 1919, in Cairo, the daughter of the late Edward John Sr. and Elizabeth (Williams) Stuart. Miss Stuart was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo and the St. Patrick's Church Altar Guild. She retired after 30 years of service as a bookkeeper for the Cairo Public Utility Company and 20 years of service as a bookkeeper for Dr. Johnson's office in Cairo. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Edward Stuart Jr.; her sister, Mary Eleanor Powell; one infant sister; and one infant brother. She is survived by one sister, Jean Stuart Swoboda of Cairo; several nieces and their spouses, including Janet and Billy Moses of Mounds, Mary Ellen and Larry Mohundro of Cape Girardeau, Betty and Dave Schnake of Carterville, Cathy Dean of Cairo, Mary Ann and Frank Rhodes of Nashville, Tenn., and Betsy and Bob Gardner of Hot Springs, N. C.; several nephews and their spouses, including Stuart and Kathy Swoboda of Cape Girardeau, Edward and Patti Swoboda of Lancaster, Pa., Bill Powell of Tullahoma, Tenn., and Bo and Marti Powell of Cleveland, Tenn.; and other relatives and many friends. Visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo, with the Holy Rosary recited at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. A funeral Mass for Miss Stuart will be conducted at 11 a.m. today in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo, with Monsignor Bill McGee as celebrant. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery
in Villa Ridge. At the request of the family, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Cairo Public Library, 1609 Washington Avenue, Cairo, IL 62914, or St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 312 Ninth Street, Cairo, IL 62914, in memory of Miss Stuart.
Mary (Nolan) Riseling
MURPHYSBORO -- Mary E. (Nolan) Riseling, 89, of Springfield, formerly of Murphysboro, died 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004, in St. John's Hospital Hospice Unit in Springfield. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro, with the Rev. Tom Hobson officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crawshaw Funeral Home. Interment will be in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Mrs. Riseling was born in Gorham on Aug. 31, 1915, the daughter of the late William Nolan and the late Bertie (Richardson) Nolan. She married William E. Riseling in Murphysboro on March 29, 1941, and he preceded her in death on Sept. 9, 1985. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Vicki Riseling of Effingham, and one daughter, Mary I. Riseling of Springfield. She was a retired hairdresser. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Murphysboro. Over the years Mary was very active in community service organizations such as the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, the Paul Stout Post American Legion Auxiliary, the Jackson County Rehab and Care Center Auxiliary, the Jackson County Historical Society, the Women of the Moose Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary. She was a past president and very active member of the Murphysboro Senior Citizens for many years. Memorials may be made to Murphysboro Senior Citizens.
