Molly was a pillar of her family, a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. Adventurous, fun-loving, ambitious, and boisterous, she was dedicated to her family, passionate about her work, and committed to serving her community.
Molly is preceded in death by her mother and father, and she leaves behind her husband, John Buehner, their daughter, Allison Buehner, and her three sisters, Beth Kiningham, Rebecca Rowe, and Priscilla Reynolds and their families.
Molly was a loved member of the Petersburg community, moving with her mama and sisters to the town from Arkansas when she was in third grade, and later graduating from PORTA high school in 1977. She participated in her church’s choir and bell choir, madrigal performances, and was a foreign exchange mother to two PORTA students, Vivi and Natalia.
She graduated Eastern Illinois University on a debate scholarship. Molly spent 14 years in radio and television news starting at WTAX, then working as a reporter and anchor at WCIA, where she met her husband John. Then, she became the Statehouse Capitol Bureau Chief for WCIA and WMBD. Shortly after becoming a mother, she worked at Illinois Power before shifting to nonprofit work, and retired in the spring of 2020 after 18 years as the Executive Director of the Energy Education Council, a national nonprofit she built from a small University of Illinois initiative, that served electric utilities and their customers.
She was an award-winning communicator, including national recognitions such as Clarion Awards and the Telly Award. Molly is also a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) and a Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Molly held leadership roles in her volunteer board work as well, serving as president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, Illinois Society of Association Executives, Unity Church of Champaign, IL and Springfield, IL, Central IL Public Relations Society of America, Association of Women in Communication National and Springfield, IL, and historic New Salem Lincoln League.
The visitation will be held at Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, IL from 4-7pm on Wednesday, April 5th. On Thursday, April 6th, a visitation will be held at 10am preceding the funeral services at 11am at Central Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Douglas Petersburg, IL. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Petersburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com
Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg, IL is assisting the family with arrangements.
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