Edward “Ray” Thum

Edward “Ray” Thum, 63, of Smithfield, passed away on December 13, 2025 at his residence. He was born on January 31, 1962 in Canton to Charles Henry “Hank” and Lois Fidler (Hess) Thum. He married Gretchen Schaller on August 8, 2008 in Smithfield. She survives along with five children; Kalyn Thum and Caleb Thum both of Smithfield, Barbara Gandy of Denver, CO, Brandon Thum of Glasford and Trisha Thum of Morton, three brothers; Chuck Thum of Greenfield, TN, Joe (Holly) Thum of Smithfield and Aaron (Veanna) Thum of Canton, one sister Penny (Dave) Grady of Lee Summit, MO, five grandchildren; Emma Thum, Brooke Thum, David Humphrey, Felix Humphrey and Charlie Humphrey and lots of nieces and nephews.

Preceding Ray in death were his parents, Hank Thum, Lois Hess and Al Hess.

Ray worked as a millwright for Caterpillar for 31 years. He was a member of local Union 974 and the First Baptist Church in Canton where he served as an ordained deacon. He was also on the Board of Ministries and served with the Youth Ministries. Ray loved God, family, hunting and fishing. He was a woodcarver mainly carving water fowl. He played football in high school and had a scholarship to play football at Eureka College. He was proud to be a Navy veteran serving from 1981-1985.

Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Thursday, December 18 at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton. There will be a gathering with pie being served at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Canton at 1 pm with a service following at 1:30 pm. Burial will follow at Baughman Cemetery in Smithfield. Memorials can be made to the church. To view Ray’s DVD or to make online condolences, please visit oakshinesfuneralhome.com.

Bonnie S. White

Bonnie S. White, 84, of Astoria, IL, passed away at 6:42 am at her daughter Angie’s home. She was born on August 11, 1941 in Astoria, the daughter of Max and Frances (Jones) Welker. Bonnie married Norman White on July 5, 1958 in Astoria. Norman preceded Bonnie in death on April 14, 2002.

She is survived by her three children; Jacki (and Cameron) Renaud of Newburgh, IN, Ryan (and Tina) White of Astoria, IL, and Angie (and Neal) Briney of Astoria, six grandsons, several great-granddaughters, great-grandsons, step-great-granddaughters and step-great-grandsons, two sisters; Phyllis (and Neil) Aten of Creve Coeur, IL and Kathy (and the late Jim) Hickle of Camdenton, MO, and one brother; Kerry (and Sally) Welker of Shiloh, IL.

Bonnie worked at K.K. Stevens Publishing Company and was Managing Editor of the Astoria South Fulton Argus for several years. She also owned and operated The Paperback Exchange and Yarn Shop in Astoria.

She was a member of the Astoria Area Chamber of Commerce and Astoria Methodist Church. She served two terms as the treasurer for the Astoria Park District and two years on the Astoria Town Board.

She was also a National Gymnastic Judge at the Collegiate and Junior Olympic Level for several years.

Bonnie enjoyed knitting and teaching others to knit. She carried on the tradition of Christmas Stockings. She enjoyed and worked hard gathering her family history and genealogy, researching and traveling to different cemeteries for information. She also enjoyed taking trips and traveling with her siblings.

Cremation rites have been accorded. No services or visitation have been planned. Memorials may be made to the Astoria Fire and Rescue Department.

Harlan E. Hines

Harlan Eugene Hines, 82, of Havana passed away at 12:30 PM Sunday December 14, 2025 at Mason District Hospital in Havana.

He was born September 20, 1943 at Bingham, Utah the son of Harlan G. and Wilma Geraldine (Keime) Hines. He married Mary Brasmer in 2002 at Lewistown. She died November 25, 2002. He was also preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are four children, Annette Harrah of Lewistown, Vicky Stone of St. David, Brian Hines of Eureka, and Jovanna Cervantes of Chicago.

Eugene was a heavy equipment operator and had worked as a butcher at the former Lewistown Locker. He enjoyed hunting.

Cremation will be accorded. There will be no services. Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Lewistown is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at henrylange.com.

Kenneth E. Shoemaker

Kenneth E. Shoemaker, 71, of Havana, passed away at Mason District Hospital, in Havana, at 5:34 p.m., on Saturday, December 13, 2025. He was born November 4. 1954, in Beardstown, Illinois, to Virgil and Kathleen (Parsley) Shoemaker.

Mr. Shoemaker is survived by two children: Kendra Horvath, of Sullivan, Illinois, and Kendal Shoemaker, of Canton, Illinois; three sisters: Lily (Mike) Mibbs, of Kilbourne, Ruth (Mike) Richardson, of Havana, and Diana (Ed) Lind, of Arkansas; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Shoemaker came to know the Lord several years ago. He farmed at Norris Farms, near Havana, and later worked at Bonnet’s Turkey Hatchery.

Cremation rites have been accorded and a graveside services will be held at Mt. Zion Cemetery, near Bath, Illinois, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com.

Hurley Funeral Home, in Havana, is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Jean (Herron) Dollar

Barbara Jean (Herron) Dollar

Barb was born in Gays, Illinois on December 5, 1934 to Homer and Dorothy (Wood) Herron and passed away on December 10, 2025 having just celebrated her 91st birthday a few days prior with dinner with her family and visits from friends like family. She was married to Robert (Bob) Dollar at Bethel Memorial Church on July 4, 1952. He preceded her in death on January 14, 1998.

Also preceding her in death were her parents and two sisters, Helen Herrin Bradford and Nancy Mattson. One sister survives, Carol Herrin of Morton, IL.

Surviving are her children, Julia Dollar Steigleder of Birmingham, AL, Keith (Linda) Dollar of Farmington, Gayle Green of Elmwood, IL and Beth (Mike) Kolowski of rural Elmwood, IL; three granddaughters, Kristin (Brad) Miller of Gardendale, AL, Jessica (Chris) Zambie of Greenville, SC and Faith Green of Farmington; four grandsons, Eric (Haley) Kolowski of East Peoria, IL, Bradley (Kayla) Kolowski of Garden City, KS, Brian (Sydney) Steigleder of Alpharetta, GA and Brad (Kelly) Dix of Murphysboro, TN. Barb was blessed with 11 great-grandchildren with one on the way and four nieces and two nephews.

Barb was a 1952 graduate of Pekin Community High School, where she was a Y-teen and served as a high school intern at Caterpillar Tractor Corporate office in Peoria, IL. Barb was subsequently employed there for 27 years taking a break after the first five years to begin her family. She worked in several departments, retiring on May 1, 1994 from her position of Executive Administrative Assistant in the Human Resources Department. She made many friends while working at CAT and learned a lot about farming from her great friends in her carpools. In later years she served as secretary on the Pleasant Grove Cemetery board.

Her retirement allowed time spent with her husband and grandchildren at “Mimi’s house” in Farmington and “Papa’s lake” at Lake of the Ozarks. Bob and Barb moved to Farmington in 1961 from Shady Knolls, East Peoria when Bob was recruited to Midland Coal Mine in Middle Grove, IL.

Her fondest memories included her trips to Missouri to visit all of Bob’s family and especially their nieces and nephews there, boat rides at the Lake of the Ozarks, her trips to Europe, England and Hawaii and as a child when she moved to Creve Coeur during grade school and found some of her lifelong best friends. She loved the summers when her grandchildren could visit and Prospect Street became quite the hang out again. She especially enjoyed watching her grandsons play baseball. She was a Cardinal Fan and spent many days and nights watching and listening to the games. She had fond memories of her parents taking her to watch Sunday morning league baseball and the Pekin Lettes. Her most recent favorite thing to do was to visit Thrift Stores and Consignment shops looking at things from the past displayed there.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Anderson-Sedgwick Funeral Home in Farmington, where a visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of the services. Gary Dollar will officiate. Burial will follow the services, and take place in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in rural Trivoli. Memorials may be made to the Farmington Rescue Squad 1100, Pleasant Grove Cemetery or St. Jude’s of Central Illinois. To leave online condolences please visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com

Joel G. Smith

Joel G. Smith passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, surrounded by his loving family in St. Louis, Missouri.

Joel bravely fought Glioblastoma for 2 years in Scottsdale, Arizona, while his loving wife also battled cancer. The best Dad, Husband, Son and Brother one could ask for, he was a pillar in his family and could always be relied upon for help, levity or presence in your life.

Born to Nelson “Jack” Smith and Stella Smith (Lavelle) in Leonardtown, Maryland, on June 15, 1960, Joel was the third oldest of 6 kids raised in St. Charles County, Missouri.

He attended Francis Howell High school in Weldon Spring and moved to Pontiac, Illinois, in 1988, for a job at Caterpillar Inc. He finally moved to Arizona in 2023 to seek treatment at Mayo Clinic.

The penultimate family man and the foundation of his household, Joel married Diane Wagner in 1994, and they were married for 30 years until her death in 2024. He was a caring and devoted father to his sons, Luke and Logan.

He will be remembered for his smile, strength, determination and playfulness.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Smith; mother, Stella Smith; father-in-law, Bill Wagner; and brother, Eric Smith.

He is survived by his father, Jack Smith; mother-in-law, Kay Wagner; sister, Sue Hoernschemeyer; brother, Mark Smith; sisters, Annie Dunavan and Sarah Smith; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Elmwood. A visitation will be held prior to the service the same day from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will immediately follow the service at Elmwood Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St Jude.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Elmwood is in charge of arrangements.