Chad A. Smith

Chad A. Smith, 53, of Canton, passed away at 6:40 PM on Friday, January 9, 2026 at Carle Health Methodist Hospital in Peoria. He was born on December 20, 1972 in Canton, a son of Ron and Susan (Watson) Smith.

Surviving are his parents, Ron & Susan Smith of Canton; son, Alex (Karagen) Smith of Canton; daughters, Marley & Lily Smith, both of Havana; sister, Jenni (Rob) Regan of Fiatt; nieces, Carsyn & Kennedi Regan, and his beloved partner, Keri Lusher of Pekin.

Preceding Chad in death is sister, Jaime Kay Smith; maternal grandparents, Paul & Mary Jane Watson, and paternal grandparents, John & Jeri Lou Smith.

Chad completed his high school education at Canton High School, and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree in science from Western Illinois University and later graduated from Graham Hospital school of nursing, followed by working experience at area nursing homes and Pekin Hospital. He was baptized at Faith Bible Camp and attended Evangelical Free Church of Canton.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, January 16, 2026 at Sedgwick Funeral Homes & Crematory, where visitation will be from 4:00 PM until the time of the services. In honor of Chad please wear your favorite band or sports team attire. Pastor Matt Spangler will officiate. Cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral services. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Marley & Lily Smith education fund in care of Edward Jones. To leave online condolences please visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com

Ronda G. Briney

Ronda G. Briney, age 67 of Farmington, IL, formerly of Browning, IL, passed away at 10:16 pm on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Farmington Village Nursing and Rehab, Farmington, IL. She was born on January 27, 1958 in Beardstown, IL, the daughter of Ralph and Anne (Luttrell) McGinnis. Ronda first married Richard Fisher. She later married Orion Briney.

Ronda worked as a CNA in the Home Healthcare field. She also had worked at the Illinois Glove Factory in Beardstown. She attended Whitetail Unlimited Banquets and enjoyed the outdoors, especially swimming and fishing.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and would often times, along with her grandchildren, get into trouble. Ronda loved church and singing, especially hymns. She was a self-taught musician, teaching herself to play several musical instruments by ear. She sang in the YMCA of Decatur Alzheimer’s Choir.

Ronda is survived by her daughters, Amanda (Justin) Gulick of Mt. Auburn, IL and Amy (Curtis) Sprout of Yates City, IL, her son Jeremy (Christal) Fisher of Astoria, IL, 14 grandchildren; Dalton (Hannah), Caleb, Abigail, Kaitlyn (Isaac), William, Ellie, Tayler (Makena), Tristan (Makayla), Kiera, Levi (Mahkalay), Alexis (Nathan), Alyssa (Devin), Crystal, and Cadence, 8 great-grandchildren, her sisters; Diane (Donnie) Ward of the state of Arizona, Theresa (David) Curless of Peoria, IL, Juli (Andy) Murray of the state of Florida and Terri Carlton of Beardstown and her brothers; Virgil (Mary) McGinnis of Astoria, IL, Mark (Geanine) Ballard of the state of Arizona, George Parks of Minonk, IL, Mark McGinnis of Browning and Jon (Tracy) Matthews of Beardstown and her childhood soulmate Gertrude (the late Smokin Joe) Neff.

She was preceded in death by brothers Brent Matthews and Lance McGinnis.

Ronda’s services will be held on Friday, January 16th at 11:00 am at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, IL. Pastor Matthew Thiner will officiate. Visitation will take place 1 hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Browning Cemetery, Browning, IL. Memorials in memory of Ronda may be made to the Schuyler County Humane Society, Rushville, IL

Bette J. Lynn

Bette J. Lynn, 97, of Manito, formerly of Kilbourne, passed away at 2:30 p.m. on Monday,

January 12, 2026 at the Lodge in Manito. She was born on May 6, 1928 in Oakford to Samuel
and Alberta (Rietzel) Lynn. She married Robert R. Lynn in Oakford on July 17, 1966, and he
preceded her in death on October 8, 2020.
Bette is survived by her daughters, Linda (Don) Daugherty of Kilbourne, Jeanne Campo of
Riverton, and Nancy Jo (Gary) Bartels of Chandlerville; grandchildren, Darrin Stufflebeam, Chad
Bartels (Shannon), Anthony Campo (Angie), Laura Manka (Rich) and Donnie Daugherty; 11
great-grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren and sister, Nancy Schaeffer of Washington,
Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Kelly Stufflebeam, son in
law Peter Campo and 8 siblings.
Bette was a member of the Kilbourne Community Church. She was a homemaker and also
helped her husband run the Paradise Inn in Kilbourne until their retirement in 1990.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Hurley Funeral
Home in Havana, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Hugh Carlock
will officiate. Burial will follow the service at Oakford Cemetery in Oakford.
Memorial donations may be made in Bette’s name to Kilbourne Fire Department or Shriners
Children’s Hospital . Online condolences can be left for her family at www.hurleyfh.com.
Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.