Juanita J. Sandford

Canton – Juanita Sandford, 82, of Canton, passed away at 7:42 pm, Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Heartland Health Care Center in Canton.  She was born on March 5, 1936 in Ottumwa, IA. to Elmer R. and Ina May (Davis) Shumaker.  She married Donald E. Sandford on May 28, 1955 in Canton.  He preceded her in death in December of 1984.  Juanita worked at International Harvester Company in Canton as a secretary for many years.  She raised and showed Great Danes and Medium Schnauzers.  Cremation rites have been accorded and there will be private services at a later date.  Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton is in charge of arrangements.  To leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Opal Richter

Lewistown – Opal F. Richter, 81, of Lewistown, formerly of Canton and Rushville, passed away at 7:38 AM on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at Red Oak Memory Care in Canton. She was born on October 1, 1936 in Missouri to Martin D. and Bertha (Gott) Claassen. She married Paul William Richter on January 1, 1979 in Canton, he survives.

Also surviving are four children, Michael (Cathy) Fitch of CA, Teresa (Roger) Flatt of IL, Edith (Michael) Johnson of AR, and Thurman (Jennifer) Fitch of IL; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Elizabeth (Richard) Etter of IL.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents; one granddaughter; four brothers, Norman, George, Martin Jr., and James Claassen; and two sisters, Dorothy Reeder and Shirley Leverton.

Opal graduated with an associated degree from Spoon River Community College. She retired as a director of the Fulton and Mason County Housing Authority.

Cremation rites will be accorded with Sedgwick Funeral Homes & Crematory in Canton, IL. Memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Harbor Lights Hospice. To make online condolences you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com

Helen L. Cluney

CANTON- Helen L. Cluney, 72, of Canton, passed away at 1:02 PM on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Graham Hospital Emergency Room in Canton. She was born on July 28, 1945 in Peoria, a daughter of Eual and Helen (Woodward) Thompson. She married Jerry Session on Dec 24, 1962, she later married Thomas “Tom” Cluney on May 20, 1994 in Canton. He survives.

Also surviving are her children, Rick Session of Kewanee; Scott (Kari) Session of Havana, Tommy (Shanita) Cluney of Wilmington Island, GA; Chris (Robert) Chown of Topeka; Tricia (Anthony Brooks) Darnell of Havana, Tawnya (Glenn) Denham of Pekin; Beth (Tom) Martin of Vermont; Beverly Cluney of Jacksonville; Kristy (Rob Royer) Cluney of Havana, 26 grandchildren and several great and great-great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Judy) Pope of Pekin, and several nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Bud Thompson, and one sister, Patricia Herr.

She worked as an LPN for several nursing homes in the local area and enjoyed selling Mary Kay and Avon products for many years, she was of the Baptist Faith, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Fan.

Services will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Sedgwick Funeral Homes & Crematory in Canton, where visitation will be from 4:00 PM to until time of services. Rev. Kevin VanTine will officiate. Cremation rites will be accorded after the services. Burial of ashes will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown at a later date. Memorials can be made to the Fulton County Humane Society. To leave online condolences please visit www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com

Frances L. Hilton

Lewistown- Frances L. Hilton, 88, of Lewistown passed away at 2:55 AM Sunday April 29, 2018 at the Clayberg Nursing Center in Cuba.

She was born April 30, 1929 at Reidsville, NC; the daughter of Walter and Ella (Thorton) Sharpe. She married Keith Hilton on May 2, 1945 at Reidsville, NC. He died March 11, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Bonnie Faye Hilton, one grandson, Michael Glen Herrick, one brother and two sisters. Surviving are three children, Brenda (George) Womack of Lewistown, Denise (Reggie) Johnson of Largo, FL; and Keith Hilton Jr. of Canton, one brother, Ralph (Karen) Sharpe of Reidsville, NC; fifteen grandchildren, Sharon (Andy) Gillip of East Dubuque, IL; James (Joy) Hagaman of Lewistown, IL; David (Marina) Womack of St. Joseph, MI; Ed (Micki) Hagaman of Virginia Beach, VA; Shirley (Mark) Willis of Olive Branch, IL; Brenda Trimpe of Lewistown, IL; Mark (Shawna) Herrick of Largo, FL; Autumn Orwig (Michael Barthelmes) of Largo, FL; A.J. Orwig (Amber Stufflebeam) of Largo, FL; Kyle Hilton of Canton, IL; Colton (Carrie) Adams of Canton, IL; Cody Hilton (Samantha Morse) of Canton, IL; Heather Hilton (Dalton Allen) of Havana, IL; James Johnson of Largo, FL; and R.J. Johnson of Largo, FL; twenty great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Frances was a waitress at the former Hilda’s Pantry in Lewistown for over 37 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lewistown. Frances loved her family and she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, traveling and yard work.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday May 4th at the Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Lewistown with Pastor Eric Sawyer officiating. Burial will be at Cuba Cemetery in Cuba. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Thursday at the memorial home. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Clayberg Nursing Center or Harbor Light Hospice. To view Frances’s life tribute video or to send online condolences visit henrylange.com.

James E. Nelson

Ellisville-James E Nelson of Ellisville Illinois February 28, 1939-April 27, 2018 passed peacefully surrounded by his family at home.

Jim’s journey on this earth is over he went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 27, 2018. He was born in Maquon Township, in Knox County to Guy and Della (Davis) Nelson. Jim grew up in the Knoxville and Yates City area.  He and Eleanor Karrick were joined in marriage on June 15th, 1958. They moved to Smithfield and then to the Ellisville area where he worked for Hummel construction and farmed. He then worked 21 1/2 years in the coal mines. Jim loved to travel doing craft shows in various states. Jim loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

To Jim and Eleanor’s union 3 children were born, James (Kathy) Nelson of Hopedale IL, Greg (Julie) Nelson of Manito, IL Kathy (Matt) Powell of Arcadia IA. 8 grandchildren Kara (Alan) Hill of Mazon, IL, Kyle Nelson of Delevan IL, Kody Nelson of Kirkwood Mo, Jacob Nelson of Manito IL, Max Nelson of Manito IL, Specialist Bo Nelson Ft of Campbell KY Tyler Stidham of Amarillo TX Kirsten Stidham of Omaha NE and step-grandson Dakota Powell of Arcadia, IA. 1 great grandson Logan Hill of Mazon, IL

He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years and their children. Brothers and sister-in-law’s Bill(Cora) Karrick, Jerry Karrick, Betty Lehne, Ray (Edna) Karrick, Kay Bigsby, Dorothy (David) Armstrong, Danny (Gayla) Karrick, Nancy (John) Umbeck, Pat (Cathy) Karrick. Many nephews and nieces also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents 3 sisters and their spouses Mildred (Cliff) Daum,  Lillian (James) May, Rozella (Chester) Fryer, 2 brothers Leo (Nellie) Nelson, and Berwyn (Pat who survives) Nelson.

Services will be held at Checkrow Community Church Avon IL. Visitation will be held from 4pm-7pm Monday April 30th, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 11am May 1st, 2018.

Cremation rites will be accorded following the services and a private burial of the ashes will be held at the Wiley Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Faith Bible Camp in Yates City.

To view his tribute video or to leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Eris Betty Clayton

Eris Betty Clayton was born at home to Helen Catherine and Herschel Edward Burgard on January 2, 1926, in Schuyler Country. Her childhood was spent following her two older brothers at work and play and attending school. She boarded in Rushville in order to attend Rushville High School. During World War II she entered Washington University at St. Louis, where she graduated with a major in art, and then began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Frederick, IL. On August 28, 1949, she married veteran Gerald Leroy Clayton in Astoria, IL.

Betty’s life revolved around three themes: her family, Sheldon’s Grove Church, and her art. After marriage, for many years she settled into being a farmwife—cooking three major meals a day, gardening, canning and freezing fresh produce, helping with the farmwork, serving as farm accountant—and raising four children: Sandra Lee, Carol Anita, Mark Leroy, and Garth Todd. In between farm and family, Betty squeezed in college classes to obtain her teacher’s certificate and began teaching third grade at Astoria Grade School. Gradually, she achieved one of her dreams and became the art teacher at Astoria schools, pushing around her “art on a cart” to grade school classrooms and providing art classes to high school students. During this time, she propelled her students into painting the lunch room mural at the high school and making sure their work was represented in regional art shows. After twenty years of teaching, she retired; however, she did not give up on her art. She offered private and group art lessons and helped manage the Art Show for Astoria’s annual Homecoming. She tested her entrepreneurial skills, designing and marketing greeting cards and hand-lettering scripture verses.

Woven into her retirement years were also several tragedies. Her youngest son Todd died in 1986. Her husband followed in 2002. Meanwhile, her brothers, Carmen and, more recently, James Othello passed away. Lastly, her youngest grandson Justin died in 2003. Through these times, Betty’s faith never wavered. All her life, Betty was a committed member of Sheldons Grove Church, participating in the many charitable activities up until she moved from her home in Astoria to reside in Peoria, near her oldest daughter Sandra. She will be remembered for her kindness and generosity towards all those she knew, her intense commitment to God, her devotion to her friends and family, and her particularly artistic way of viewing the world around her, drawing and painting peaceful farm scenes, colorful flowers, and beloved faces.

Betty is survived by Sandra Lee Curless of Bartonville, IL, Ben and Molly Curless and great-grandchild Carmeron, and Nate Curless; Carol Anita and Rodger Tarr of Okatie, SC, Clayton Tarr and Bianca Reisdorf; and Mark Leroy and Mary Clayton of West Padukah, KY, Chelsey and Jamie Brown; step-grandchildren Adrienne and Matt Davis and Jared Burget; and step-great-grandchildren Cooper Davis and Jaxon Burget.

Services will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria. A visitation will take place on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home. Cynthia Helle will be officiating. Interment will be in the Sheldons Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sheldons Grove United Methodist Church.

Donald G. Seward

Canton – Donald G. Seward, 74, of Canton passed away on April 26, 2018 at his residence surrounded by his family and his best friend Beverly.

He was born on September 7, 1943 in Canton to James and Bessie (Brewer) Seward.  They preceded him in death.

Surviving are his children, Tina (John) Fidler of Canton Bob Seward of Canton, sisters, Betty Thum of Canton, Bonnie (Harold) Berry of Chandler, AZ, grandchildren, Aaron and Daniel Fidler, Jessica Seward and two great grandchildren, Josslyn Schockency and Kayla Parrott and his special friend, Mary.

Also preceding him in death is his brother Larry Seward, twin infant brother Ronald and sister Barb Savill.

Donald was a retired truck driver and an avid Chicago White Sox fan.  He was active in AA and took pride in his 33 years of sobriety.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 – 1964.

Cremation rites have been accorded per his wishes and a private graveside service with burial of the ashes will be held at the Sauders-Blackaby Cemetery at a later date.

Oaks-Hines Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

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