Obit of Tony R. Masden

Mr. Tony R. Masden, age 72 of Benton, KY., passed away Friday, August 23, 2013, at the Marshall Co. Hospital in Benton, KY. Born November 24, 1940 in Cleaton, KY., he was a machine operator for the TPW railroad. He attended Faith Gospel Temple in Gilbertsville, KY.

He is survived by five sons; Edvern Masden of Pontiac, IL., Tony Glen Masden of Chatsworth, IL., Carlos Brasher, wife Barb of Nortonville, KY., Jeff Brasher, wife Cathy of Calvert City, KY., Phillip Brasher, wife Shawn of Nortonville, KY., two daughters; Frieda Bussey, husband Ken of Grand Rivers, KY., Sandy House, husband Dewayne of New Hope, AR., brother; Rodger Masden, wife Shelby of Hoopeston, IL., five sisters; Andrea Lewis of Hamilton, AL., Renda McDonald of Gilman, IL., VaRetta James of Gary, IN., Austeen James, husband Waylon of Wheatfield, IN., Vinell Miranda, husband Efrain of Muncie, IN., ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

One Aunt, Sue Mahon of Beechmont, KY., a special niece who served as caregiver, Cindy Neal also survives.

He was preceded in death by his father; Howard Masden, his mother; Irene (Vincent) Hughes, his wife; Earline (Phelps) Masden, son; Randy Joe Masden, daughter; Theresa Menser

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Collier Funeral Home in Benton. Rev. Terry Phelps and Rev. Mark Shumaker will officiate. Interment is to follow the service in the Marshall County Memory Gardens.

Friends may visit with the family after 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 2;30 p.m. in the chapel of the Collier Funeral Home in Benton, KY.

Obit of John McGuire

John E. McGuire, 84, of Watseka, passed away at 1:57 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 24, 2013) at the Piper City Living Center in Piper City.

He was born Sept. 3, 1928, in Piper City, the son of John and Genevieve Gain McGuire. His wife, the former Marilyn Derr, whom he married Aug. 8, 1953, in Chatsworth, preceded him in death May 5, 2004.

Survivors include one son, Steve (Lana) McGuire, of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Margo Lucido, of Florissant, Mo., and Marla (Greg) Fuesting, of St. Charles, Mo.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; one brother, Francis “Butch” McGuire, of Piper City; and one sister, Peg Bargemann, of Piper City.

John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bob McGuire.

John was a member of St. Edmund Catholic Church in Watseka, Watseka American Legion Post 23, Watseka Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Columbus. He was a truck driver for many years and worked for D.E. Lynch Construction as a heavy equipment operator. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with a Vespers service at 6:45 p.m., at the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Edmund Catholic Church in Watseka. Father Michael Powell will officiate. Burial, with military graveside rites conducted by the Watseka American Legion Post 23 and Iroquois County VFW Post 7450, will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Watseka. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to Passages Hospice.

Please sign his online guestbook at knappfuneralhomes.com.

Obit of Lenore (Stow) Bryant

Lenore Bryant 

Lenore Bryant

January 17, 1928 - August 24, 2013

Lenore Bryant, 85, of Searcy, died peacefully Saturday morning, August 24, 2013, surrounded by her children.

She was born to the late Albert and Delia Gilliland Stow on Tuesday, January 17, 1928 in Strawn, Illinois. Lenore married Robert L. Bryant on January 29, 1948 in Roberts, Illinois and enjoyed almost 31 years of marriage until Robert’s death in 1979.

For most of her adult life, Lenore was a stay at home mother and wife. After the death of her husband, she began working full time outside the home while still raising her three youngest children. Later in life, Lenore became an avid sports fan, rooting on the Dallas Cowboys, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and her beloved Arkansas Razorbacks. She relished the opportunity to watch sports with her children and grandchildren. Her children cherished the values that she instilled through word and example. Lenore found joy in the mundane: a hot cup of coffee, sermons on the radio, Jeopardy, word search puzzles and old movies. Lenore was a member of Searcy First Baptist Church where she faithfully attended when her health permitted.

Lenore is survived by her six children: Diana Langley of Iowa, Peggy Yancey of Searcy, Phyllis O’Reagan and her husband Rick of Nikiski, Alaska, Teresa McConnell and her husband Stewart of Conway, Michael Bryant and his wife Jennifer of Cabot and Tina Bryant of Cordova, Tennessee; fifteen grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters all from Illinois.

Private graveside services will be Monday, August 26, 2013 at 11:30am, in White County Memorial Gardens. Interment will follow under the direction of Roller-Daniel Funeral Home (501)268-3546.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Arkansas Hospice or the Humane Society.

Pallbearers include Christopher Bryant, John Bryant McConnell, Jeffrey McConnell, Davie Webb and Drew Pruitt.

Honorary Pallbearers include Tammy Pruitt, Michelle Dykstra, Bobbie Ann McConnell, Jennifer Parsons, Megan McConnell, Sara Beth Bryant, Abigail Bryant and Miriam Pruitt.

Judith Joy visits the Little School Museum

A very nice lady, Judith Joy, writer and feature editor for the Centralia Morning Sentinel visited the Little School Museum August 13, 2013 and learned a little history of the school and the Chatsworth Train Wreck

Obit of Betty Plank

Betty Plank

Chatsworth- Betty Plank, 99, formerly of Chatsworth, passed away at 7:45 am on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Piper City Rehabilitation Center in Piper City.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at Melvin Cemetery. Rev. Ivy Silas will officiate. Burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chatsworth Township Library or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Betty was born July 24, 1914 in Melvin, Illinois, the daughter of John M. and Elma J. (Thompson) Plank. Surviving is her cousin: Meta Jean Mosher of Plainfield, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She was a member of the Chatsworth United Methodist Church. Betty was a former nurse, having worked several years ago both in the Chicago and Chatsworth areas.

Calvert-Martin Funeral Homes