"D" Obituaries

Alexander County/Illinois Genealogy Trails

Olive Branch, IL.--STEVEN P. DAIN, 60, of Olive Branch died Monday, Jan. 1, 2007 at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Sept. 12, 1946, in Cairo, IL, son of Albert E. and Sue LeSar Dain. Mr. Dain retired from Cairo High School where he was a teacher and guidance counselor 31 years. He was a member of Lake Milligan Baptist Church in Miller City, where he served as organist, Sunday School secretary and church treasurer. He was a member of Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club in Cape Girardeau and Cairo Teachers Association. Survivors include his mother, Sue Dain of Olive Branch; a daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Douglas Heidland of Barnhart, MO; a brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Joann Dain of Wood River, IL; and four grandchildren, Austin, Luke, Sam and Abigail Heidland. He was preceded in death by his father. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Rev. Verlee Eaker officiating. Interment will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge, IL.

Alton, IL.--FILBERT DAILEY, 69, of Meadowbrook, IL, died at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Alton Memorial Hospital. He had been in ill health six months. He was born Jan. 27, 1914 in Elco, son of the late William and Josephine Randleman Dailey. He married Marie Ewell Sept. 1, 1943. She survives. Mr. Dailey was employed as a cook for Olin Corporation for 33 years, retiring in 1976. Surviving are his wife; daughter, Donna Knight of Meadowbrook; two brothers, Lester of Cape Girardeau, MO and John of Meadowbrook; three sisters, Lillie Smith, Lucy Smith and Goldie Smith, all of Tamms. Services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home in Bethalto, IL with Rev. Ron Hall officiating. Burial in Valhalla Memorial Park at Godfrey, IL. (Appeared in a newspaper on May 13, 1983)

Jonesboro, IL. JAMES DAILEY, of Jonesboro died at 9:45 Thursday night (May 22, 1975) in Union County Hospital in Anna. He was 72 years old. Mr. Dailey was born Feb. 16, 1903 in Elco, and was a retired railroad employee. Surviving: brothers, Filbert and John H. Dailey, both of Moro and Lester Dailey, Meridian, Miss.; sisters, Mrs. Lillie Smith, Mrs. Goldie Smith, Mrs. Lucy Smith and Mrs. Hazel Tinsley, all of Tamms. Friends may call after 4 this afternoon at Farnsworth Funeral Home in Tamms, where service will be at 1 Saturday afternoon. The Rev. Joe Lentz will officiate with burial in St. John's Cemetery near Dongola. --From newspaper, probably Cairo Citizen, donated by Donna Knight.

Tamms, IL.--Mother of 13 Killed in Car North of Tamms. JOSEPHINE DAILY (MRS. WILLIAM), 47, mother of 13 children, 10 of whom survive her, was instantly killed when a car in which she was riding plunged off the highway into a ditch two miles north of Tamms Sunday afternoon (Oct. 11, 1931). The accident was caused by a tire blowout. The car belonged to Jess Rhymer, who was driving. Rhymer and three children of Mrs. Daily, one of them a two year old child, which she was holding in her arms, escaped serious injury. Mrs. Daily lived on a farm near the scene of the accident. She was on her way to Diswood to visit her daughter, Mrs. William Tinsley. Rhymer was a neighbor of Mrs. Daily. Dr. J. K. Roseman (Rosson) of Tamms conducted an inquest into Mrs. Daily's death. A verdict of accidental death was ruled. --Cairo Evening Citizen, Oct. 1931, contributed by Donna Knight.

Funeral services for Mrs. W. M. Daly, who met a tragic death in an automobile accident near her home Sunday were held at the Elco Pentecostal church Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Harp of Olive Branch was the officiating minister. She leaves a husband and 11 children. Interment was made in the Hazlewood Cemetery. --Tamms news column in the Cairo Citizen, Oct. 1931, contributed by Donna Knight.

Tamms, IL.--LESLIE WILLIAM "RAY" DAILEY--Funeral arrangements are pending for Leslie William Dailey of Elco. He died at 1:19 p.m. Thursday, June 7, 1990 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Marion, IL. He was 64 years old. Jones Funeral Home of Tamms in charge of arrangements.
Leslie was born October 28, 1925 at Elco to Floyd and Myrtle Corbett Dailey. He was of the Baptist faith, an Army Veteran of World War II and a retired construction laborer. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rosemary Dailey and a brother, Norman Dailey. Survivors include his wife, Lellia Sharp Dailey of Elco; four sons, Ray of Madison, William of Wisconsin, Randy and John of Elco; four daughters, Leslie Marlowe of Granite City; Carolyn Andrews of Fairview Heights; Myrna Wallace of Elco and Lellia Schultz of Dongola; two step-daughters, Sharon Redcloud of Ullin and Vickie Robinson of Granite City; one aunt; 17 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. Services were held today at 2 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms with Rev. Johnnie Gibson, officiating. Burial was in Provo Cemetery near Tamms.

Tamms, IL.--WILLIAM DAILY, age 80, of Tamms, died at the home of his son, Paul, Sunday night, (Nov. 16, 1958) after a long illness. He was a member of the Pentecostal Church. His wife, Mrs. Josephine Daily, preceded him in death in 1931. Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Lily Smith, Mrs. Hazel Tinsley, Mrs. Lucy Smith, Mrs. Goldie Smith, all of Tamms; seven sons, James of Alton, Paul of Tamms, Frank of Granite City, Dallas of Hartford, Ill., Filbert of Moro, Ill., Lester of Tamms and John of Brighton, Ill.; two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Thomas and Mrs. Estella Betts of Moro, Ill.; 33 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Friends may call at the Farnsworth Funeral Home after 6 p.m. today, where funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Rev. Bill Fox of East St. Louis officiating. Interment will be in the Hazelwood Cemetery with Fransworth Funeral Home in charge. --Cairo Evening Citizen.

Cairo, IL.--ANN DAMEWORTH--Mrs. Ann Dameworth died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Walker, 511 Washington Avenue at 6:30 o'clock this morning following an illness of several months.  On February 2, she celebrated her eighty-second birthday. She leaves seven children; Bob Dameworth of Cairo, Bert and Walter of Mayfield, Will of St. Louis, Mrs. Betty Overby of Murray, Ky., Mrs. Luna Sasley of Los Angeles, Calif., who was with her at the time of her death, and Mrs. Walker with whom she made her home.  She also leaves three grandchildren of Cairo, Bobby Walker, Mrs. Ruby Miller and Mrs. Loree Harrison; two great grandchildren, Tommy and Buddy Miller, and three grandchildren, Forrest and Byron Easley of Los Angeles, Calif., and Helen Zurczyk of St. Louis, whom she partly reared. Mrs. Dameworth was a devout Christian woman, a member of the Presbyterian church.  She endured her long suffering patiently to the end and was beloved of all who knew her. The body will lie at Berbling's Funeral home until Thursday morning when it will leave for Mayfield where funeral services and burial will be made. --From the Cairo Evening Citizen and Bulletin, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1937, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Lady Lake, FL--RUBY M. DAMON, 69, 504 St. Andrews Blvd., Lady Lake, died Sunday, Feb. 14. She was a homemaker. Born in McClure, Ill., she moved to Central Florida in 1987. She was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors: husband, retired Col. Clayton E.; son, Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrew C., Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; daughter, Teresa D. Currier, Henniker, N.H.; two brothers; two grandchildren. Page-Theus-Blanchard Funeral Home, Leesburg.  --Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) - February 16, 1993 

Cairo, IL.--GEORGE P. DARMODY, age 72, died suddenly at his home, 520 Twenty-first street Friday.  He had been an employee of the Illinois Central Railroad for the past 54 years.  He was born in Cairo and spent his entire life here.  Mr. Darmody was a member of St. Joseph's Church and the Knights of Columbus.  Survivors include his wife, Susie; one son, Phillip, of Silver Springs, Md.; four grandchildren; two brothers, Ed Darmody of East St. Louis, Ill., and Richard Darmody of Memphis, Tenn. and other relatives.  The body is at Karcher Brothers funeral Home where friends may call after 3 p.m. Sunday.  Funeral services will be held Monday at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church with the pastor, Rt. Rev. Msgr. R. E. Jantzen, officiating.  Interment will be made in Calvary Cemetery.  --From the Cairo Evening Citizen, Saturday, Dec. 27, 1952, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Cairo, IL.--THOS. DARMODY DIED EARLY THIS MORNING--Thomas Darmody died at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday at the family residence, 2214 Washington Avenue, after an illness of more than a year.  The deceased was 62 years of age and had resided in Cairo about forty years. He was a native of County Tipperaray, Ireland, emigrated to America when a boy, settling at Boston, Mass., from whence he came to Cairo.  For several years he was employed by the late G. D. Williamson at the Boat Store and then entered the car department of the Illinois Central working as car foreman in the passenger yards for a continuous period of 22 years, having remained at his post until compelled to retire on account of failing health.  He was a charter member of the Cairo Lodge of Ancient Order of Hibernians, also a member of the Catholic Knights and Ladies of America.  The surviving members of his family are his wife, six sons--George, Edward, Thomas, William, Richard and Robert; a daughter--Mrs. F. M......(unreadable).  Two daughters of the deceased have died within the past eighteen months.  The  funeral will occur Friday morning.  The interment will be in Calvary cemetery at Villa Ridge. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Wednesday, June 16, 1909, contributed by Anna Shelton.

ELSIE ANN DAVIS, the daughter of John and Kate Castleman, was born August 16, (1883) and passed away at Cairo hospital January 8, 1954 after several years of illness. She professed faith in Christ and was baptized into the Baptist church several years ago. She was united in marriage (Sept. 19, 1902 in Jonesboro) to William L. Davis, who preceded her in death. To this union eight children were born, all of whom survive. Those left to mourn her passing are her children, Hallie Sanders, Henry Davis, both of Jonesboro, Florence Knupp of Tamms, Nora Livesay of Wolf Lake, Gladys Batson of Chicago, Robert and Thomas Davis, all of Chicago; one brother, Thomas Castleman of St. Louis; 25 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday, January 10, at the Methodist Church in Tamms. Interment in the Jonesboro Cemetery. --Contributed by Jim Davis.

Thebes, IL.--HAZEL M. DAVIS, age 76 of Thebes, died at 5:05 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002 at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Nov. 11, 1926 in Corning, Ark., the daughter of Willis and Ivory Tucker McKinney.  She married Herschel M. Davis on March 19, 1945.  He preceded her in death on March 19, 2000. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Larry Duffell of Thebes; three grandchildren, three sisters, Ruby Hinkle of Rockford, Ill., Lillion Lewis of New Orleans, La., and Mabel Starr of Fairview Heights, Ill.; two brothers, Orvil McKinney of New Madrid, Mo., and Bily McKinney of South Carolina, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers, Stirl McKinney, Raymond McKinney, Roy McKinney, Virgil McKinney and Harvey McKinney, and two sisters, Ethel Fleetwood and Elsie Jo Cliff. Funeral services for Hazel M. Davis were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002 at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms with Rev. Mark Boyd officiating.  Interment followed in Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Ill. Friends called from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 and on Tuesday, Dec. 31 until time of services at the funeral home. Crain Funeral Home in Tamms in charge of the arrangements. --From The Cairo Citizen, Thursday, January 2, 2003, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Champaign, IL-PAULINE VIVIAN DAVIS.  Graveside Services for Pauline V. Davis, 76, of Champaign, were held on Saturday Morning, May 12, 2001 at Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 11 AM with Gary Nye of the Church of Christ officiating.
Mrs. Davis passed away Thursday morning, May 10, 2001 at Provena Covenant Hospital, Urbana. Pauline was born June 3, 1925 in Elco, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Lucy Jordan Albright. She was 13 when her father died.  She finished her formal education in Tamms, Illinois. After graduation, she and a girlfriend moved to a suburb of Chicago, where they worked for the McDonald Douglas Ammunition Plant. After World War II, she returned to Tamms, where she married Thomas Davis on January 23, 1946. He survives.
Mrs. Davis is survived by a son, Thomas W. (Susan) Davis II of Lansing, Illinois; three daughters, Linda (Robert) Lutz of South Elgin, Illinois, Linda Fischer and Joyce (James) Lipsey both of Champaign; three brothers, Charles Albright of Goreville, Illinois, Fred Albright of The Lake of the Ozarks, MO and Jessie Albright of Des Plaines, Illinois; two sisters, Thelma Slemp of Crest Hill, Illinois and Mary Uler of Eldorado, Illinois; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; and a sister.
Pauline loved gardening, sewing, quilting and bowling. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene of Lansing, Illinois. She retired from the local Sears Stores in 1982.  --Courier-News (Elgin, IL) - May 14, 2001 

Cairo, IL.--MRS. JESSE B. DeLAWTER DIES THIS MORNING--JEANETTE CHERRY DELAWTER (Mrs.Jesse B.), age 52 years, died this morning at 8:20 o'clock at St. Mary's Infirmary where she had been a patient since last Monday.  She had been ill for some time but was taken suddenly much worse last Sunday.  Mrs. DeLawter was born July 17, 1875, and was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Cherry.  Her father died several years ago, and her mother died Feb. 2, of this year.  She was formerly Miss Jeanette Cherry, and had made Cairo her home all of her life with the exception of two years after her marriage. Besides her husband, Mrs. DeLawter leaves two daughters, Miss Jennie (or Jessie) B. DeLawter and Miss Nellie M. De Lawter, both of Cairo,  She is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Minnie Garner and Mrs. D. B. Ross of Cairo, and Mrs. Claude C. Stanley of Metropolis, Ill., and a brother, Melvin Z. Cherry of Florida.  She was a member of the First Methodist church. Funeral services will probably be held Monday afternoon at the residence, 915 Walnut Street, with the Rev. A. R. Ransom, pastor of the First Methodist church officiating, and interment will be made in the Spencer Heights Cemetery.  E. A. Burke will direct the funeral. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Saturday, April 7, 1928, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Olive Branch, IL.--LEVI DENFIP, 76, died at his home in Olive Branch Thursday morning after an illness of two weeks duration.  He was born in Alexander county and spent his entire life here. He is survived by his wife, Katie; two daughters, Mrs. Lillian Vanike of St. Louis and Mrs. Clara Masterson of Olive Branch; two sons, Marion of Gilbertsville, Ky., and Sidney of Alexandria, Va., one brother, Frank of Olive Branch and six grandchildren. The body is at the residence in Olive Branch, where friends may call.  Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Methodist church in Olive Branch with the Reverend Culver officiating. Interment will be in Olive Branch cemetery. Karcher Brothers are in charge of arrangements. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Friday, April 23, 1943, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Willard, IL.--Funeral Rites for Mrs. DeWeese are held today. Funeral services for CAROLINE FLENNER DEWEESE, age 75 years, who died at her home Friday night ( January 3, 1930 in Willard, Il) were held this afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Olive Branch Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. C.C. Hall of Lawrenceville, Il. Interment was made in the Olive Branch Cemetery. E. A. Burke directed the funeral. Mrs. DeWeese was the wife of the Rev. John Wesley DeWeese, formerly a Methodist minister in Cairo, who retired from the ministry some years ago to engage in farming....donated by Judy Simpson.

Cairo, IL.--LOLA M. DEWEESE, age 62, died at her home, 229 Twenty-seventh Street, Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. after an extended illness.  She had been a resident of Cairo for 22 years. Survivors include her husband, Tony; two sons, Roy of Cairo and Orbie of Peoria, Ill.; two sisters, Mrs. J. E. Powell and Mrs. Mabel Grey, both of Curbington, Ky.; five grandchildren and other relatives. The body is at Karcher Brothers Funeral Home where friends may call. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Mayfield Creek Baptist Church near Cunningham, Ky., with Rev. David Fraser of Wickliffe, Ky. officiating. Interment will be made in the Mayfield Creek Cemetery. Karcher Brothers are in charge. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Thursday, Sept 15, 1949, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Miller City, IL.--ROBERT M. DEWEESE, age 67, died at St. Mary's Hospital this morning at 8:30 after a two week illness. He made his home with his nephew James F. Ice at Miller City since 1943 and had been a resident of Alexander County for 43 years. He was a member of Methodist Church at Old Willard. Survivors include one sister: Mrs. Martha Simpson of Cairo, four brothers, James of Evansville, Ind, Ray of Kankakee, Il, Charles of Cleveland Ohio, Morgan of Georgia and a large number of nieces, nephews and other relatives. The body is at Karcher Brothers Funeral Home where friends may call after 2pm Sunday. Funeral Services will be held Monday at 1:30 pm at the Funeral Home with the Rev. Verley Eaker, Pastor of Lake Milligan Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be made in the Olive Branch Cemetery....donated by Judy Simpson

Mill Creek, IL--Funeral service for MRS. BERTHA A. DICKERSON of Mill Creek, was held Monday afternoon at 2:00 at the Jones Funeral Home in Tamms, with the Rev. Johnny Gibson officiating.  Burial was in the Cummins Cemetery.  Lorberg Funeral Home of Cape Girardeau was in charge of arrangements.  Mrs. Dickerson, 80 years old, died Saturday morning, Dec. 31, 1983, in Union County Hospital at Anna.  She was born March 27, 1903 at Gale, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Vaitch Hutchison.  On April 14, 1919 she married William Dickerson.  He preceded her in death June 14, 1972.  Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Frieda Anderson, McClure, Mrs. Berniece Himmighoefer, Dayton, Texas, and Mrs. Betty McDermott, Mill Creek; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Elco, IL.--CARRIE I. DICKERSON, 68 of Elco died Friday upon arrival at the Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born July 1, 1928 in Elco, daughter of Joseph and Mabel Sharp Lessar. She married James "Luther" Dickerson. She was a member of the Elco Pentecostal Church and the Royal Neighbors of America. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Dickerson was preceded in death by her husband, a son, a daughter, four brothers and a sister. Survivors include three sons, James of Anna, IL; Donald of Cache, IL and Tim of Elco; three sisters, May Dickerson of Elco, Gladys Ramage of Olive Branch and Dora Bell Warren of Miller City; 8 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Jones Funeral Home in Tamms with Revs. Carl Land and Johnnie B. Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery near Dongola, IL.

Tamms, IL--JAMES M. DICKERSON, 55, of Tamms died Monday, Jan. 10, 2005 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.  He was born Aug. 14, 1949 in Cairo, IL, son of Luther Mitchel and Carrie Ilene Lessar Dickerson.  He and Lula Hill were married May 3, 1985 in Union County.
Dickerson worked in mining and as a commercial fisherman.  
Survivors include his wife; three sons, James Dickerson of Gale, IL, Alvin Dickerson of Anna, IL, Mitchel Dickerson of Jonesboro, IL; a daughter, Ashley Dickerson of Carbondale, IL; a brother, Timothy Dickerson of Tamms; five grandchildren; seven stepchildren; and several stepgrandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, a daughter and a sister.
Friends may call at Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday.  Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Sims Cemetery near Elco, with the Rev. Joe Aldridge officiating.

Tamms, IL--Funeral services for JIM ANDY DICKERSON, 70, of Miller City, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.  The Rev. Kenneth Wilson will officiate.  Burial will be in the Olive Branch Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. today (1-14-1991).  Dickerson died Sunday (Jan 13, 1991) at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.  He was born March 25, 1920 at Bardwell, KY to the late Buck and Ruby Lang Dickerson.  He married Doris Ronnebeck on Dec. 21, 1948.  She survives, along with three sisters, Lula Atkinson and Maggie Steadley, both of Bardwell, and Earlene Stroup of Cahokia, and several nieces and nephews.  Dickerson was a member of the Lake Milligan Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for over 22 years.

Elco, IL--LARRY DICKERSON, 62, of Elco died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003 at his home.  He was born Aug. 13, 1941 in Elco, youngest of eight children born to James Monroe and Mary Marie Neace Dickerson.  He and Janet Kunsman were married June 12, 1964.
Mr. Dickerson was a Christian and worshipped at Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle in Jonesboro, IL.  He celebrated six years of life after receiving a double lung transplant in September 1997.  Before his illness he was a truck driver with Willis Trucking and Jordan Trucking.
Survivors include his wife and companion, Janet Sue Dickerson of Elco; a son, George (Dana) Dickerson of Jackson; a daughter, Deana (John) Wyatt of Frankfort, KY; four grandchildren, Trent and Taylor Dickerson, John and Stephen Wyatt; a brother Lester (Lois) Dickerson of Lick Creek, IL; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Lester Eugene Dickerson; three sisters, Juanita Mowery, Irene Myers and Rosemary Sibley; three brothers, Luther James Dickerson, Homer Dickerson, and John Dickerson.
Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, IL, from 5 to 8 p.m. today, and Sunday after 1 p.m. at Trinty Pentecostal Tabernacle.  The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle, with the Rev. David Adams and the Rev. John Wyatt officiating.  Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.

Anna, IL. LESTER MILTON DICKERSON, 69, of Anna died Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at Jonesboro Health Care Center. He was born Nov. 8, 1935 in Elco, IL, son of Monroe and Marie Neace Dickerson. He and Lois Jean Wright were married in 1979 in Ware, IL. Dickerson served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and was a mechanic. He was a member of Saratoga Church and Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455. Survivors include his wife; a step-daughter, Connie L. Greenwood and husband, Neil, of Mount Vernon, IL; and a grandson, Tom Greenwood and wife, Wendy of Marie Stein, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Juanita Mowery, Irene Meyer, Rosemary Sibley and three brothers, Homer, Luther and Larry Dickerson. Friends may call at Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, IL from 5 to 8 p.m. today. The funeral will be at 1p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005 at the funeral home with the Revs. Doug Atkins and Alan Milligan officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery with military rites by Carrol P. Foster VFW Post 3455 of Anna. -- Courtesy of The Southern Illinoisan.

Tamms, IL.--MAY "SHERRY" DICKERSON, 74, of Tamms died Thursday, Nov 18, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 16, 1930, in Elco, Ill., daughter of Joseph and Mable Sharp Lazar (Lessar). May was a member of the Elco Baptist Church, member of the Disabled American Ladies Auxiliary, and lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the V.F.W. Post, both in Murphysboro and was a housewife and homemaker. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wilburn Dickerson in 1996; three brothers, Orville, Joe and Arthur Lessar and a sister, Carrie Dickerson. Survivors include her husband James Edward (Jim) Bridges of Tamms; three daughters and a son-in-law, Mary (Donald) Durham of Tamms, Vickie Koen and Sharon Carter of Anna, Ill.; a son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth (Linda) Dickerson of Granite City, Ill.; a step-daughter, Barbara Lessar of Tamms; a brother, Edward Lessar of Tamms; two sisters, Gladys Ramage of Olive Branch, Ill., Dora Bell Warren of Miller City, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Friends called at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 and Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004 from 8 a.m. until time of service. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Buddy Walls officiating.  Interment followed in the St. John's Cemetery west of Dongola, Ill. Jones Funeral Home in Tamms in charge of arrangements. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Nov 25, 2004, contributed by Anna Shelton. 

Elco, IL.--MRS. MYRA E. DICKERSON, 78, died at her home in Elco Friday evening after a short illness.  Her husband James preceded her in death several years ago. Mrs. Dickerson spent her entire life in and around Elco where she was well known. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Flora Gearing and Mrs. Mary Sims, of Elco, Mrs. Mattie Reeden of Vienna.  Three sons, Monroe and Grover, of Elco, and Ray of Tamms.  Two brothers, Charles Thompson, Elco and Arthur of Washington. The body is now at the family residence at Elco where friends may call.  Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Elco Baptist Church with Reverend Lackbee officiating.  Interment will be made in Simms Cemetery. J. M. Cauble Funeral Service is in charge.--From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Sat., May 11, 1946, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Elco, IL.--WILBURN LEE DICKERSON, 77, of Elco, died Saturday, May 11, 1996 at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Marion, IL. He was born Sept. 11, 1918 in Jonesboro, IL, son of Grover A. Sr. and Sophia Shelton Dickerson. He and May "Sherry" Lessar were married. Dickerson was a member of the Elco Baptist Church and a retired vocational teacher at the Cairo Adult Education Center. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and a member of the Disabled American Veterans of Jackson County, IL. Survivors include his wife; a son, Rev. Kenneth Dickerson of Granite City; four daughters, Barbara Lessar of Dwight, IL, Mary Durham, Vicki Koen and Sharon Sronce, all of Elco; four brothers, James of Jonesboro, Harold of Groves, TX, Grover A, Jr of Harrisburg and Alfred of Hurst, IL; two sisters, Lilly Betts of Tamms and Betty Fliris of Lowell, IN; 10 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a step-great-granddaughter. Jones Funeral Home of Tamms is in charge of arrangements. The funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. James Heath, Sr. officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery near Dongola. Military honors will be given by the Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 in Anna.

Elco, IL.--Funeral services for WILLIAM B. DICKERSON of Elco will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Elco Pentecostal Church. Rev. Charles Mayberry, assisted by Bro. Gibson will officiate. Burial will be in the Cummins Cemetery near Elco. Mr. Dickerson, 71, died Wednesday (June 14, 1972). He was a retired farmer. He was born Aug. 30, 1900 at Delta. He married Bertha Hutchison April 14, 1919 at Cairo. She survives. Also surviving is a son, Wilbur of Dongola; three daughters, Mrs. Freda Anderson, McClure, Mrs. Bernice Himmeghoefer, Tilden and Mrs. Betty McDermott, Mill Creek; a brother, Elmer of McClure; a sister, Mrs. Ethel Sronce, McClure; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. (June 16, 1972)

Peoria, IL.--FERRIL L. DILLMAN, 80, of Peoria died at 2:10 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 1998, at Pekin Manor in Pekin. Born Sept. 10, 1917, in Elco to Leonard and Nellie Thompson Dillman, he married Wilda Wheeler in 1939. She died in 1968. He married Erma Hahn on Nov. 9, 1979. She died April 10, 1998. One brother and two sisters also preceded him in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Floyd (Lola) Bates of Eureka and Mrs. Robert (Lois) Berkshire of Mesa, Ariz.; one half brother, Merten Sharp of Madison; two half sisters, Mary Stevenson of Warden and Marie Holt of Granite City; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A member of Caterpillar Retirees Club, he worked at Caterpillar Inc. for 30 years, retiring as an inspector in 1976. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Peoria.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel. The Rev. Robert Stewart will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before services at the chapel. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery. --Peoria Journal Star, The (IL) - May 31, 1998.

Jonesboro, IL--ELSIE DILLOW, 100, of Jonesboro died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at the Glenview Terrace Nursing Home in Glenview, IL.  She was born March 3, 1909 at Elco, IL, daughter of Benjamin and Lucy Wareing Cauble.  Dillow was a seamstress and school teacher.  She was a member of the Elco Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Catherine Schmidtke of Des Plains, IL; a half-sister, Ruth Basillo; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, a sister, and three brothers.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at Elco Methodist Church.  Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church.  Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

Miller City, IL.--JODA LEA SPAULDING DILLOW, 24, of Miller City, formerly of Villa Ridge, Ill., died of malignant melanoma at 12:07 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She was born July 10, 1981 in Cape Girardeau.
Joda was a joint partner with her husband in Dillow Trucking in Miller City, and was a licensed insurance agent. She was a member of Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center in Cairo, Ill., where she participated in the Drama Team, New Generation Youth Choir, Baptist Band, and Upward Basketball (coach).
She graduated from Meridian High School in 1999 as valedictorian and was active in basketball, softball and various other student activities. She was a Southern Illinois Scholar Athlete and an Illinois State Scholar.
In 2005 Joda graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as an accounting major. She was a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Joda also traveled with the Heartland Heat Women's Fast Pitch Softball Team for three years.
Joda married Brandon D. Dillow of Miller City on May 3, 2003. She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Ashton Mackenzie Dillow (9 months) and a stepson, Tristan Thorne Dillow (age 5). Joda is also survived by her father and mother, Robert A. and Susan C. Spaulding of Villa Ridge; a sister, Jamie L. Ehling; a brother-in-law, Richard Ehling; and two nephews, Jacob and Caleb Ehling of Kevil, Ky; a brother, Jason R. Spaulding; sister-in-law, Sara Spaulding; and a nephew, Clayton Spaulding of Villa Ridge; grandparents, Irving and Pat Britton of Villa Ridge; great-grandmother, Blanche Britton of Villa Ridge; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gary "PeeWee" and Laura Dillow; a sister-in-law, Crystal Dillow; and a brother-in-law, William Dillow all of Olive Branch; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by grandparents, John and Clara Spaulding of Villa Ridge; and great-grandfather, Benson Britton, of Villa Ridge.
Joda was saved Oct. 15, 1988 and was baptized Sept. 24, 1989. She currently resides with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven.
Friends called at the Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center in Cairo from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 30 and from 8 a.m. to service time Saturday July 1. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the worship center with Dr. Larry L. Potts officiating. Interment followed in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements. --Cairo Citizen, July 6, 2006.

Tamms, IL.--MAY DILLOW, 100, of Tallahassee, Fla., and formerly of Tamms, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 1989 at 4:23 a.m. at the Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 6, 1889 in Elco, the daughter of John and Evaline Cauble Lee. She married T. O. Dillow, who preceded her in death on Dec. 27, 1974. She was a member of the United Church of Christ (E & R) at Tamms. She is survived by a son, Carl Dillow of Tallahassee, Fla.; two daughters, Ruth Johnson of Tallahassee and Evalyn Kretschmar of Union, Wash.; a sister, Grace Rose of Webster Groves, Mo; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren and other relatives. Funeral services for Mrs. May Dillow were Monday, Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Tamms with the Rev. Bob Edwards officiating. Interment was in St. John's Cemetery near Dongola. Crain Funeral Home of Tamms was in charge of arrangements. --Donated by Ben Cauble.

Tamms, IL.--ROBERT O. DILLOW, age 76, of Tamms, died Tuesday at 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Hospital (Cairo). He is survived by two sons, Clyde Dillow of Wood River and Kenneth Dillow of Tamms; four daughters, Mrs. Doyle Masterson, Blanche Dillow and Mrs. Maggie DeWitt, all of Tamms and Jessie Dillow of Chicago.  Two granddaughters, Mrs. Robert Humphrey of Alton and Miss Doris Dillow of Tamms, and other relatives. The body will be at the home of Mrs. Masterson, near Olive Branch, where friends may call. Funeral services will be held at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church at Delta at 11 a.m. Friday conducted by the Rev. H. S. Smith. Interment will be made in St. John's Cemetery near Dongola. Ford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1950, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Tamms, IL.--SHIRLEY A. DILLOW, 72, of Azle, Texas, formerly of Tamms, died Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.  She was born Aug. 9, 1934 in Alton, IL, daughter of Allison and Pearl Cullum.  she graduated from Tamms High School and Southern Illinois University.  She and Ronald N. Dillow were married Dec. 19, 1959.  They moved to the St. Louis area for a brief time and in 1961 moved to the Fort Worth area.  Dillow was a retired teacher.  Survivors include her husband.  There was no service.  Greenwood Funeral Home in Fort Worth was in charge of arrangements.

Cairo, IL.--AGED RESIDENT OF CAIRO DEAD--Peter Donnelly Passed Away Sunday Evening--PETER DONNELLY, aged 72 years, and for half a century a resident of Cairo, died Sunday night at his home, No. 2501 Poplar street, of ateriosclerosis. The deceased was a native of County Clare, Ireland.  For many years he was in the dairy business here, and retired a few years ago when the infirmities of age compelled him to give it up. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. J. J. Kelly, and three granddaughters and a neice. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at St. Joseph's church and the remains will be taken to Villa Ridge for interment.  E. A. Burke will have charge of the burial. --From The Cairo Citizen, Monday, November 10, 1913, contributed by Anna Shelton.

PEKIN, IL -- LILLIAN DORNBERGER, 74, of 1413 S. 11th St., formerly of Mapleton, died at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1994, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Born April 13, 1920, in Tamms to Mines and Georgia Thompson Dunning, she married Clarence L. Brown on Nov. 19, 1936, in Tamms. He died Feb. 6, 1963, in Pekin. She later married Earl R. Dornberger on Aug. 11, 1971, in Glasford. He died May 6, 1985, in Peoria. One daughter, Patricia Brown, two brothers and two sisters also preceded her in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Carrolyn Hazlett of Pekin and Mrs. Russell (Sharyn) Fuller of Mapleton; two sisters, Marie O'dell of California and Geneva Evans of Lebanon, Ill.; two brothers, Robert Dunning and Jesse Provo, both of Granite City; two grandsons; five step-grandchildren; 13 step-great-grandchildren; 21 step-great-great-grandchildren; and six step-great-great-great-grandchildren.
She was a member of LaMarsh Creek Baptist Church in Mapleton and Pekin Women of the Moose Lodge 673. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Woolsey Funeral Home in Pekin. The Rev. Claude Slate will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour before services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. --Peoria Journal Star, The (IL) - September 8, 1994.

Cairo, IL.--JOHN THOMAS DORSETT, age 78 years, died Thursday at 4 p.m. after an extended illness. He had made his home with his son, Dee Dorsett, 331 Eighth Street for the past 15 years.  He had been a resident of Cairo for 29 years. His wife, Amanda, preceded him in death, January 1930 and a son, M. C. Dorsett preceded him in death, October, 1943.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Roy Capshaw of Birney, Mo., Mrs. Ruby Carr of Illmo, Mo.: two sons, Dee and Willis, both of Cairo; 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Kate Henderson of Fort Worth, Tex.; Mrs. Emma Terrell of Huron, Ind.; two brothers, Herman of Alahambra, Calif., Larney of Florida and other relatives.
The body is at the Karcher Brothers Funeral Home where friends may call. Funeral services will be held at the Funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. with Rev. Wayne Child pastor of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be made in Thistlewood Cemetery. Karcher Brothers Funeral Home is in charge. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Friday, December 3, 1948, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Tamms, IL.--DR. GRACE H. DUFF, 84, died at 4:12 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, 2006 in Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 26, 1921, to Roy J. and Effie (Holshouser) Miller. She married Lawrence E. Duff on Jan. 16, 1945. He preceded her in death Oct. 26, 1991. She was a member of Olive Branch United Methodist Church, Dodge Memorial Library Board, American Association of University Women, Illinois State Board of Education, SIU Retired professors, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Soroity, Thebes Women's Club, Cairo BPW and Caledonia Chapter 587 Order of the Eastern Star.
One might say that Grace Duff's long and successful career began when she was a child and her father told her that if she worked hard, she could become a teacher. Education was all-important in her Southern Illinois farm family, where of the eight children, six became teachers.
During an interview with a newspaper reporter several years ago, Grace told of how she was born in Southern Illinois, in an area of great need, and allowed to visualize the opportunities that might touch people's lives, help them to become more literate and provide them with a better life and model for their children. Grace went on to tell the reporter of how she was raised to try things. And try things she did! She tried getting scholarships to attend college, succeeded easily, and graduated from SIU magna cum laude.
Grace Helen Duff began her professional life in 1941 as a one-room elementary school teacher in Thebes at the Pence School. As a teacher, she tried new and more effective methods of teaching, methods designed to give the child more freedom to develop without being put down by unfair competition or inappropriate expectations. Her successes were noticed by the county school superintendent who invited her to be the first assistant superintendent in Alexander County when the position was created in 1945. In this job, she had many more opportunities to "try things."
In 1955 she became the county superintendent of Alexander County Schools. As she campaigned for the position, she became aware of the people's need for educational opportunities in order for them to rise above the illiteracy and poverty that was so prevalent in the Cairo area.
During the 1960s amidst the federal war on poverty movement, Dr. Duff established one of the first adult education centers in the country to educate and train people for jobs in the area. To accompany this, she started one of the first childcare centers. Through her scholarly skills in grant writing, Dr. Duff has been responsible for acquiring millions of dollars for the improvement of education and civic services in deep Southern Illinois. She also provided leadership for the formation of the Egyptian Unit School District in 1963 and served as its first superintendent of schools. Upon the passage of the Illinois Community College Act, Grace worked toward the formation of Shawnee Community College which was established in 1967.
After serving 20 years as county superintendent, Grace made a career transition by accepting an appointment as assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations College of Education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. While at the university, she was asked by the first Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Joseph Cronin, to become the deputy state superintendent of management services. For a three-year period, Dr. Duff, in addition to her duties as deputy superintendent, chaired 19 statewide committees studying various aspects of Illinois education.
In 1978, Grace returned to Alexander County to consult and actively participate in such initiatives as the Regional Vocational System concept and its implementation, career guidance, career education, economic literacy, truant alternative education and computer consortium regionalization. From 1978 to 2004, Grace worked with several school districts in the area of early childhood education and assisted them in implementing, conducting, evaluating and expanding pre-school programs throughout the southern five counties in Illinois.
Grace Duff's contributions to education and society spans over 60 years. Her entire career has been devoted to education and inspiring others to develop leadership qualities to not only enhance their lives, but to reach out and touch others.
She is survived by one daughter, Julia Thrower and husband, Ty, of Cape Girardeau; one granddaughter, Heather Marie Cowsert of Cape Girardeau; two grandsons, James Benjamin Cowsert of Cape Girardeau and Joshua Andrew Cowsert of St. Louis; two step grandchildren, Jessica Marie Thrower and Ashley Carol Drum, both of Sikeston, Mo; three step great-grandchildren; four sisters, Elsie H. Munson and husband, Art, of St. Augustine, Fla., Lorene A. McAllister of Oak Park, Mich., Lois M. Farris of Cape Girardeau and Frances J. Reid of Jackson, Mo.; two brothers, Curtis J. Miller and wife Mary, and Roy Eugene Miller and wife, Wilma, all of Tamms; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother, Clifford Miller.
Services for Dr. Grace Duff will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 2006 in Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, with Pastor Pete Ryan officiating. Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery. --Courtesy The Southern Illinoisan, 8/16/2006.

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