kobits

Olive Branch, IL.--CAROLYN KAY KEE, 58, of Olive Branch died Sunday, Sept. 15, 1996 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 17, 1938 in Elco, daughter of Clyde and Anna May Dillman Tatum, Sr. She and Lester Kee were married May 27, 1956 in Elco. He died Nov. 8, 1977. Survivors include three sisters, Kathryn Provow of Rochelle, Karen Kennedy of Olive Branch and Evelyn Jost of Kerrville, TX; three brothers, Clyde Jr. of Tamms, Billy and Leroy of Thebes; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons and a brother. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Rev. Lacie Betts officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Trinity Memory Gardens at Rochelle, IL.

GRANITE CITY, IL-JESSE WILLIAM KEE, 85, of Granite City, Ill., born April 12, 1924, in Elco, Ill., passed away at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, 2009, at his home surrounded by his loved ones.
Jesse was an aviation machinist's mate with the U.S. Navy. He was employed by A.O. Smith as a pipe fitter for 25 years. When A.O. Smith closed he was employed by Granite City Steel for a few years, and then he was employed by Emerson Electric for seven years before his retirement. He was a member of the pipe fitters union and UAW Local 1715. He was a member of the Christian Church.
Jesse loved the outdoors and hunting Ginseng in the woods. When he retired he worked for hours in his yard, vegetable and flower gardens. He had a very compassionate heart and his passing leaves a void in the lives of those who loved him that cannot be filled.
Surviving are his wife, Karen Sue, nee Meyer, Kee who still resides in Granite City; a son, Jeff Kee of Granite City; two daughters, Melodie Vahdat of Edwardsville and Nancy Kee of Granite City; five brothers, Conrad (Barb) Kee of Staunton, Denny (Mary) Kee of Collinsville, Bobby Dean (May) Kee of Gold Hill, Oreg., Stanley (Sharon) Kee of Apple Valley, Calif., and Enos (Betty) Kee of Hutchinson, Kan.; and two sisters, Betty Lou (Tom) Baldwin of Granite City and Donna Jean (Bob) Mathis of McClure, Ill. Mr. Kee is also survived by seven grandchildren, Paul (Lanese) Vahdat of Granite City, Jamie and Jessica Kee of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Joshua Kee of Virginia, Mandy Soltani of Texas, and Jake and Emily Soltani of Granite City; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Makayla and Greyson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Kayvon and Kiyan of Granite City, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Granite City APA or Central Christian Church, Granite City, Ill.
Visitation: Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2009, at Irwin Chapel, 3960 Maryville Road, Granite City, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2009, at Irwin Chapel, Granite City, Ill. Burial will be in Upper Alton Cemetery, Alton, Ill.
--Belleville News-Democrat, The (IL) - May 27, 2009.

Thebes, Ill.--LOIS KELLEY, 91, of Thebes died Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at Lifecare Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan 31, 1918 in Elco, Ill., to Oscar and Nellie Mae Jackson Thompson. She married Harold McNelly on Feb. 15, 1934. She later married Orville Kelley on Oct. 4, 1953. He preceded her in death Oct. 22, 1992.
Kelley was pastor many years at Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Thebes. She operated a grocery store many years and had worked as a librarian. She loved to paint and was a great painter.
Survivors include a daughter, Jo (Luther) Smith of Thebes; two sons, Harold (Donna) McNelly of Thebes, J. C. (Mary) McNelly of Cape Girardeau; nine grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; niece, nephews; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sons in infancy, three brothers and three sisters.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jimmie Monahan officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Thebes. --Southeast Missourian, Apr 22, 2009.

Anchorage, AK--CLAUDE KERR- Former longtime Anchorage resident Claude C. "Shorty" Kerr, 77, died Feb. 22 at his home in Warden, Wash.
A graveside service was held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden.
Mr. Kerr was born Nov. 24, 1915, in Delta, Ill., to the late Grover and Nora Dickerson Kerr. He had worked in many construction camps as a cook, including the White Alice site in Clear.
Mr. Kerr later owned and operated the Frisco Bar and Grill on West Fifth Avenue for many years, before retiring to Warden in 1974. He had lived in Alaska for more than 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, and his second wife, Ann. Mr. Kerr is survived by eight children, Sharon Castano of Seattle, Gerald of Warden, Edwin of Peshastin, Wash., Taffie Olson of Warden, Terry of Leavenworth, Wash., Vickie of Cashmere, Wash., and Donald and Claude of Moses Lake, Wash.; his sisters, Minnie Wall and Goldie Granger of Warden; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by Kayser's Chapel of Memories in Moses Lake.
--Anchorage Daily News (AK) - March 27, 1993

Ullin, IL.--JUANITA GRACE MCRAVEN KERR, 91, of Ullin, formerly of Elco, died at 8:04 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2006 in Cache Valley Retirement Apartments in Ullin. Mrs. Kerr was born in Olive Branch on June 5, 1914, daughter of the late Ben and Nellie Williams McRaven. Mrs. Kerr was a member of Elco Baptist Church, had served as church pianist for 39 years, and was a former Sunday School teacher. Mrs. Kerr was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin Kerr on April 19, 2001; two children and three brothers. Survivors include three daughters, Shirley Cauble and Sheila Swinburne, both of Marion, and Shelby Sims of Tamms; two sons, Joe Kerr of Elco and Tim Kerr of Jacksonville, Fla., one sister, Loretta Beggs of New Athens; 9 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Services for Juanita G. Kerr will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2006 in Jones Funeral Home in Tamms with the Rev. Lacie Betts officiating. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery in rural Dongola. Friends may call Sunday between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. --Courtesy The Southern Illinoisan, Apr. 29, 2006.

Tamms, IL--ROSEALIE H. KIMBERLIN, 70, of Tamms, formerly of Bradley and McClure, Ill. and Albuquerque, N.M., died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at her home. She was born May 14, 1938 in Niles, Mich., to Zephyrie and Eileen Gephardt Martin. She married James Kimberlin April 23, 1954. Kimberlin was a member of Wetaug Church of Christ. She had worked as a butcher in a factory and also worked at a Roper Factory.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Dale (Debbie) Kimberlin and Jimmy (Barb) Kimberlin, all of Bradley, Billy (Cheryl) Kimberlin of Phoenix; eight grandchildren, Michael, Ryan, Jacob, Melissa and Michelle, all of Bradley, and Corey, Jessica and Eric of Phoenix; two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Cole of Bradley.
Also six brothers, Zephyrie (Skip) Martin of Golconda, Ill, Tex (Sue) Martin of Tamms, Frank (Linda) Martin and Lyle (Gaye) Brown, both of Albuquerque, Bob (Mary) Martin of Anna, Ill., Ken Martin of Chicago; four sisters, Karol Stamp and JoAllen Myers of Tamms, Sandy (Paul) Eddings of Ullin, Ill., Betty Ann Gephardt of Michigan; nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Derward Martin; and a sister, Lorraine Dagna.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. The funeral will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Ronnie Gulley officiating. Graveside committal service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Christian Chapel Cemetery.

Cottage Hills, Ill.--MARION B. KING, 72, of Cottage Hills died Sunday at 3:44 p.m. at St. Anthony's Hospital after an extended illness. She was born in Tamms, daughter of the late Arthur and Estella (Daily) Betz. She married Jesse A. King on Oct. 31, 1936, and he died Sept. 16, 1969. She is survived by three duaghters, Jessie Busse, Lathelda Klaus, and Watona Pruitt and a son, Paul, all of Cottage Hills. There are 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Smith Funeral Home in Alton with funeral services there at 1 p.m. Wednesday conducted by the Rev. Maurice Burgund. Burial will be in Upper Alton Cemetery. --Contributed by Donna Dailey Knight. (Note: SSDI has b. 07 Feb 1911; d. Jan 1984.)

Thebes, IL.--MRS. MINNIE KIRBY--Mrs. Minnie Kirby, age 67, wife of James Kirby, died Saturday at 10 p.m. at her home near Thebes. Besides her husband, she is survived by four sons, Clarence Worthing of Waukegan, Ill; Cecil and Ray Kirby of Thebes, and Elvis Kirby of Salt Lake City, Utah; one daughter, Mrs. Lelia White of Thebes; a sister, Mrs. Fronia Mitchell of Murphysboro, Ill; a brother, Henry Regger of Grand Tower, Ill; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held today at 1 p.m. at the Beech Grove Cemetery with the Rev. H. S. Smith officiating. Interment was made in the Lindsey Cemetey. Geo. C. Crain, Funeral Director, was in charge. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, January 5, 1948, contributed by Anna Shelton. (*Note- Burial is in Lindsey Cem. The service was at Beech Grove Church.)

Cairo, IL.--EDDIE KIRK, SR., 68, 524 11th St., died at the Veterans Hospital, Marion, Thursday. He was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church, 12 Walnut St., and of the trustee board and was Sunday School teacher of the Men's Class. He was a member of Hiram Consistory No. 51 Mason Bagdad Temple, 104 A.E.A.O. N.M.S. Inc., and worthy patron of Bathsheba Chapter 15 OES. He was assistant secretary of A.A. Martin Lodge 140 F and AM; and a member of American Legion Post 899. Survivors are his widow Ora Mae; one daughter, Mrs. Mildred Lewis, Memphis, Tenn.; mother, Mrs. Emma Brooks, a sister, Mrs. Delia Locke, both of Sunflower, Miss.; an aunt, Mrs. Amy Thomas, Cairo; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 12 noon Sunday at the First Missionary Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Sherman Jones, pastor. Burial will be in Mound City National Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday. Visitation is at the Avant Funeral Home after 3 p.m. Saturday. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Thursday, Dec. 11, 1969, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Olive Branch, IL.--D. I. KIRKHAM--Funeral services for D. I. Kirkham, well known resident of Olive Branch and former county judge of Alexander county, whose death occurred at his home Wednesday morning, following a prolonged illness of typhoid fever, will be held Friday morning. The body was taken to the home of his brother W. B. Kirkham Wednesday and the cortege will leave the residence at 9:50 a.m. Friday for the Methodist church at Olive Branch where services will be conducted by the Rev. J. R. Reid at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the Olive Branch Cemetery. Karcher Brothers directing the funeral. It is expected that many friends from Cairo will attend the service. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen and Bulletin, Thursday, Sept. 1, 1932, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Olive Branch, IL--DR. WILLIAM R. "BILL" KIRKHAM, 58, died Nov. 26, 1984, after a lengthy illness. Dr. Kirkham was born in Olive Branch IL, on Aug. 5, 1925. He received his Medical Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1960 and his PhD degree from the University of Missouri. Kirkham was an Associate Professor of Bio-Chemistry at Oklahoma State University, 1954-56. He also held positions at the Public Health Service in Staten Island, New York, and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda MD. He also served as a Pathologist in the National Institute of Health at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Covington Ky, and was a Pathologist at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, OK. In 1974, Dr. Kirkham received an appointment in the Pathology Research Unit at the FAA in OKC. He served in this capacity until 1977 when he became Chief of the FAA Aviation Toxicology Laboratory. As a forensic pathologist, Kirkham was one of the first investigators summoned to major aircraft accidents both within and without the continental United States. In this role, he assisted in the identification of victims, the investigation into possible causes of the disasters, and research into methods to prevent deaths and lessen injuries from airflight. Due to his intense interest in this segment of the aeromedical field, Bill had been affectionately renamed as ""Quincy of the Airways'' by his co-workers on the investigative teams. In 1982, Kirkham received the prestigious Harry G. Mosely Award, presented by the Lockheed Corporation in recognition of his contributions to the field of aeromedical research. On March 1, 1984, he was the recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's highest honor, the Superior Achievement Award, presented by FAA Chief J. Lynn Helms in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of aviation safety. He was also cited for his work with aircraft seats and restraints, which led to design changes to lessen the severity of aircrash injuries. He was a member of the AMA, College of American P athology, on the teaching staff at O.U., and an active member of Hillcrest United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army in WWII.
Survivors include: wife, Pearl, daughters, Sharon and Patti, all of the home, and Dr. Kaye Oneal of Lawton OK; sons, Mark of Tempe AZ, and Don of Albuquerque N.M.; four grandchildren, Elen, Isaac, and Anna Oneal of Lawton OK, and William Charles Kirkham of Tempe AZ; five sisters, Ruth Novello of Philadelphia PA, Shirley Parker of Hayward WI, Audrey Milan of Mounds IL, and Virginia Cika and Alice Frank, both of St. Louis MO; two brothers, Wendell Kirkham of Flemington N.J., and Don Kirkham of Corpus Christi TX; and a host of friends.
Services 2 pm Friday at Hillcrest United Methodist Church with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Vondel Smith & Sons. The family suggests memorials be made to Hospice of Central Oklahoma or to the Bill Kirkham Memorial Fund at Hillcrest United Methodist Church.

Tamms, IL.--LARRY E. KISSIAR, 55, of Tamms died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. He was born Feb. 15, 1952 in Anna, IL, son of Homer and Rosa Thompson Kissiar. He and Carolyn Mueller were married Sept. 25, 1969. Kissiar was a truck driver and member of McClure Pentecostal Church. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Larry Kissiar of Dongola, IL, Ronald Kissiar of East Cape Girardeau, IL, Tony Kissiar of Tamms; a daughter, April Kissiar-Arenas of Tamms; two brothers, Wib Kissiar of Florida, Ernie Kissiar of Mayfield, KY; three sisters, Brenda Stover of Florida, Linda Palmer of Dongola, Tressie Long of Perks, IL; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, a sister and two grandsons. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 1, 2007) at the funeral home with the Revs. Mark Boyd and Robert Smithey officiating. Burial will be in Lindsey Cemetery.

Cairo, IL.--JACOB KLEIN, proprietor of Klein's brick yard, was burned to death early Saturday morning. He was burning a kiln of brick and had arisen about midnight to see that all was well. In passing between the burning kiln and one already burned, in a space of eight or ten feet wide, the wall of the kiln gave way and its owner was buried under a mass of red hot bricks. The heat was so intense that cord wood scattered along to feed the furnaces was ignited. Work was immediately commenced to rescue the unfortunate man. It was soon found necessary to call out the paid fire department in order to cool down the debris. Even then several hours were lost before the result was accomplished and it was day before the charred remains were rescued. The occurence was so horrible, it shocked the entire community.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon. Services by Rev. Diepenbrock were conducted at St. Joseph's church and the remains were interred at Villa Ridge. Deceased was a member of the Rough and Ready Fire company, the Cairo Casino and the Germania Maennerchor, and these organizations attended the funeral.
Jacob Klein was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 29, 1825. He received a common German education and in 1852 was married to Agnes Zellor. He came to America in 1854, landing in New York July 15th of that year. He first located in Louisville, Ky., where he lived about ten years. His wife died June 18, 1864, leaving two children, Annie, who afterwards married Mr. Charles Rhode, and Elizabeth, who married Valentine Resch.
In 1865, he married the widow of his brother, Peter Klein, in Cairo. His second wife died in 1876 and afterwards he married Caroline Haller, who died in the autumn of 1894. By his last wife he had five children, four of whom survive him.
During the thirty years of his life in Cairo Mr. Klein has been engaged in the manufacture of brick, and was quite successful. Mr. Klein was a quiet, gentle old man of a very kind disposition, already to do what he believed to be right. His course with Dr. Elrod last fall was characteristic of the man. Dr. Elrod leased the buildings which he occupied as a sanitarium, for two years with the privilege of five. The first of June, 1894, he was stricken down by disease which finally proved to be fatal. About the first of October the Doctor saw that he must abandon the enterprise. He sent for Mr. Klein and told him that he must give up the buildings and leave Cairo, that it was a matter of life and death and that he might not live in any event. He said to Mr. Klein, "I would like to be released from the obligation of our contract. Of course you can compel us to pay rent some months longer, but I would like to be released on the first of November." Mr. Klein said, "I will give you an answer tomorrow." He thought the matter over and the next day he said, "I will release you, I may some time be in your condition myself." This incident shows the heart of the man.
Last December after his wife died he executed a will. It is in the hand writing of Father J. B. Diepenbrock. By the terms of the will he gives his life insurance, amounting to $7,000, and all his money in bank at the time of his death, to his four children by his last wife. All the rest of his property, real and personal, he gives to these four children, to Mrs. Resch and to the children of Mrs. Rhode, to each child and to the children of Mrs. Rhode each one-sixth part. He constitutes Father Diepenbrock his trustee to hold the property for the purposes set forth in the will. He also makes him executor and testamentary guardian of his children. He provides that no division or distribution of the property shall be made until the youngest child attains her majority. We understand that the youngest child is but a few years old. These are in substance the main provisions of the will, which was admitted to probate Tuesday and R. Fitzgerald, R. Walsh and Joseph Pidgeon appointed appraisers. --From The Cairo Weekly Citizen, Thursday, Sept. 5, 1895, contributed by Anna Shelton.

McClure, IL.--SARAH ELIZABETH KNIGHT--Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Knight of McClure died Monday night at the Anna hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lindsey Cemetery, near McClure. Burial will also be made there. Marchildon Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. --From The Cairo Citizen, Tuesday, June 9, 1943, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Oakley, California--LOUISE KNORR, 64 years of age, died suddenly at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco on January 9, 2003. Louise was a native of Tamms, Illinois and has resided in Oakley for the past 27 years. Louise was a member of the 1st Southern Baptist Church in Oakley, and Redman Pocahontas Wi-Cha-Ka Council #222, Oakley. She was an Avon Distributor and enjoyed sewing, gardening and motorcycle riding. She is survived by her husband of 40+ years, Gerald Knorr of Oakley; children: Dennis Knorr of Antioch, Robert Knorr of Modesto, Tammy Knorr of Oakley; nine grand and seven great grandchildren. Her father, William J. Barker resides in Greenville, KY. One nephew also survives.
Visitations will be at the Brentwood Funeral Home on Sunday, January 12 from noon until 8pm. Funeral Services will be at the funeral home on Monday, 11am with burial following at Union Cemetery in Brentwood. --Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) - January 11, 2003

Cairo, IL.--FERDINAND KOEHLER DIED THIS MORNING--Passed Away at Home of His Brother on West Sixteenth Street--Mr. Ferdinand Koehler, a well known German of this city, died at home of his brother, Mr. Louis Koehler on West Sixteenth street about 5:30 o'clock this morning, aged 67 years. The deceased had been ill for several months with stomach trouble. Mr. Keehler was a butcher by trade, but had not been in business for a number of years. He was a widower, his wife having died about thirty years ago. He is survived by his brother, Mr. Louis Koehler and a sister, Mrs. Mollie Mueller of St. Louis.
The deceased was born in Germany and came to this country when a small boy. He had resided in Cairo for over twenty-five years and was well known here. He was an uncle of Messrs. Charles, Albert and Dan Koehler.
The funeral arrangements have not yet been completed. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Thursday, Sept. 14, 1905, contributed by Anna Shelton.