STUART LANDESS , 81, of Springfield, died June 20, 2008 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. He was born April 8, 1927 in Pike County to Stuart and Julia Mink Landess. He married Anita Smithey Sept. 29, 1972 in Decatur. He was a retired salesman for Werner Motors. He served in WWII and the US Navy receiving the Victory Medal, the Phillipine Liberation Ribbon and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal. HE was a graduate of Brown's Business College of Peoria and was a past member of Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife Anita; five sons, Michael (Vicki) Landess, Greg Landess and Patrick (Debbie) Landess, all of Springfield, Daniel (Paula) Landess of Lincoln and Kevin (Peggy) Landess of Indianapolis; one daughter, Theresa Sidwell of Pittsfield; one stepdaughter, Karen (Jerry) Hines of Godfrey; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald (Betty) Landess of Quincy;one sister, Verna Howell of Peoria; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Crystal Carroll, June 17, 1982. There will be a visitation from 4-6 Thursday, June 26 at Ellinger-Kunz and Park Funeral Home in Springfield and a memorial service at 6 p.m. with Lonnie Landess officiating. Private family burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Pittsfield will be at a later date
Contribed by Billie Browning

MARTHA JANE (BUTLER) LAWBER , died in Quincy, Adams Co., at Blessings Hospital, May 17, 2008. Martha was married to Carl Leroy Lawber, Sr. Aug. 31, 1963 in Golden, 44 blissful years ago. Martha Jane was the daughter of Silvan Ross and Vera Sara (Smith) Butler. She was born March 25, 1924 in Perry, Pike Co. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Anna Mae and Darliene Rosalee; and two brothers, Fredrick Ross and Larry Smith Butler. She is survived by her husband, Carl of Pittsfield; her brother, Robert Lee "Pete" (wife Betty) of Perry; her sisters-in-law, Judy (Perry) and Thelma (Griggsville) Butler; their children, Garry Lawber (wife Ida) of Barry, Margo (husband Merlyn) Winchill of Pleasant Hill, Sandra Ragan of San Antonio, Texas, Carl Lawber, Jr., of Pittsfield and Kenneth Lawber of Apple Valley, Minn.; several nieces and nephews; 13 grandchildren; and 33 great grandchildren. Carl and Martha were long time members of the Detroit Christian Church. Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 19 at the Airsman-Hires Chapel in Griggsville with Reverend Keith Warner officiating. Internment was at Dorsey Cemetery in Perry. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17 at the funeral chapel. Memorials may be made to Detroit Christian Church c/o Airsman-Hires Chapel Box 341 Griggsville, Il. 62340. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.airsman-hires.com.
Contributed by Billie Browning

THOMAS TAYLOR LISTER , a retired farmer died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Grace Durr, with whom he had recently been making his home, Sundey, February 18, 1934, following an illness of about a week’s duration at 8:05 a.m. He was born in Carroll Co., Kentucky, March 2, 1854 and lacked but twelve days of reaching his eightieth milestone. He united in marriage with Elizabeth Evans, November 30, 1879. There were six childdren, four of whom survive: Mrs. Grace Durr, Raymond Lister and Mrs. Alanta Turner of Griggs­ville, Ill. One daughter, a twin of Mrs. Turner, died in infancy. A sec­ond daughter, Lillie (Mrs. Harmon Reed) died about seven years ago. He is also survived by six grand­children. He was the last of a fam­ily of fourteen children. His wife died some twenty seven years ago. For the last twelve years he has liv­ed with his children. He resided on the farm, living much of his life in the Bethel com­munity, moving to Griggsville about sixteen years ago. He was a kind­hearted man, good to his family, in­dustrious and happiest when he was busy at work. Though handicapped by never having gone to school a day in his life, he had nevertheless learn­ed how to read and figure. He had expressed himself as having lived his time and that he was ready to go. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Bethel M. E. Church. Funeral services were held Tues­day at 10:30 a. m. at the Skinner Funeral home in Griggsville and in­terment made in Bethel cemetery, the Rev. Oscar F. Jones, pastor, of­ficiating.
Submitted by Delaine Donaldson The Independent Press, Girggsville, IL February 24, 1934