Obituaries

Jerry Kenneth Taylor, 81, of Grayville, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at home. He was born on Sunday, May 2, 1943, in Cripple Creek, CO, a son of Kenneth and Julyar (Sammons) Yarborough.

Letha Marie Michels, age 79, of Carmi and formerly of Cowling, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024, at Hamilton County Hospital in McLeansboro. She was born on Thursday, May 3, 1945, in Wabash County a daughter of Leo and Caradena (Stadler) Higginson.

     Doris Jean (Taylor) Malone was born December 21, 1938, in rural Mills Shoals, Illinois, to Sherman Ivan and Lucy Lorene (Files) Taylor and departed this life, surrounded by family, January 3, 2025. She was a retired high school teacher and was a member of IRTA and Carmi First Christian Church. Jean enjoyed attending Bible studies, Red Hat meetings, reunions and family outings, reading, shopping (in her younger years), studying history and watching college basketball games.

    Bonnie Jean Gay, 84, of Carmi, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Wabash Senior Living in Carmi. She was born on August 22, 1940, in Princeton, Indiana, the daughter of Royal and Mary Josephine (Walker) Martin.

    Michael L. Batteese, 65, of Norris City, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. He was born on March 12, 1959, in Eldorado, Illinois, the son of James Lewis and Norma (James) Batteese.

Edna Emily Pfaff, 90, of Keenes, IL passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL.  Mrs. Pfaff had resided the last few years at Countryside Manor Nursing Home in Mt. Vernon, IL due to her health.  Prior to that, she lived near Papertown near her daughter.

Mrs. Pfaff was born on March 1, 1934 to Allen Gaskill, a well-known farmer and Georgia (Stoltz) Gaskill, a long-time Wayne County school teacher. 

George Patton of Carmi, IL passed on December 24, 2024 at the Linda White Hospice at Evansville, IN.

 Phyllis S. Becker, 87, of Norris City passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Wabash Senior Living in Carmi. She was born on October 13, 1937 in Hamilton County, IL the daughter of Monroe B. and Mattie L. (Peyton) Smith.

   Gary L. Maricle, 83, of Carmi passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN. He was born October 21, 1941 in Peoria, IL to Louis and Carrie (Duckworth) Maricle.

Earl Wayne South, 82, of Sedalia, MO, passed away on December 17, 2024, in Independence, MO of a broken heart for the loss of his beloved Martha, leaving behind a legacy of love, hard work, and cherished memories. He was born on December 1, 1942, in Carmi, IL, the son of Jewell Delbert South and Anna Francis (Renschler) South, who preceded him in death.