Obituaries

Earl Henry Wellen, 81, of Belle Prairie City, IL passed away on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at his home.  Earl was born on August 16, 1943 in Piopolis, IL to Henry & Mary Wellen.

William F. "Bill" Cates, 93, of Carmi passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025 at Deaconess Illinois Medical Center in Marion, IL. He was born in Mill Shoals, IL on November 22, 1931 the son of Joseph and Nola (Davis) Cates. Bill married Minnie Kathryn Headlee and she preceded him in death on November 7, 1997. He had worked various jobs in the oil field. Bill was a faithful member of First Church of God in Maunie where he loved being the song leader. He enjoyed woodworking, visiting and singing at the nursing home and fishing, but his greatest joy was being with his family and grandchildren.

Camela Bolton Cleveland, 32, of Bone Gap, Illinois, passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at her grandparents’ home.

Pauline Ruth (Hanlon) Vaughn, 91, of Centralia, IL, formerly of McLeansboro, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN.  Pauline was born on June 28, 1933 in London, England to John & Leonora Hanlon.  She married Edwin Woodrow Counts in 1960, and divorced in 1967.  In 1989, she married Thomas William Vaughn who preceded her in death in 2013.

Stanford Lee Hunt, 65, of Carmi, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. He was born on Thursday, May 25, 1961, in Evansville, Indiana, the daughter of Billie and Patricia (Martin) Hunt.

James Robert Layton, 90, of Crossville, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Wabash Senior Living and Rehabilitation . He was born on Friday, June 8, 1934, in Fairfield, the son of James S. and Flora E. (Skelton) Layton. He first married Patsy Irene Burris on July 3, 1959, in Carmi and together they shared 12 years of marriage before her passing on July 8, 1971. He then married Martha Sue (Hargrave) Wilson on May 11, 1973, in Crossville and they have shared over 52 years of marriage.

Arnold "Mickey" Matthew Kueber, Jr. of Carmi, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2025, He was born October 14, 1953, in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, the son of Arnold Matthew and Virginia (Means) Kueber, Sr.

  Donald R. White, 90, of Carmi, passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He was born on October 7, 1934, in Burnt Prairie, Illinois, the son of Lehman and Gladys (Roser) White. Don married Margaret Rose Miller on October 4, 1963, and she preceded him in death on January 4, 2013.

     Danny Ray Robinson, 72, of Carmi, passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Linda E. White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana. He was born on December 31, 1952, in Minden, Louisiana, the son of Huey Gene and Wanda Jean (Fulton) Robinson. Dan married Claudetta Faye White on April 28, 1974, and she survives. He worked in the oilfield for a time, as well as at Grace Chemicals and then Raben tire until 1999. Dan then became the owner and operator of Dan's Tire in Carmi until he retired. He served on the Carmi fire department for 27 years. Dan was a member of the New Beginning Church of God. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and competing in demolition derbies.

Charles Raymond Michels, 83, of Carmi, and formerly of Cowling, passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Wabash Senior Living and Rehabilitation. He was born a son of Raymond Edward and Cora Louise (Simpson) Michels. On September 16, 1961, Charlie married Letha Marie Higginson in Mt. Carmel and together they shared more than 63 years of marriage before her passing on December 30, 2024.