Obituaries

James (Jim) Lowell Veatch, of Carmi, IL passed away on February 14, 2026, at the age
of 76.

 Harry J. Brown, a farm boy from Franklin County Missouri who served his country during WWII and returned home to his high school sweetheart to build a family and a successful career, died on March 5th, 2026.  He was 100.

Mary Linda (Sullivan) Wheeler, 82, of New Haven passed away on March 10, 2026 at Ascension St. Vincent in Evansville, IN. She was born on December 24, 1943 in Grayville the daughter of J.D. and Mamie Lee (Harris) Sullivan.

Elsie Madoline York, 99 of McLeansboro, Illinois passed away at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital.  Elsie was the daughter of Bobby and Mabel (Bond) Trout of Dale, Illinois and was born April 24, 1926. 

Nancy Jean (Rick) Johnson went to her heavenly Home at 11:51 AM on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois. She was 90 years old, born March 30, 1935 to Lawrence E. and Rose (Walters) Rick in Morrison, Illinois (Whiteside County). 

Delores Van Norman, 81 of McLeansboro, IL went to be with the Lord on March 6, 2026. She was born on September 5, 1944, in Flora, IL to John and Edna Bradley. On October 20,1962 she married Vernon Van Norman who preceded her in death in 2025. Delores was a member of Lick Creek Church.

 Charles Wilburn Cartmill, 99 of Olney, IL, formerly of Carmi, IL, passed away on March 7, 2026 at Helia Healthcare of Olney, IL. Charles was born August 1, 1926 in White County, IL, the son of Jesse and Florence Cartmill. He had four brothers: Troy, Arthur, Thurman and Bertis. He had two sisters, Lillian (Orville) Pretzsch and Isabelle Jessie Cartmill. Charles was born and raised on Kingdom Hill. He attended Kingdom School and Carmi High School. He rode his bicycle five miles into town to work at a gas station during his high school years. He worked at Rebstock Oil Company and later retired from Aylsworth Oil Company in August, 1988 delivering gas for Texaco and Marathon for 42 years. He also was an excellent mechanic keeping those gas trucks running smoothly.

Jerry Gene Johnson went home to be with the Lord early the morning of Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois. He was 90 years old. Born on December 1, 1935 to Paul Eugene and Bernice (Hatcher) Johnson in Benton (Franklin County) as the oldest of four children. 

William “Bill” D. Mears, 82, of Carmi passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Hamilton Pointe in Newburgh, IN. He was born on January 21, 1944 at his family home in Gallatin County the son of Dallas and Velma Maxine (Wilson) Mears. Bill married Sandra “Sandy” Kay Brown on June 17, 1961 and they shared over 64 years of marriage together. He graduated from Carmi Township High School in 1962.

   Loretta Faye Vangampler, 86, of Carmi passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026 surrounded by her family.  She was born on January 9, 1940 in Eldorado, IL the daughter of Earl Carlos and Gladys Loretta (Bean) Pryor.