All Obituaries

Phyllis J. LaMar, 76, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, formerly of Westville, Illinois, passed away Sunday, February 7, 2021, at St. Francis Hospital, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Phyllis was born on February 8, 1944, in Danville, Illinois, the daughter of Pete and Eleanor (Yarbrough) Van Driessche.  She married Jerry LaMar on June 20, 1980, in Danville.  He preceded her in death on May 25, 2018. She is survived by three daughters- Mindy Alexander of Coweta, Oklahoma, Missy (Randy) Nelson of...

Jerry G. LaMar, 73, of Westville, formerly of Rossville, passed away at 2:59 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Carle Foundation Hospital, in Urbana. Jerry was born on November 11, 1944, in Rossville, the son of Vernon and Laverna (Dukes) LaMar.  He married Phyllis Van Driessche, on June 20, 1980, in Danville.  She survives. He is also survived by three daughters- Mindy Burchett of Coweta, Oklahoma, Missy (Randy) Nelson of Wagoner, Oklahoma and Tammy (Charles) Frakes of Porter,...

William “Bill” L. Swan, 96, of Hoopeston, passed away at 8:35 AM Friday, April 9th, 2021, at his home.  Bill was born on September 1st, 1924, in Blanchard Michigan, the son of Arthur and Theda (Allen) Swan.  He married Beverly Hutchinson on August 17th, 1946, in Blanchard Michigan. She preceded him in death January of 1998. He later married Marguerite “Marg” Shoufler on June 22nd, 2002, in Hoopeston.  She survives. He is also survived by three...

Rick Highfill, 66, of Milford, passed away at 3:05 PM Thursday, April 8th, 2021, at his home. Rick was born on October 7th, 1954, in Watseka, Illinois, the son of Charles E and Joyce Ann (Walker) Highfill.  He married Charlene Daniels on July 6th, 1974, at the Milford Christian Church. She survives. He is also survived by one daughter-Susan Highfill of Milford; one son- Derek (Angela) Highfill of Hoopeston; two grandchildren-Joie and Cory Girdler; one brother-Ed (Carol) Highfill of...

Keith Leroy Bess was born on June 5, 1947, in Vandalia, Illinois, the seventh and last child of Roy and Nellie Harrison. When his mother died just months after his birth, relatives of the family, Lavern and Lucille Bess, took him in and later adopted him. Keith grew up in Altamont and decided at an early age that he would become a barber. After graduating from Altamont High School, he attended Decatur Barber School before enlisting in the Air Force. He spent most of his enlistment at...

Carolyn Sue Clayburn, 75, of Hoopeston, passed away at 9:12 p.m. Sunday, April 4, 2021, at her home. Carolyn was born on October 23, 1945, in Danville, the daughter of Clarence and Velma (Andrews) Clements.  She married Jerry Clayburn on May 8, 1964, in Danville.  He survives. She is also survived by one daughter- Tammy (Doug) Lewis of Hoopeston; two grandchildren- P.J. Bailey of Hoopeston and Summer (Tony) Badger of Covington; eight great-grandchildren- Kaydence, Carter,...

Hoopeston: Daniel Edwin Vandenberg age 94 of Hoopeston passed away Thursday March 25, 2021 at the VA Illinia Health Care in Danville.  Daniel was born September 26, 1926 in Rural Hoopeston (Antioch) on his family farm. The son of Walter Arthur & Sarah Dessa Smith Vandenberg.  He married Mary McDowell on March 6, 1993 in Peoria.  She survives, also survived by 3 daughters: Pamela (Robert) Henkelman of Westville, Sara (Ike) Watts of...

Pedro Zarate Sr., 84, of Hoopeston, IL passed away at 3:51 p.m. Thursday, December 31, 2020, at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center at Urbana, IL. Mr. Zarate was born on October 19, 1936, in La Grulla, Texas, the son of Matias and Saturnina (Contreras) Zarate. He married Melida Treviño on February 14, 1960, at the La Sagrada Familia Church, in La Grulla, Texas. She survives. He is also survived by his children, Jesus “Jesse” (Leslie Torres) Zarate of Hoopeston, Irasema...

On January 1, 2021 Charles Ruel "Chuck" Abbott passed away suddenly at his home in Prescott Valley, Arizona at age 67.  He was as good a brother, uncle, cousin, and friend as this world could ever know.  The few words written here could never do him justice.   Chuck was born on April 7, 1953 in Danville, Illinois to Harold and Grace (Sollars) Abbott living at East Lynn, IL.  He graduated from Potomac High School in Potomac, Illinois and studied Computer...

Joe Ray Whitlow, 76, of Potomac, passed away at 12:08 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2021, at Carle Foundation Hospital, in Urbana. Joe was born on April 18, 1944, in Hardin County, Kentucky, the son of Cletus and Lilla (Coffee) Whitlow.  He is survived by his life partner of 43 years- Judy Clementz of Potomac; daughter- Lilla (Jason Williams) Taylor of Potomac; four sons- Curtis (Jenny Reardon) Whitlow of Potomac, Billy (Amy) Whitlow of Covington, IN, Joey (Kim) Taylor of Champaign and Mark...