All Obituaries

San Juanita Palomares, 53, of Rantoul, passed away at 2:06 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2019, at Carle Foundation Hospital, in Urbana. Juanita was born on August 11, 1965, in Hoopeston, Illinois, the daughter of Baltazar and Angela (Mendoza) Zarate.  She married Jesus “Jesse” Palomares on June 13, 1987, in Ruskin, Florida.  He preceded her in death on August 21, 2017. She is survived by three daughters- Janette (Adrian) Menchaca, Jasmine Palomares and Rebecca Clerget...

Opal M. Irwin, 90, of Sour Lake, Texas, formerly of Hoopeston, IL, passed away at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 3, 2019, at Silsbee Oaks Health Care. Opal was born on August 6, 1928, in the hills of Barren County Kentucky. She was the daughter of Branford and Georgia (Polson) Lawson.  She married Glen Allen Irwin on July 12, 1952, in Henderson, Kentucky.  He preceded her in death in 1999. She is survived by two daughters- Karen (Jay) Stover of Sour Lake, Texas and Barbara Fleenor of...

Sarah “Betty” March, 96, formerly of Goodwine, passed away at 10:56 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2019, at Accolade Healthcare of Paxton Senior Living. Betty was born on October 8, 1922, in Hoopeston, the daughter of German and Anna (Griffin) Robertson.  She married Henry March on September 25, 1941, in Perrysville, Indiana.  He preceded her in death on November 2, 1976. She is survived by three children- Fred (Pam) March of Fithian, Mark March of Philo and Becky (Gene)...

Penny Ann Smith, 63, of Potomac, formerly of Paris, passed away at 6:55 a.m. Saturday, February 9, 2019, at her home. Penny was born on August 6, 1955, in Paris, Illinois, the daughter of Norma Jean Pine.  She was previously married to Terrance Patrick Hodge.  He preceded her in death. She is survived by two children- Brooke (David) Shewmake Paris, Illinois and Seth Hodge of Mansfield, Illinois; two grandchildren- Cheyenne Montgomery of Rantoul and Daely Shear of Paris, Illinois;...

Kimberly Sue Velliquette, 51, of Armstrong, passed away at 9:05 a.m. January 29, 2019, at her home. Kimmy Sue was born on November 14, 1967, in Danville, the daughter of Harold and Nancy (Boten) Hines.  She married Brad Velliquette on December 5, 2009, at the Number 10 Church of Christ.  He survives. She is also survived by her father- Harold Hines of Armstrong; two daughters- Kelsey (Jeremy) Jones of Gifford and Kourtney (Trent) Fermanich of Rockford; one son- Kody Newell of...

Judith Ann King, 74, of Hoopeston, passed away at 6:14 p.m. Monday, January 28, 2019, at Carle Foundation Hospital, in Urbana. Judith was born on June 18, 1944, in Hoopeston, the daughter of James and Ada (Dobkins) Gooden.  She married Ronald Francis King on May 2, 1964, in Hope, Illinois.  He preceded her in death on August 3, 2006. She is survived by one daughter- Debra King of Hoopeston; three sons- Dwayne King of Hoopeston, Ronald (Dallas) King of Bloomington and David King...

Maurice “Dale” Smith, 75, of Rossville, passed away at 12:35 p.m. January 29, 2019, at Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center. Dale was born on January 15, 1944, in Rockport, Indiana, the son of Wilfred and Imogene (Huffman) Smith. He is survived by his wife, Janet Sue (France) Smith.  Dale and Janet were married on October 29, 1966, in Booneville, Indiana.  After 52 years, they were able plant permanent roots in Rossville, Illinois, raise two children, celebrate...

Richard J. Simpson passed away on January 16, 2019 at 9:22 am at Amber Glen Alzheimer’s Care Facility in Urbana, Illinois.   He was born on June 13, 1943 to Frank and Dorothy (Frey) Simpson in Delta, Colorado.  He married Ramona (Henne) Simpson on September 11, 1966 in Littleton,...

Julie Ann Yi, 60, of Rantoul, passed away at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Accolade Healthcare of Paxton Senior Living. Julie was born on February 11, 1958, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of Ora and Donna (Fields) Fletcher Sr.  She is survived by her partner- Mary Diana Howard of Rantoul; grandchild- Nia Yi; three brothers; four sisters; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, son- Jesse Yi and step-mother- Ruth Fletcher. Julie served in...

Jesse David Hatchett, of Rossville IL, loving father and son, found his peace at the age of 29. His story began in Ely,  NV on November 19, 1989.   A blue eyed, tow head baby boy was born to James and Mary Bainbridge Hatchett.      Jesse was very inquisitive as a child. Always taking his toys apart to see how they worked. Sometimes he got them put back together, sometimes he didn’t. It didn’t matter, they had served their...