Obituaries

Marvin Lee Ritchason, age 83 and a resident of Round Rock, TX and formerly of McLeansboro, IL, passed away 5:18 a.m. Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Glenn Curtis Hardesty, age 78, of Lawrenceville, IL passed away Wednesday, July 3, 2024. He was born July 1, 1946, to Lowell and Neva (Spence) Hardesty in New Harmony, IN and grew up in Carmi, IL.

Herdis Lee Wells. 84, of Norris City passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, IN.  He was born on May 28, 1940 in Mt. Vernon, Indiana the son of Richard F. and Laura Lucille (Wiggins) Wells.  Herdis had worked for Dernaco Construction and Engineering in Casper, WY as a welder on the pipeline. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force.

Wilton Dewey Badgett, age 69 and resident of McLeansboro, IL, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, IL

Eleanor Sue (Allen) Ray was called back to God peacefully and after enjoying an ice cream and strawberries with her family on June 25, 2024 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. 

Benjamin L. (Benny) Healy, 74, of Enfield, Illinois, died Saturday, June 22, 2024, at his home. He was born April 23, 1950, in Evansville, Indiana, the son of Fred and Edith (Ledbetter) Healy. He was married to Sally (Krug) Healy, and she survives.

Eva Lovene Leavell of Carmi, Illinois, died on Friday June 21, 2024, at Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Evansville, Indiana.

Patricia Lee Fuqua, age 75 and resident of McLeansboro, IL, passed away at 6:10 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2024 at her home. Pat was born July 21, 1948 to Coy and Monette (Taylor) Braden in Macedonia, IL. She attended school in Hamilton County and later married Authur Hayward Fuqua, Jr. on February 18, 1967 in McLeansboro, IL and he preceded her in death October 30, 1991.

It is with great sorrow, we say goodbye to the earthly body of Robert Joseph Lauer II, of Crossville, IL, at the tender age of 37. Robert entered the world on September 4, 1986, in Gaylord, MI, and from that day forward was an endless source of kindness, love and positive energy. He was born to be outside and loved everything about nature. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and camping enthusiast. Once he became a father, his world centered around his sons and he instilled a love for the outdoors, camping and growing things in his boys. Robert has always had jobs working with his hands and could not tolerate being idle. He felt he found his niche working in the oil field following in his grandfather Cobb’s footsteps. 

 Laura Marie Edwards, 94, of Norris City, passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. She was born on February 11, 1930, in Junction, Illinois, the daughter of James Madison and Mary Eunice (Willis) Walters. Laura married William Benjamin "Jack" Edwards on July 1, 1950, and he survives. She graduated from Equality High School and worked as a seamstress. Laura was an instructor at a sewing factory. She later worked at a department store in Chicago. Laura was a member of Ditney Ridge Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing and loved working with flowers. Laura could put anything into the ground and it would grow.