Obituaries

  Sharon J. Gwaltney, 74, of Carmi passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024 at Eldorado Rehab and Health Care.  She was born in Eldorado, IL on October 30, 1949 the daughter of Frieda (Kanady) Roe and Raymond Stanley. Sharon married Edward Hon on August 15, 1969 and during their 26 years of marriage, they were blessed with a daughter, Andrea.  She later married Stephen Gwaltney on August 6, 2002 and he preceded her in death on March 21, 2010. Sharon enjoyed going to church and had attended First Baptist Church in Carmi, later she would attend New Beginnings Church of God with Stephen and in recent years attended the Crossville Church of Christ with her daughter.  She loved watching Disney movies, spending time with her grandchildren and calling and visiting with her friends.

Elizabeth “Liz” Barbre went to her heavenly home on January 6, 2024. She was born on January 30, 1926 in Enfield, Illinois to Leonard Daniel Apple and Flora Elsie Espy. She married Paul Kenneth Barbre on November 20,1943 and he preceded her in death on November 19, 1999.    

Virginia Yvonne (Springer) Preston, 82, of Mill Shoals, IL passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, IL.  Virginia was born on March 24, 1941 to Rural & Ruby (Etienne) Springer.

Scott Lee Kittinger, 59, of Carmi, Illinois, died Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana, surrounded by his family and several of his friends. He was born December 12, 1964, in Benton, Illinois, the son of Donald Lee Kittinger and Connie Lou (Parrish) Kittinger. He was married to Melissa (Blake) Kittinger and she survives.

  Betty Walker, 76, of Enfield, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024. She was born on July 19, 1947, in Tyronza, Arkansas, the daughter of J.B. and Estelle (Smithey) Hall. Betty married Phillip Edward Walker on July 16, 1966, and he survives. She enjoyed country western dancing, and listening to all kinds of music. Most of all, Betty enjoyed caring for her children and granddaughter.

Robert “Bob” Leathers Jr, went Home to be with The Lord on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at his home. Bob was born in August 11, 1943, in Durham, North Carolina, to Robert and Lena (Mason) Leathers Sr. Bob married Betty Hollan on September 16, 1962, and the two have shared sixty-one years together. Through the good and the bad, they have never left one another’s sides.

 Stephen R. Garrett, 65, of Carmi, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024, at the Linda White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana. He was born on June 28, 1958, in Carmi, Illinois, the son of Carl E. and Mary Eloise (Savage) Garrett. Steve married Karlene Carpenter on September 20, 1980, and she survives. He graduated from Carmi High School in 1976, and went on to complete his Bachelor's Degree at Murray State University. He retired in 2020, as Branch Manager of Hydrochem in Crossville. He worked 42 years in the chemical industrial cleaning industry, and worked in consulting after retirement. He was a member of First Christian Church in Carmi since 1972. Steve served as a Deacon, Chairman of the Deacons, Chairman of the Finance Committee, a Trustee as well as in the Blessings Ministry and the Love in Action Ministry. Steve was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was an avid golfer and was also a member of the Carmi Country Club. Steve was a Chicago Cubs baseball fan and cheered on the University of Kentucky in basketball.

Jerrod Paul Farny, 47 of Carmi, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2023, at his residence. He was born on August 23, 1976, in Wooster, OH, the Son of Gordon and Dolly (South) Farny. Jerrod enjoyed riding motorcycles and dirt bikes, hunting, fishing and playing basketball and baseball. He belonged to the Maunie River Rats.

Deloris Imogene Scott, née Rockett, born April 11, 1935 in Springerton, IL, passed away December 24, 2023 in Elmhurst, IL.

Dean Allen French, age 85 and a resident of McLeansboro, IL, passed away at 2:30 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2023 at his residence in McLeansboro.