Obituaries
Athens, IL Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Athens and Menard County, IL area
Becky Sue Markley
May 29, 2026
Becky Sue Markley, age 72 of Springfield, passed away May 29th She was born on November 3, 1953, twenty-four minutes before her twin sister, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of George and Marjorie Boehm.
Mourning her passing are her daughter, Teela Markley; her son, Breck (Amanda) Markley; her former son-in-law, Brandon Paoni, with whom she remained close; and her beloved grandchildren:...
Beverly Billy Williams
May 27, 2026
Beverly (Billy) Evelyn Williams age 84, of Cantrall, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL.
She was born August 21, 1941 in Athens the daughter of Willam Henry and Ruth Evelyn (Powell) Dyer.
She married Merle A. Williams on September 24, 1960 in Springfield. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage.
Mourning her passing are her husband,...
Catherine Harvey
May 27, 2026
Catherine Harvey, age 40, of Springfield, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.
She was born on April 2, 1986 in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Terry and Vickie (Parks) Harvey.
Mourning her passing are her parents; brother, Christopher Harvey; and three aunts, Donna, Peggy, and Connie.
She is preceded in death by her brother,...
Daniel Joseph Thoele
May 16, 2026
Daniel Joseph Thoele, 62, of Athens, IL, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Dan was born on April 3, 1964, in Springfield, Illinois, as one of four children of John Joseph and Dolores Mae (Buescher) Thoele. He married Regina Gail Schnettgoecke on June 19, 1993, and they shared nearly 33 years of marriage, raising two daughters.
Dan graduated from Pawnee High...
Mary "Thelma" Black
May 16, 2026
Mary “Thelma” Black, age 95, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Arcadia Care on the Hill in Springfield.
Thelma was born on October 25, 1930, in her family’s farmhouse in Marion County, Kentucky, outside Lebanon to parents James Gordon “Jocko” Copley and Mary Hattie Celeste Beaven. She is preceded in death by eight siblings and survived by two sisters...
David Lefferts
May 16, 2026
David Lefferts, age 74, of Petersburg, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg, Illinois
David was born on March 23, 1952, in Springfield, Illinois the son of Raymond and Eleanor (Hayes) Lefferts.
He was a loving husband who married Elizabeth Schurman on August 12, 1999 in Springfield, Illinois.
Mourning his passing are his wife, Elizabeth; four...
Marilyn Kaye Castles
May 15, 2026
Marilyn Castles, age 87, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Capitol Retirement Village in Springfield.
Marilyn was born on December 13, 1938 in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Everett and Lucille (Rogers) Piggott, both deceased.
She married Terry Castles, Sr. December 22, 1956.
Mourning her passing are her children, Jo Ellen (Robert) Croft II of Athens, Beth Anne...
Allen Betz
May 15, 2026
Allen Betz, age 87, of Williamsville, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Allen was born on September 8, 1938 in Beardstown, IL the son of Franklin and Gladys (Watkins) Betz.
Mourning his passing are his daughter, Kari Bland; his sons, Terry (Nancy) Betz and Randy (Jackie) Betz; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife Violet, wife...
Dorothy Lugibill
May 13, 2026
Dorothy (Burton) Lugibill, age 96, of Williamsville, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Springfield Memorial Hospital surrounded by family.
Dorothy is survived by five children; Barb (Larry) Carter of Williamsville, Glenn Lugibill of Des Moines, WA, Linda (Ed Ward) May of Dawson, Paula Riser of Buffalo and Vince (Karen) Lugibill of Williamsville; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson,...
Sharon "Pinky" Mester
May 11, 2026
Sharon “Pinky” Mester, age 81, of Athens, Illinois, passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Villa East Nursing Care in Sherman, Illinois.
She was born on April 15, 1945, in Athens, Illinois, the daughter of Marshall and Alta “Topsy” Bushong Pierceall.
Sharon married Charles “Butch” Mester, Jr. on May 22, 1965, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Sherman, Illinois.
Mourning her...
Mary "JoAnn" Abeln
May 5, 2026
Mary (JoAnn) Beard Abeln, born November 6th, 1932 passed away May 5th, 2026 at the age of 93.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Ray Abeln, son Dale Ray Abeln, two brothers Edward Earl (Butch) Beard, Jr, and Harold Eugene Beard.
She is survived by daughters, Brenda (Ed) Connelly, Sheree Meyer, Diane (Tom) Hester, son Dale (Deceased) Linda Abeln,...
Robert L. Ratliff
Apr 27, 2026
Robert “Bob” L. Ratliff, age 83, of Petersburg, Illinois, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026 at Rushville Nursing and Rehab in Rushville, Illinois.
Bob was born on September 28, 1942 the son of Cecil and Audrey (Greer) Ratliff.
He married Mary Westerfeld on August 23, 1964 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Petersburg, Illinois.
Mourning his passing are his wife, Mary; three daughters,...
Clara L. Taylor
Apr 27, 2026
Clara L. Taylor, age 91, of Petersburg, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg, Illinois.
She was born January 8, 1935, in Middletown, Illinois, the daughter of Carl and Ora (Boyer) Wilson.
She married Clarence Taylor in 1953.
Mourning her passing are her children, Terry (wife Michelle) Taylor, Teena (husband Charles) Roberts, Troy (wife Angie) Taylor,...
Roberta Jean Clark
Apr 24, 2026
Roberta Jean Clark, age 95, Athens, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg.
Roberta was born on May 19, 1930, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Ora and Dollie (Prescott) Walker. She was raised in Tallula, Illinois and attended Tallula High School.
She married Herschel “Glen” Clark on February 4, 1951, at Tallula Baptist Church.
Roberta...
Earl Ferguson
Apr 2, 2026
Earl Ferguson, age 69, passed away on Thursday April 2nd, 2026 at his home surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born on October 8, 1956 in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Earl M. and Evelyn (Carroll) Ferguson.
Earl married Mary Hill December 28, 1978.
Mourning his passing are his wife Mary, his children, Teresa (partner Greg) Ferguson, Tanya (husband James) Walsh, Joshua...
Stephen Bradley
Mar 14, 2026
Stephen Bradley, age 80, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at St Clara's Rehab & Senior Care in Lincoln, after a long battle of brain cancer.
He was born December 23, 1945 in Springfield, the son of Kenneth D. and Besse Jean (Shipley) Bradley.
Stephen married Lila Price on June 25, 1982. She preceded him in death in 2013.
Mourning his passing...
Frances Spaulding
Mar 10, 2026
Frances Spaulding, age 94, of Petersburg, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 surrounded by her family.
Frances was born on December 30, 1931, in Easton, Illinois, the daughter of John and Julia (Drohan) Cunningham and later married Floyd Spaulding on September 14, 1957.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Floyd, also her parents, brother...
Dale R. Horn
Mar 10, 2026
Dale R. Horn, age 56, of Auburn, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Arcadia Care Home in Auburn, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
He was born on December 27, 1969 in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Norman and Yvonne (Huffman) Horn.
Dale graduated from Greenview High School in 1989.
He was active in Special Olympics. He worked at...
Donald Meints
Mar 10, 2026
Donald Meints, age 85, of Athens, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Mason City Area Nursing Home.
He was born July 15, 1940 in Peoria, IL the son Aaron and Minnie Brauer - Meints.
Donald married Pamela Beecham on September 7, 1963 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin, Illinois.
Mourning his passing are his sons, Vance Meints of South Carolina,...
Delores Showalter
Feb 26, 2026
Delores Showalter gained her wings on February 26th, 2026.
She was born July 8th, 1944 the daughter of Frank and Dortha (Greer) Showalter.
Dee lived most her life in Fancy Prairie, IL before moving to Sherman.
She is survived by 3 sisters, Gail (David) Copi of Springfield, Sharon (Steve) Mitts of Sherman and Diane (Bill) Hipshire of Shelby, Ohio; 3 nieces, 6 nephews,...
