Area Obituaries

  Robert “Bob” J. Burns, 70, of Waverly, IL, formerly of Chesterfield, IL, passed away on Monday evening, December 22, 2025, at his home in Waverly, IL.   Robert was born March 26, 1955, in Jacksonville, IL, a son of Peter Joseph and Catherine (McGinnis) Burns.   Robert graduated from Carlinville High School with the…

  Mary Jane (“MJ”) Bates, 78, of Carlinville, passed away on Saturday evening, December 27, 2025, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL.   Mary Jane was born May 5, 1947, in Herrin, IL, a daughter of Don and Bertha (Barnes) Moake.   MJ graduated from Johnston City High School with the class of 1965.…

  Marilyn Joan Best, 90, of Carlinville, passed away Saturday evening, December 20, 2025 at her daughter’s home in Carlinville, surrounded by her loving family.   Marilyn was born on January 5, 1935 to Ivan and Lillian (Bouillon) Tetzlaff in Carlinville, IL.   Marilyn attended the Oakland School thru the 8th grade, then Carlinville High…

  Michael R. Henson, 63, of Carlinville, IL, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, December 16, 2025, at his home in Carlinville, IL.   Michael was born September 11, 1962, in Metropolis, IL, a son of Everett Ray and Glenna (Morris) Henson.   He married Jenny Perkins on October 20, 2001, at Lake Glendale, IL.  …

  Jeffrey Scott Layman, 69, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children, on December 15, 2025.   Jeffrey was born on September 25, 1956, in Mountain Home, Idaho.   He had a distinguished career with Monterey Coal and Exxon Mobil, retiring as an International Project Safety Supervisor.   Known for his kindness and selflessness, he…

  Aiden M. Gunning, 17, of Carlinville, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 4:41 p.m. in Bunker Hill, Illinois.   Born September 9, 2008, in Aberdeen, WA, Aiden was the son of Brian K. Gunning and Jamie E. Jackson (nee Hanneken).   Aiden was a junior in high school, known for his bright…

  John R. Kincaid, 62, of Carlinville, IL, passed away on Tuesday morning, December 9, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.   John was born December 30, 1962, in Carlinville, IL, a son of Robert V. and Coletta M. (Wiser) Kincaid.   John graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1980.…

  Irma “Jane” Vance, 86 of Palmyra, passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, at  Hallmark Health Care in Carlinville, IL.   Janie was born November 24, 1939, in Carlinville, IL, a daughter of Lloyd Albert and AnnaBelle (Sanders) Rhodes.   She graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1957.   She married Norman…

  Harvey Monroe Bettis was born in a hillside farmhouse on May 9, 1921, the second child of Geo. Orval and R. Mae (Hays) Bettis near Girard, IL. He died 104 years later, on December 1, 2025 at home on his Carlinville, IL farm.   Harvey Bettis married Jane Speaks on March 1, 1941, they…

  Deborah K. Zilm, 71, of Carlinville passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family on Monday evening, December 1, 2025.   Debbie was born on April 27, 1954, the daughter of Roy and Doris (Miller) Schmidt of Carlinville. She had two siblings, older brother Gary, and younger sister Kelli.   Debbie attended Carlinville…