"O" Obituaries

Alexander County/Illinois Genealogy Trails

Cairo, IL.--Funeral Services This Morning for Mrs. O'Connell--Funeral services for MRS. D. J. O'CONNELL, age 69 years, whose death occurred at her home, 2307 Pine Street Wednesday, were held this morning at 8:30 o'clock at St. Joseph's Church, of which she was a devout member.  Many sorrowing friends attended the services, and at the conclusion of the funeral rites the cortege left by automobiles for Villa Ridge, where interment was made in Calvary Cemetery.  Karcher Brothers directed the funeral. The pall bearers were William Ryan, Edwin Steinhouse, Festus Barter, Joe Berbling, Henry Moore, W. F. Daugherty, Allan Hickcox and John Glade.  Many beautiful flowers were sent as marks of sympathy and were placed on the grave at the conclusion of the final services. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen and Bulletin, Friday, Feb. 28, 1930, contributed by Anna Shelton. (Mrs. O'Connell was born Sept. 26, 1860 and died Feb. 26, 1930)

Cape Girardeau, MO.--LON E. OGBORN, age 83, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., formerly of Miller City, Ill. passed away Sunday at 5 p.m. at his home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan 27, 1912 in Wyatt, Mo., the son of Lon and Beulah (Parks) Ogborn.  He was married to Eldora Pecord on Oct. 26, 1936, and she survives. He was a member of the Community Chapel United Methodist Church at Willard, a member of the Pulaski-Alexander Farm Bureau and a former leader of Boys 4-H Clubs.  He was a founder and director of the Alexander County Water District and was a community leader. Mr. Ogborn is survived by his wife, Eldora, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., a daughter and son-in-law, Diann and Don Lackey of St. Louis, Mo., a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Bill and Becky Ogborn of Cape Girardeau, Mo., two granddaughters, Dana Embree of Branson, Mo., and Beth Anne Ogborn of Cape Girardeau, Mo., a grandson, Bo Ogborn of Cape Girardeau, Mo., a great-granddaughter, Kelly Embree, of Branson, Mo., two brothers, Luther Ogborn of East Cape Girardeau and Arnold Ogborn of Olive Branch, a sister Beulah DeLashmutt of Olive Branch and other relatives. Friends called at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms after 5 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral services for Lon E. Ogborn were held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms with Rev. Jesse Bellamy officiating. Interment was made in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. --From The Cairo Citizen, Thursday, Sept 14, 1995. contributed by Anna Shelton.

Cairo, IL.--HARRY RUSSELL OGG, 82, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006 in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Harry was born Nov. 14, 1923 in Cairo to Harry Harrison and Inez Ethel Wise Ogg. He attended Cairo schools, graduating from Cairo High School in May 1941. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in Sept. 1942, trained in San Diego, Calif., and was shipped overseas without receiving a furlough home. He saw service with Hq. Company, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines of the Second Marine Division. He saw action in Tarawa, Tinian, Saipan and Okinawa. He was discharged as a sergeant from Camp LaJeune, N. C. in January 1946.
Russell was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement while in Tinian in the Mariana Islands on June 15, 1944. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received June 24, 1944 in Saipan. He was also entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon with one bronze star, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the Victory Medal for World War II, the Good Conduct Medal and Expert Rifleman ribbon.
He was married to Louise Planert on Nov. 22, 1945 in the Church of the Redeemer in Cairo. Russell and Louise made their home in Louise's hometown of Unity. He worked at Hodges Store and Mill and farmed until his health wouldn't allow him to continue. Russell worked for 23 years for the State of Illinois Department of Agriculture as a district supervisor in Weights and Measures. He was postmaster of Elco for eight years, after which he was a sales representative for Behimer-Kissner in Mound City.
Russell was a lifetime member of the Cairo VFW Post 2649, one of the original organizers of the Alexander-Pulaski Sportsman's Club, a member of Cairo BPOE and director of Southernmost Illinois Tourism. He was a former member of DAV, Marine Corps League and the Cooties. The Oggs were charter members of the Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois. They were members of the John A. Logan Antique Club, Farm Bureau, SIDEZ Economic Tourism Development Committee and members of the Union County Historical Society.
After three retirements and having worked away from the home since the age of 12, Russell volunteered his services at the Cairo Custom House Museum in 1992. He was at the museum almost every morning from that time on. He did various projects and supervised others. He took his two-hour docent turn each week and filled in for others who couldn't make theirs. He did all this despite an almost debilitating fall while working at the museum. This required shoulder surgery, that along with his heart and colon problems, did keep him away from the museum at various times. Explaining the history of Cairo to tourists was one of Russell's greatest joys. He might have lived in Unity for 60 years, but Cairo was always his hometown.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jana Louise Ogg Welch, who was killed Aug. 13, 1978; his father and mother, brother, John, and sisters, Ethel Shifley and Betty Ogg. He is survived by his wife, Louise, of Unity; and a sister, Alice Bradshaw of Chesterfield, Mo.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Church of the Redeemer in Cairo, with Father Gene Tucker as celebrant. Interment will be in Beechwood Cemetery in Mounds, with military rites provided by VFW Post, American Legion Posts of Mounds, Cairo and Villa Ridge, and the United States Marine Corps. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today in Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. Donations may be made to the Cairo Custom House Museum where Russell dedicated his last 14 years. Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements. --Courtesy The Southern Illinoisan, 10/13/2006.

Spokane, WA-- Memorial service for JUNE E. OLSON, 78, will be held at 10 a.m. next Thursday at the Manito Park Pavilion. The Cremation Society of Washington is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Olson, who died June 30, was born in Miller City, Ill., and moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. as a child.
After marrying Harold Olson in 1945, she lived in Rapid City, S.D., Fargo, N.D., and Minneapolis. Her family relocated to Boise in 1951 and settled in Spokane in 1955. Mrs. Olson was a homemaker, studied oil painting, and was a member of the Mothers of Twins Club and the Selkirk Ski Club.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Larry Olson of Gig Harbor, Wash.; a daughter, Sherry Moland of Spokane; a brother, Ron Drake of Minnetonka, Minn.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. --Spokesman-Review, The (Spokane, WA) - July 9, 1998

Thebes, Ill.--RAMONA RUTH HOLSHOUSER ORICK, 75, of Thebes died Monday, March 2, 2009 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.  She was born Jan. 18, 1934 in McClure, Ill., daughter of Albert and Alberta Kaufman Holshouser.  She and Robert Orick were married Dec. 18, 1954 in Cairo, Ill.  Orick graduated from McClure Community High School in 1952.  She was a member of East Cape Baptist Church and also attended United Pentecostal Church in Thebes.  She loved to fish, play cards and spend time with family and friends.  Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Tammy (John "Trea" ) Hill of Thebes; three brothers, Lennis (Jackie) Holshouser of Savannah, Ga., Douglas (Rita) Holshouser of Marble Hill, Mo., David (Darla) Holshouser of Perryville, Mo.; three sisters, Gerri (Ernie) Forehand and Doris (Bill) Snell of Thebes, Bobbi (Kenny) Verble of Wolf Lake, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Holshouser and Bernetta Holshouser of Anna, Ill.; and a grandson, Clayton Hill of Cape Girardeau.  She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Kenny and Lloyd Holshouser and an infant sister, Lois Holshouser.  Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home.  The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Raymond Oxford and the Rev. Jimmie Monaham officiating.  Burial will be in Lindsey Cemetery at McClure.  --Contributed by J. C. McNelly.

Cairo, IL.--JOHN T. O'SHEA, one of the oldest citizens of Cairo, died very suddenly last Saturday morning, of heart failure.  Deceased was 62 years of age.  He came to Cairo in 1854.  He leaves a family of nine children besides his wife, all of whom reside in Cairo except one daughter, Mrs. Minnie Allred, of Kansas City.  His oldest son is Thomas E. O'Shea, the uptown merchant.  Funeral services were held Sunday at St. Patrick's church and the Old Settlers Association followed the remains to their last resting place at Villa Ridge cemetery. --From The Cairo Citizen, Thursday, June 9, 1892, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Cairo, IL.--M. J. O'Shea, Cairo's Oldest Attorney, Dies-- MICHAEL J. O'SHEA, age 80, died at St. Mary's Hospital today at 1:30 a.m. after an extended illness. His home was at 427 Eighth Street.  He was born on Eighth Street and with the exception of a few years had lived his entire life on Eighth Street.  He started to practice law in 1895 and was the oldest attorney in Cairo. For 16 years he was State's Attorney in Alexander County, from 1928 to 1944 inclusive, and had served as city attorney. He was a member of St. Patrick's Church and for many years was a trustee of that Church.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus of this city; a member of the Illinois Bar Association; and for many years was a partner in the law firm of O'Shea and Wilson. He leaves his wife, Mary; two daughters, Mrs. Alice Culp and Miss Mary Esther O'Shea, of Cairo; three sons, Martin and State's Attorney Michael P. O'Shea of Cairo, and Louis of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; two grandchildren and other relatives. The body is at Karcher Brothers Funeral Home where friends may call after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church with the Rev. Father Hugh Kilfoil officiating. Interment will be made in Calvary Cemetery. Karcher Brothers Funeral Services is in charge. Affectionately called "Mike" even by friends much younger than he, Mr. O'Shea was a Democrat, but was a man of such complete honesty and goodness of character that many Republicans often voted for him. Probably no one in Cairo ever had fewer enemies than he. --From The Cairo Evening Citizen, Tuesday, March 22, 1949, contributed by Anna Shelton.

Cairo, IL.--MICHAEL P. O'SHEA, JR., age 54, of Cairo died Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at his home. He was born Nov. 28, 1951 in Cairo, son of Michael and Mary Jane Hatcher O'Shea. O'Shea was a lawyer and was currently the corporation counsel for the city of Cairo. O'Shea was admitted to the Illinois Bar Association in 1976. After receiving his law license, he got his first start and a foundation of the law from Attorney Bob Lansden for three years. He was a former State's Attorney for Alexander County from 1980 to 1984. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Illinois Bar Association. O'Shea was a graduate of the University of Memphis and received his juris doctorate from St. Louis University. Survivors include two sons, Ryan O'Shea of Cairo and Todd O'Shea of Carbondale. Others include two aunts, Ruth Carrington of Richmond, Calif. and her family, and Elizabeth Archie Aydt of Cape Girardeau, Mo. and her family. There is no visitation. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge, Ill. with Monsignor Bill McGhee officiating. Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo in charge of arrangements. --Cairo Citizen, Mar. 10, 2006.

Cairo, IL.--CAIRO RESIDENT FOR FIFTY YEARS PASSES AWAY--MRS. SARAH O'SHEA, a resident of Cairo over 50 years, died yesterday morning at  o'clock at her residence 2514 Sycamore street after an illness of a year or more.  She had not been considered seriously ill until recently. She was born in Canada 70 years ago and came to Illinois when a child.  Her parents located in Pulaski county.  Residing there a few years they removed to Cairo in the early 60's, where she was married to John O'Shea.  The family resided on Eighth street west of Walnut street for many years where a large family of nine children were born and reared, and where her husband died in 1892.  She is survived by four sons Thomas E., John J. and Joseph O'Shea, all of Cairo and Frank O'Shea of Charleston, Miss., three daughters, Miss Julia D. O'Shea and Miss Katherine O'Shea of Cairo, and Mrs. Cecelia Billingsly of Newport, Ark. Frank O'Shea and Mrs. Billingsly arrived this morning to attend the funeral.  Attorney M. J. O'Shea of this city is a nephew.  Mrs. Abe Weece of Levings is the only surviving sister. The funeral will be held Saturday.  Services will be conducted at St. Joseph's church of which she was a member, Rev. J. J. Gillen officiating.  A special train will leave the foot of Fourteenth street for Calvary cemetery at Villa Ridge where interment will take place. --From The Cairo Bulletin, Friday, July 26, 1912, contributed by Anna Shelton.

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