Clay County, IL Obituaries

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Louisville - Itha ALLEN, 90, of Louisville, died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday in Clay County Hospital, Flora.

Mrs. Allen was born on Sept. 1, 1889, in Clay County, the daughter of David and America Rinehart Fitzgerald. She was a member of the Wabash Baptist Church.

She is survived by sons, Ianthus and Varlin of Louisville; Lloyd of Champaign; Leonard and Lindell of Xenia; Robert of Iola; daughters, Roberta of Louisville; Dantzell Foster, Cleora Dawkins and Delores Greenwood, all of Flora; and Clotilla Rodgers of Rinard; sister, Inez Cruse of Mansfield; 23 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Neal Funeral Home, Louisville, with Bro. William Dickmann officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today. Burial will be in Christian Home Cemetery.

Rosco CRUSE 86 of Iola passed away at 3:39 pm Sunday, September 1, 2002 at his residence.

He was born April 7, 1916 in Oskaloosa Township, IL, the son of Joe and Sara E (WILLIS) CRUSE. He married Mary E SAPP. She survives in Iola.

Mr CRUSE worked at Iola Elevator for 23 years and Fedder's in Effingham for six years. He was a member of Second Little Prairie, Louisville and served in the US Army during WW II.

Survivors include his wife of Iola; son, Gene "Shag" COLCLASURE of Flora, Gaylen COLCLASURE of Farina; Dennis CRUSE of Iola; daughters, Patsy (Bill) LAYCOAX of Iola; Debbie (John) NORMAN of Kinmundy; Denise MINER of Flora; Carol (Dennis) PERRY of Kinmundy; Sharon BARKER of Chatham; 29 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Cheryl; brothers - Jesse, Bill, Frank, Ben, Ozra; and sisters, Sylvia HUMES and Bernice SHAEFER.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, September 4 at Pagel Funeral Home, Edgewood, with burial in Iola Cemetery, Iola.

Josiah CRUSE, the son of Josiah B. and Elizabeth Cruse, was born near Sullivan, Ind., December 31, 1873 and departed this life May 22, 1940, at the age of 66 years, 4 months, and 21 days. His mother died when he was about 3 years old. He came to Illinois with his father, four sisters, and two brothers, at the age of six.

He was united in marriage to Sarrah Ellen Willis, October 20, 1892, to this union was born nine children; six sons and three daughters, seven of whom still survive; namely, Jesse C. of Edgewood, Ill., Willie E. of Hammond, Ind., Franklin, James, and Mrs. Burnice Kirby, all of Champaign, Ill., Ozro of Louisville and Roscoe of Iola, Illinois. Two daughters preceded him in death, one in infancy, and Mrs. Alvin Humes who passed away January 7, 1929.

He professed faith in Christ several years ago. He was always ready and willing to help in time of need. He leaves to mourn their loss his wife and seven children, one brother of Kansas, one half-sister of Oblong, Ill., thirty-one grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Inez CRUSE, 96, of Kankakee formerly of Effingham, passed away at 9:15 a.m. on July 2 in Royale Nursing Home, Kankakee.

She was born on March 10, 1892, in Louisville the daughter of David and American (Rinehart) Fitzgerald. She married Jesse Cecil Cruse on September 15, 1912. He preceded her in death in 1973.

Survivors include five sons, Herman Cruse of Terre Haute, Indiana, Cecil Avon Cruse of Russell Springs, Kentucky, Carl Edwin Cruse of Phoenix, Arizona, Gerald Dwayne Cruse of Buena Park, California, and Marvin Eugene Cruse of Mansfield, Illinois; four daughters, Evelyn Long of Lakeland, Florida; Alice White of Kankakee, Illinois, Arlene Isbell of Norwalk, California; and Gladys Jones of Glasford, Illinois; 38 grandchildren; 80 great grandchildren; and 27 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at Neal Funeral Home, Louisville, with burial in Christian Home Cemetery.

Mason - Rev. Jesse C. CRUSE, 79, of Mason, died at 10:55 p.m. Saturday at his home.

He was a retired pastor of the Nazarene Church, serving for 47 years. He served at the Keens Chapel Church, near LaClede for four years. He had resided in Mason for the past eight years and before that he lived for 21 years in Larkinsburg township, Clay County.

Rev. Cruse was born July 15, 1893 in Oblong, a son of Joseph and Sarah Willis Cruse. He married Inez Fitzgerald on Sept. 15, 1912 in Louisville.

Surviving are his wife; sons, Avon, Russell Springs, KY; Herman, Terre Haute, IN; Edwin, Payson, AZ; Leon, Decatur; Gerald, Buena Park, CA; Marvin, Mansfield; daughters, Mrs. Evelyn Long, Bourbonnais; Mrs. Alice White, St. Anne; Mrs. Arlene Isbell, Norwalk, CA; Mrs. Gladys Jones, Glasford; brothers, James, Paxton; Roscoe, Iola; sisters, Mrs. Bernice Shaffer, Potoshi, WI; 37 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Pagel funeral home, Edgewood, where friends may call after 2 p.m. today. Burial will be in Christian Home cemetery, near Louisville.

CURTIS - Elizabeth Curtis was born Nov. 6, 1836. She departed this life Sept. 30, 1911 being 74 years, 10 months, 24 days old. Was united in marriage to Joseph C. Curtis, Nov. 28, 1853. four children were born to them. Only one of them survive her. Her husband died in 1862, and she was married to William Willis, Sept. 10, 1865. He died also in 1907. Five children were born to them, four of which are living. She leaves five children, thirty-two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She united with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ at the age of 54 years. She was a faithful, true Saint and passed through the portals of the great beyond with a smile on her face.

Lawrence Earl FITZGERALD, 81, of Farina, passed away at 1:25 AM Saturday, April 14, 1984 in St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Mr. Fitzgerald was born in Louisville, as son of Madison Lafayette and Lillian Mae (Halberstadt) Fitzgerald. He was the former owner of Fitzgerald’s Grocery Store in Aurora and a retired supervisor for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

He married Lavina Land in 1922. She passed away in 1925. He married Vaudeth Pemberton in 1929. He married Alma Bostic Fitzgerald in 1964.

Surviving are his wife, son Harold of Las Vegas, Nevada, daughters, Mrs. Robert (Betty) Sommers and Karen Remy, both of Aurora, brother Glenn of Farina, thirteen grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

A son, a daughter, three sisters, a brother, and two grandchildren preceded him in death.

The funeral was held Monday, April 16th at 1:30 P.M. at the Ranken Farina Chapel with Rev. Larry Collins officiating. Burial was in the Iola Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

John Edward FITZGERALD, son of William H. and Emily Fitzgerald was born in Clay County, Illinois, September 2, 1859 and departed this life at his home in Iola, Illinois March 23, 1938 at the age of 78 years, 6 months, and 21 days.

He was united in marriage to Louisa Frances Scott in 1879. To this union was born thirteen children, six preceding him in death.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and seven children: Fred Fitzgerald of Bloomington, Illinois, Esta Fitzgerald of Iola, Illinois, Mrs. Pearl Krutsinger of Louisville, Illinois, Mrs. R. B. Mitchell of Louisville, Illinois, Mrs. Hugh Holloway of Rochelle, Illinois, Mrs. Barton Gibson of Akron, Ohio, and Mrs. Ray Weidner of Springfield, Illinois. Also, eighteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, three brothers and three sisters, being S. T. Fitzgerald of Hoosier, W. F. Fitzgerald of Iola, Illinois, and Pearl Fitzgerald of Farina, Illinois, Mrs. Louis Wolfe, of Louisville, Illinois, Mrs. John Woods of Flora, Illinois, Mrs. Oscar Burgess of Flora, Illinois, and a host of other relatives and friends.

The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, and toil with a will. Place no faith in tomorrow for the clock may be still.

We the family wish to thank our many neighbors and friends for their untiring efforts during the illness and death of our beloved husband and father, for the many words of sympathy and the many beautiful floral offerings.

So live, that when the summons comes to join the innumerable caravan, which moves to that mysterious realm, where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death. Thou go not like the quarry slave at night, scourged to his dungeon, but sustained and soothed. Does an unfaltering trust approach thy grace, like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

Thus passed Madison Lafayette FITZGERALD on February 2nd while at Weber Sanitarium. The surroundings and circumstances of his death are best descriptive of the man. He died as he had lived; his chart had no blind voids, his compass was steady, and his course straight. He was the son of William H. and Emily Fitzgerald, born near Louisville, Illinois on June 15, 1869. He was 60 years, 7 months and 17 days of age.

On October 1, 1891, he was united in marriage to May Halbaerstadt. To this union six children were born; Three sons and three daughters. One daughter, Nellie, died in infancy. He joined the Protestant Methodist Church as a young man. His spiritual life was manifested in his faith, courage, and righteousness. He leaves to mourn their loss his loving companion, three sons, Bryan, Earl, and Glenn; two daughters, Mrs. William Synder of Farina and Mrs. B. M. Sims of Chicago. Also, five brothers; John and Howard of Iola, Stewart of Louisville, and Wake. And four sisters; Pearl of Farina, Mrs. Rose Wolfe, Mrs. Laura Woods, and Mrs. Flora Burges, all of Flora, Illinois, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. C. L. Hill, Wednesday, February 5, at the Methodist Church in Iola. Burial was in the Iola Cemetery.

Emily Schmidt FITZGERALD, daughter of Elizabeth and Joseph Schmidt, was born in Ohio Oct. 9, 1838. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Oscar Burgess, at Flora IL March 23, 1925 at the age of 86 yrs., 5 mo. and 14 days. She had been in failing health for two years but was able to be up around the home until the last two weeks of her life. She was united in marriage to W.H. Fitzgerald Sept. 17th, 1856. To this union were born 13 children...8 sons and 5 daughters, nine of who survive her. John, Howard and Lafe Fitzgerald of Iola, IL, and Steward of Louisville, IL. Wakeman of Clay City, IL, Pearl of Farina, IL and Laura Woods of Flora, IL. Two sons, James and David and 2 infant daughters preceded her in death. Her husband fell dead from heart failure Oct. 13, 1911 at the age of 76 yrs. Mrs. Fitzgerald was the youngest and last of the Schmidt family.

She came to Illinois with her parents more than 80 yrs. ago. The brothers were John, Edward, James, Joseph and Jacob and two sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth. The funeral services were held at the home in Flora, IL at about 2:30 p.m., the same day of her death conducted by Rev. Doty, pastor of the First Christian Church of Flora, IL. After the services the remains were taken to the home of her son Howard at Iola and 2:30 p.m., Tuesday the usual funeral was held at the M.E. Church conducted by Rev. Russell of Farina, IL. A large number of relatives and friends assembled to pay their last respects to an old time relative and friend. After the service she was laid to rest beside her husband in Iola Cemetery, there to await the coming of Him who said, "I am the resurrection. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Mrs. Angeline FITZGERALD, widow of the late David Fitzgerald, died at the Dellos Allen home Tuesday. Mrs. Fitzgerald had been ill for nine weeks. She was 79 years of age. She is survived by Irwin Fitzgerald, a son, and Mrs. Dellos Allen, a daughter. Funeral services will be held at the Christian Home church this afternoon.

Ronald G. LANDRETH was born June 14, 1949 in Fayette county, the son of Glen and Minnie Vernetta (Long) Landreth. On October 7, 1972 at Windsor, Illinois he married Connie Cook and to this union was born 2 daughters, Michelle and Marsha.
Ron was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Before his illness he was a truck driver for Quality Pallets.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers in infancy and 2 sisters; Louise Jenkins and Wanda Adams.
Ron entered into eternal rest on Friday, February 6, 2004 at 12:55 A.M. in his home. He was 54 years, 7 months and 22 days of age.
He is survived by his wife Connie of Bible Grove, 2 daughters; Michelle (husband Kenneth) Fitzgerald of Effingham and Marsh (husband Michael) Muzzy of Bridgeport, 4 brothers; Joe (wife Barb) of LaClede, Garold (wife Cathy) of LaClede, Mike (wife Annette) of St. Peter, and Jim of Kankakee. 3 sisters MaryLou (husband Clyde) Murry of Flora, Irma (husband Jesse) Simmons of LaClede and Debbie (husband Mike) Smith of Farina and 6 grandchildren.

Olie LONG, 96 of Edgewood, passed away at 11:15 p.m. Thursday August 31, 1995 at Lakeland Healthcare center, Effingham.

She was born October 28, 1898 in Clay County, the daughter of Sherman and Minnie (Laye) Depoister. In 1916 she married Percy A. Long, he preceded her in death in 1980.

Survivors are two sons, Kenneth and his wife, Norma, of Effingham and Lawrence and his wife, Arlene of Tolono; two daughters, Ruby Sapp of Edgwood and Hazel Kreke of Effingham; brother, Clarence and his wife, Juanita, of Farina; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and 12 great-great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, a son (Percy Dwain), four brothers (Vernie, Roscoe, Roy and Oscar Depoister), two sisters (Annabell Depoister and Flossie Long), a grandson, and a great grandson.

Services were held Monday at Pagel Funeral Home, Edgewood, with burial in Keens' Chapel Cemetery.

Mrs. Flossie May LONG, 73, formerly of Edgewood, passed away June 10 at Riverside Hospital in Kankakee. She was born in Clay County Sept 6, 1894 a daughter of Sherman and Minnie Lay DePoister and married George Long January 11, 1936 and had lived in Momence the past 23 years.

She is survived by two daughters, Vernetta Landreth, Edgewood and Waunetta Long of Momence; five sons, Orville, Decatur; Arthur and Harold, Bradley; George and Dale of Momence; 30 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Mrs. Olie Long; four brothers, Oscar, Roy, Clarence and Roscoe DePoister.

Funeral services were held at 2 P.M. June 14 at Keens Chapel Church with burial in the church cemetery. Gerbel Funeral Home was in charge.

VICKI MARTIN
Cosmetology Instructor

SEBRING -- Mrs. Vicki G. Martin of Sebring died of an aneurysm Saturday (March 27, 2004) in Sebring. She was 51.

Born in Effingham, Ill., on Dec. 23, 1952, she came to Sebring from Danville, Ill., 26 years ago. She was a cosmetology director for Sebring School of Hair Design.

Mrs. Martin is survived by her husband, George D. "David" Martin; sons, Travis Martin, Lakeland, Scott Martin, Sebring; mother, Cletis Evelyn Long, St. Anne, Ill.; sisters, Audrey Prairie, St. Anne, Shirley Hollen, Phoenix, Phyllis Lindberg, Lakeland; brothers, Lowell Long, Woodbridge, Va., Louis Long, Raleigh, N.C., Roger Long, Phoenix; two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 this evening at Lakeland Funeral Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Published Tuesday, March 30, 2004 (theledger.com)