Person Page - 6034

     His Social Security Number was 330-32-5102.³ Gora Pearl Robertson was buried at Bement Cemetery, 233 East Morris Street, Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.¹ He married Eleanor J. Smith, daughter of Paul Benedict Smith and Letha Susan Marker.^1,4 Gora Pearl Robertson was born on March 13, 1905 at Scott Co., Illinois.^2,3 He died in March, 1984 at Missouri.³

     Imogene Martin was buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois.^3,2,4 She was born on October 31, 1927 at Monticello, Piatt Co., Illinois.^3,2,4 As of June 2, 1946,her married name was Smith.¹ She married Lonnie Paul Smith, son of Paul Benedict Smith and Letha Susan Marker, on June 2, 1946 at Monticello, Piatt Co., Illinois.^1,2 Imogene Martin died on July 6, 2014 at Monticello, Piatt Co., Illinois, at age 86.^3,2,4 She MONTICELLO – Imogene M. Smith of Monticello passed away at 10:02 a.m. Sunday, July 6, 2014, at the Piatt County Nursing Home. A private family graveside service will be held Monday at Camp Butler National Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello. Imogene was born Oct. 31, 1927, at Monticello, the daughter of Elbert L. and Bertha May (Cooley) Martin. Imogene married Lonnie Smith on June 2, 1946, in Monticello at the Monticello Methodist Church. She is survived by her daughters, Connie (Richard) Blazier of Urbana; Martha Vigneri of Mount Zion; sons, Michael Smith and Russell (Barb) Smith; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Imogene has sisters Berniee Anderson of Monticello and Joanne Nickelson of Omaha, Neb; and brother, William Martin of Clinton. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters and one brother. Imogene was a member of the DeLand Methodist Church. She was a housewife and a farmer she enjoyed farming alongside her husband all the years they farmed. on July 13, 2014.²

     Michael Paul Smith was born on August 20, 1950 at Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois.³ He died on August 11, 2018 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 67.³ He RANTOUL — Michael Paul Smith, 67, of Rantoul passed away Aug. 11, 2018, at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana. His wishes were be to cremated with no funeral services. There will be a private family gathering at a later date. Michael was born Aug. 20, 1950, in Decatur, a son of Lonnie and Imogene (Martin) Smith. Mike was a devoted Christian, always spreading God's word everywhere he went. He loved growing up on his family’s farm in DeLand. Mike had a caring heart, not only for friends and family, but for animals too. He enjoyed sitting on the bank with his fishing pole in the water, spending time in nature. He also enjoyed smoking his pipe on the porch, watching a storm roll in. His grandchildren will always remember the time he spent with them playing in the yard or enjoying a bowl of ice cream. Mike loved and lived in his own way — his way. Survivors include his children, Timothy Smith (Kasie Hopper) of Sullivan, Tony (Wendy) Price and Tamzin Price of Bement; grandchildren, Dillon Price, Dane (Elizabeth) Price, Taylor Wegrich, Tyler Wegrich and Madison Price of Bement, and Maddison Hopper and Jordyn Emerson of Sullivan; great-grandchild, Harper Price of Bement; and sisters, Connie (Rich) Blazier of Urbana and Martha (Galen) Martin of Ashland. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Russel Smith. on August 15, 2018.³

     Russell Thomas Smith was buried at Goose Creek Township Cemetery (also known as DeLand Cemetery), DeLand, Piatt Co., Illinois.⁴ He was born on October 21, 1952.⁴ He married Barbara Lee Sizemore on August 12, 1989 at Monticello, Piatt Co., Illinois.^4,3 Russell Thomas Smith died on June 8, 2018 at Farmer City, DeWitt Co., Illinois, at age 65.^3,4 He DeLAND — Russell Thomas Smith, 65, of DeLand passed away at 5:15 p.m. Friday (June 8, 2018) at Farmer City Rehab and Health Care. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at Weldon United Methodist Church with the Rev. C. Don Ferrill officiating. Burial will follow in DeLand Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2018, at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Russell was born Oct. 21, 1952, in Decatur, the son of Lonnie and Imogene (Martin) Smith. He married Barbara L. Sizemore on Aug. 12, 1989, in Allerton Park, Monticello. Survivors include his wife, Barb Smith of Monticello; son, Todd (Jen) Smith of Charleston; daughter, Kristin (Christopher) Greer of Monticello; stepdaughter, Tricia (Chad) Trimble of Champaign; stepson, Shawn (Tisha) Leischner of Bloomington; stepson, Shannon (Anne) Leischner of Washington, Ind; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and siblings, Connie (Rich) Blazier of Urbana, Martha (Galen) Martin of Ashland and Michael Smith of Rantoul. He was preceded in death by his parents. Heaven received one of the most precious, gentle souls on earth. Russ always carried a smile, made people laugh with his hilarious cartoon impersonations and never knew a stranger. He was a diesel technician, agriculture engineering enthusiast and a detail-oriented farmer. Russ enjoyed fishing, bowling, spending time with his grandchildren and spreading joy to everyone in his presence. He never hurried a day in his life, but took his time, enjoyed every meal and every moment. He served on the DeLand-Weldon school board for 12 years. Russ was a constant source of God’s love by radiating heaven on Earth and inspiring everyone he knew to be better people. on June 10, 2018.³

     His Social Security Number was 334-12-2691.⁵ Harold Francis Kirk was buried at Croninger Cemetery, Cisco, Piatt Co., Illinois.^6,3 He was born on May 25, 1919 at Cerro Gardo, Piatt Co., Illinois.^5,2,3,4 He married Eleanor J. Smith, daughter of Paul Benedict Smith and Letha Susan Marker, on August 17, 1940 at Steelville, Crawford Co., Missouri.¹ Harold Francis Kirk and Eleanor J. Smith were divorced before 1949.³ Harold Francis Kirk died on February 20, 1982 at Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, at age 62.^5,2,3 He Harold F. Kirk, 62, of Niantic died 8:30 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 20, 1982), in St. John's Hospital, Springfield. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, with visitation 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Croninger Cemetery, Cisco. Mr. Kirk was born in Piatt County, son of Robert and Ola Kirk. He was a retired employee of Caterpillar Tractor Co., a member of Niantic Christian Church, Niantic village board, Maroa Lions Club and received the Medal of Valor in World War II. He married Edna Henson in 1949. Surviving are his wife; son, Steve of Carbondale; daughters, Mrs. Stanley (Shannon) Cope of Moweaqua; Nancy Kent of Missouri; brothers, Chet of Monticello; Bob of Roodhouse; sister; NormaBur gess of Blue Grass, Iowa. One sister preceded him in death. on February 22, 1982.³

     Emily A. Vance was buried at Bement Cemetery, 233 East Morris Street, Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^3,2,4 Her Social Security Number was 339-16-9792.¹ Her married name was Marker.⁴ She married John Russell Marker Jr., son of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith.^4,3 Emily A. Vance was born on May 18, 1922 at Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^1,2 She died on October 21, 2002 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana, at age 80.^1,2,4 She BLOOMINGTON - The funeral of Emily Marker Capes, 80, of Indianapolis, formerly of Bement, mother and sister of Bloomington residents, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Bement. The Rev. Marsha Frederick will officiate. Burial will be in Bement Township Cemetery, Bement. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement. She died at 11:25 p.m. Monday (Oct. 21, 2002) at St. Vincent's Hospice Center, Indianapolis. Bloomington survivors are a daughter, Kathryn Marker Snyder; and a sister, Dolly Vance Secord. Also surviving are her husband, Gordon M. Capes; two other daughters, Melinda M. Tibbals, Newburgh, Ind., and Peggy L. Zibert, Peoria; a son, James Vance Marker, Centerville, Ohio; a brother, George E. Vance Jr., Green Valley, Ariz; and 16 grandchildren. on October 24, 2002.⁴

     George Homer Wilkinson was buried at Bement Cemetery, 233 East Morris Street, Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.^2,3 He was born on July 11, 1911 at Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois.³ He married Mildred Marker, daughter of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith, on May 12, 1956 at Webster Groves, St. Louis Co., Missouri.¹ George Homer Wilkinson died on May 3, 2004 at Seattle, King Co., Washington, at age 92.^1,2 He BEMENT — George Homer Wilkinson, 92, of Bement died 1:10 p.m. Monday (May 3, 2004) in Seattle, Wash. Services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Presbyterian Church, Bement, with the Rev. Marsha Frederick officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in the church. Burial will be in Bement Township Cemetery. Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: First Presbyterian Church, Bement EMT Association or Parkinson's Foundation. Mr. Wilkinson was born July 11, 1911, in Bement, the son of Arthur Lewis and Etha Scott Wilkinson. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bement, serving as elder, deacon, benevolence treasurer and adult Sunday school teacher. George was former president of the Bement Lions Club, former trustee of the Village of Bement and inducted as a member of the 50-year club of the Illinois Bankers Association in 1997. He graduated from Bement High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1933. While at the U of I, George was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He remained an avid Illinois alumni fan throughout his life. He served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Force in World War II. After the war, he worked at Wilkinson Lumber Co. in Dalton City and then Wilkinson Building Center in Bement. In 1961, he became chairman and vice president of the State Bank of Bement and continued in that capacity until he became president in 1992. In 1981, he formed Bement Bancshares Inc., a multibank holding company that acquired 100 percent of the shares of the State Bank of Bement. In April 1984, Bement Bancshares Inc. acquired 100 percent ownership in the American Bank, Cerro Gordo, and The First National Bank of Ivesdale. Until his death, he served as president of Bement Bancsharesp Inc., chairman of the board and president of the State Bank of Bement, vice president of The American Bank, now State Bank of Cerro Gordo, and chairman of the board of The First National Bank of Ivesdale. He married Mildred Marker on May 12, 1956, in Webster Grove, Mo. Surviving are his wife; sons, Arthur R. (Karen) Wilkinson of Bement; George Mark Wilkinson and partner Paul Ediger of Seattle, Wash; granddaughters, Michelle (Rich) Gross and Tami (Brad) Wagers, both of Bement; great-grandchildren, Connor and Lauren Gross and Griffin Wagers; brother, Scott Wilkinson of Albuquerque, N.M; niece, Ann Wilkinson of Mountain View, Calif. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Alice Wilkinson; brother, Alfred Lewis 'Lew' Wilkinson; son, Terry Lee Wilkinson. on May 8, 2004.²

     Arthur R. Cox married Mildred Marker, daughter of John Russell Marker and Margaret Lavina Smith, in 1944.¹ Arthur R. Cox died in August, 1955.¹