Scott County Times, Winchester, Scott, Illinois, Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Sec A8

George A. "Slitz" Mathews, 81, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and formerly of Jacksonville, Palatine and Exeter, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at Palms of Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla.

He was born Oct. 2, 1923, in Exeter, the son of Lyle and Mary Leib Mathews. He married JoAnn Comerford March 27, 1946 and she preceded him in death June 22, 1998.

He is survived by one daughter, Julie Lee of Largo, Fla.; two grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Lee; one great-granddaughter; and one brother, Wilbur (wife, Irene) of Bluffs. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vera Louise McPherren and Pauline Dunham Little.

Mr. Mathews graduated from Bluffs High School. He was the owner and operator of a cabinet business in Palatine before moving to Florida in 1984. He was a member of the American Legion Post 441 in Bluffs and attended the American Legion 305 in St. Pete Beach, Fla. He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving during World War II.

Cremation rites have been accorded. Beach Memorial Chapel in St. Pete Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements. Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at Mackey Daws Funeral Home in Bluffs, with burial at Green Cemetery near Bluffs at a later date. The family will meet friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Scott County Times, Winchester, Scott, Illinois, Wednesday, March 9, 2005 Sec A4

Robert "Bob" C. Brown, 82, of Bluffs, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Passavant Hospital in Jacksonville.

He was born July 30, 1922, in Bluffs, the son of George and Mary Frances Arnold Brown. He married Rose Mary Harbert, June 30, 1944 in Springfield and she survives.

He is also survived by one son, Craig (fianc�, Diane Ely) of Monroe City, Mo.; one daughter, Rita (husband, Jim) Freeman of Bluffs; six grandchildren, Richard Brown, Amanda Hutton, Dustin Brown, Jeremy Freeman, Joel Freeman and Jennifer Freeman; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard M. and Bernard Edis Brown.

Mr. Brown was a 1941 graduate of Bluffs High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed by Wabash Railroad as a fireman and later worked for CIPS 1947 and retired in 1984. Mr. Brown attended Bluffs United Methodist Church. He was a 50-year member of the Bluffs American Legion and also a member of the International Brotherhood of Operating Engineers. He was an airplane pilot and loved motorcycles. He started playing in bands as a drummer at age 14. Over the years he played with Jack Daniels Band, Lynn Symonds Band, Earl's Band and many others.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2005 at Bluffs United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Green Cemetery near Bluffs. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Thursday at Mackey Daws Funeral Home in Bluffs with the family meeting friends from 6-8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Bluffs Methodist Church or the Meredosia Bluffs Rescue Squad. Condolences may be left at mackeydaws.com .

Jacksonville Journal Courier, 7 May 1988

Lester E. "Brick" DeLong, 76, 503 S. Church St. died Saturday afternoon, May 7, at Passavant Hospital.

He was born November 5, 1911, in Woodson, a son of Herbert and Dollie Orms DeLong. He married Eleanor Torrance on March 20, 1937, at Jerseyville and she died Feb. 19, 1987.

He is survived by two brothers. Harold "Andy" of Jacksonville and James of Hendersonville, Tenn., four sisters, Mrs. Marjorie Tendick, Mildred DeLong, Esther DeLong and Mrs. Donald (Mary) Craig, all of Jacksonville; and Kora McEvers of Lincoln, who was raised in the DeLong home.

He was preceded in death by sisters and one brother.

He was a member of Woodson Christian Church, American Legion Post 279, and Teamsters Local. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving with the Second Armored Division in Europe and Africa.

Graveside services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Green Cemetery at Bluffs. Friends can call after noon Monday at Cody and Son Memorial Home, ther will be no formal visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Visiting Nurses Association.

Jacksonville Journal Courier

Mrs. Eleanor Torrance DeLong, 75, of 503 S. Church, died at her home shortly before noon Thursday, Feb. 19, 1987.

She was born at Bluffs, Oct. 8, 1911, a daughter of Bennie Ray and Rachel Eleanor Hatter Torrance.

She married Lester (Brick) DeLong at Jerseyville, March 20, 1937, and he survives. She is also survived by four sister, Mrs. Mary Swanson of Davis, Calif., Mrs. Hester Berry of Winchester, Mrs. Leonora Wright of Woodstock and Mrs. Helen Spradlin of Elgin. One brother and one sister preceded in death. Kora Eleanor Kessinger of Roodhouse was raised in the DeLong home.

She attended Illinois College and was manager of the laundry at Jacksonville State Hospital, retiring in 1976.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Cody and Son Memorial Home with burial in Green Cemetery at Bluffs. Visitation after noon Saturday, family to meet friends 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials suggested to Illinois College.

Jacksonville Journal Courier, 23 Mar 2003

Jacksonville - Marilyn Ann Hurley Merris, 61, of Jacksonville, died Friday morning, March 21, 2003, at St. John's North in Springfield.

She was born April 3, 1941, in Springfield, the daughter of John P. and Mary Cavanaugh Hurley. She married William D. Merris, the retired longtime Illinois College basketball coach Dec. 28, 1963, in Springfield, and he survives.

She is also survived by one brother, John (wife, Carol) Hurley of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Merris taught English at Routt Catholic High School in Jacksonville for several years. Prior to teaching at Routt, she taught grade school in Springfield and later at New Berlin High School. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield and attended Springfield College, before graduating from Illinois College in 1964. She thoroughly enjoyed her work as a teacher and was known for her exceptional rapport with her students. She was an avid reader and bridge player, and also enjoyed flower gardening and traveling with her husband. She was a member of the Church of Our Saviour and served on the Friends of the Library Board for several years.

Funeral mass will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Our Saviour, with burial at Green Cemetery near Bluffs. Friends may call after 12 p.m. Monday at Williamson Funeral Home, where the family will meet friends following a 3:45 p.m. prayer service until 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Routt Catholic High School or the Marilyn Merris Scholarship at Illinois College, which is being established, by her husband for the benefit of a Routt Catholic High School graduate attending Illinois College. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.airsman-hires.com.

Scott County Times, Winchester, Scott, Illinois, Wednesday, January 7, 2004 Sec A Page 4

Mildred Barkley, 86, of Bluffs died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003, at Pittsfield Healthcare Center in Pittsfield.

She was born Dec. 29, 1917, in Bluffs, the daughter of Charles and Grace Thompson Merris. She married Charles A. Barkley Aug. 12, 1936 in Bluffs, and he preceded her in death Aug. 27, 1996.

She is survived by two daughters, Doris (husband, Paul) Sellars of Nebo and Patricia (husband, Gary) Wallace of Paducah, Ky.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Opal Hullinger and Ruth Hart, both of Bluffs; one brother, Bill (wife, June) Merris of Jacksonville; and three sister-in-laws, Dorothy McDevitt and Marilee Anderson, both of Jacksonville and Helen Ruth of Macomb. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Beverly Gray; one grandson, Keith Gray; two brothers, Raymond and Ted; and two sisters, June Erickson and Helen Cox.

Mrs. Barkley was a member of Bluffs United Methodist Church and a member of the Eastern Star. She was a beautiful seamstress and loved to fish and play golf.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 2, 2004 at Mackey Daws Funeral Home in Bluffs, with burial at Green Cemetery in Bluffs. Memorials are suggested to Bluffs-Meredosia Rescue Squad.

Jacksonville Journal Courier

Pittsfield - Clyde Alonzo Hullinger, 84, of Pittsfield died Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at Pittsfield Health Care Center.

He was born May 31, 1918, in Chester, the son of Arthur and Mary Gertrude Edwards Hullinger. He married Opal Jane Merris in 1942 in Bowling Green, Mo.

Mr. Hullinger was a business owner in Bluffs for many years and a longtime member of Bluffs United Methodist Church.

Survivors: wife, Opal Jane of Bluffs; two daughters, Janet Kay (husband, Ronald) Novak of Downers Grove and Pamela Sue (husband, Charles) Gregory of Bluffs; four grandchildren; three great-grandsons; two brothers, Howard (wife, Crystal) Hullinger of Springfield and Merle (wife, Gwen) Hullinger of Tallula.

Memorial services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Mackey Daws Funeral Home, Bluffs.

Burial: Benjamin Green Cemetery near Bluffs.

Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough