All Obituaries

Dora D. Oary, 78, of Lacon, formerly Washington and Varna, died at Lacon Rehab and Nursing on June 9, 2021. Born in Peoria on August 31, 1942 to the late William and Alta (Scudder) Allen, she married Roy Auvil and had three children. Dora later married Fred Oary Sr on May 26, 1968 in Bartonville. Fred died in 2005. Dora is survived by her children Roy (Julie) Auvil of Hanna city, Rick (Becky) Auvil of Bartonville, Crystal (Chester Sr.) Jones of Peoria, DeWayne (Cathy) Oary of Joplin Mo.,...

Robert D. “Bobby” Downey died on June 3, 2021 at his home in Lacon. Born on February 29, 1960 in Peoria to Charles and Lillian Pearson Downey, he married Christine Morgan on June 12, 1982 in Lacon. Bobby worked for Allen Lumber Company for over 20 years as a sales clerk and yard manager for the lumberyard. He also was a former member of the Lacon Zoning Board. Bobby was the type of guy that never knew a stranger, everyone knew him. He was a great handyman and was always there...

Betty H. Leigh, 93, of Sparland, passed away June 2, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at the Richard L. Owens Hospice House in Peoria. Born November 21, 1927 in rural Minonk to the late William and Edna (Rithmiller) Hattan, she graduated in 1949 from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Betty married James L. Leigh on January 1, 1951 in a private ceremony in her childhood home. Betty and Jim lived and farmed in rural Sparland for over 70 years. Betty was deeply...

Arthur James “Jim” Lambrecht, 79, of Lacon Ill., died on May 18, 2021 at UnityPoint Methodist in Peoria. Jim was born on July 12, 1941 to Arthur C. and Lorraine (DeBuck) Lambrecht in Chicago. His youth was spent in Mineral Ill. and he moved to Chicago in 1956 after a tragic accident that took the life of his beloved father and seriously injured Jim. He graduated from Calumet High School in 1959 and attended the U of I at Navy Pier in Chicago. Jim started working for A&P...

Susan Marie Blake, “Mama Sue”, of Putnam Ill., died on May 17, 2021 at OSF Saint Francis in Peoria. Born on November 3, 1953 in Peoria to the late Edward and Merna (Rubenking) Hill, she married Gary Blake on December 23, 1973 in East Peoria. Gary passed away on April 1, 2020. Susan worked for Caterpillar for over 35 years, starting as a welder on the shop floor and finishing her career as a purchasing analyst traveling the world to obtain parts for the tractors. She also owned S...

Shawn McNutt, 50, of Lacon Ill., died on May 13, 2021 in Sparland Ill. He was Born in Peoria on February 16, 1971 to the late John and Karen Kenyon McNutt. Shawn graduated from Mid County High School and farmed with his father while working as an operating engineer. Over the last 15 years Shawn has been raising, training, and competing with Coyote Hounds and Rabbit Beagles in competitions and trials all around the Midwest. He also bred and raised rabbits for many years. Shawn is survived...

Mary E. Walin, 95, of Varna Ill., died on May 8, 2021 at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. Born on April 29, 1926 to the late Edward and Nellie (Antrim) Armbruster in rural Marshall County Illinois, she married Willis Walin on September 20, 1947 in Peoria. Willis passed away on February 24, 2015. Mary was a graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing and served at Saint Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley for over 29 years. She later worked at Monte Casino Manor Nursing Home in...

Norma J. Baldwin, 91, of Lacon, Ill. passed away peacefully on April 15, 2021 with her only daughter by her side. Born on October 5, 1929 in Princeton Ill. to the late Earl and Florence (Hansen) Lenihan, she married Norris Baldwin on December 16, 1950 in Peru. Norris passed away at the early age of 42 on September 21st 1967.  Norma never remarried. Norma worked as a Pharmacy Tech for nearly 50 years in downtown Lacon.   As the drugstore names changed from Longman, to Shaffer...

Chaise Michael Mangold, 21, of Lacon, Ill. formerly Sparland, died on April 15, 2021 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Born in Peoria on October 14, 1999 to Patrick and Lisa (Murphy) Mangold, he graduated from Midland High School and became an operating engineer in Operating Engineers local 649 working for Minnesota limited. Chaise served his community as a member of the Lacon Sparland Fire Department. Chaise was the most caring and kind-hearted person who never left anyone out. He...

On Friday, April 9, 2021 Patricia Ballard, a loving wife, and mother of 4 children, passed peacefully at the age of 80. Patricia was born April 17, 1940 to the late Howard and Thelma (White) Mace. She married Lewis Geier and had three children, Jennifer, Stanley, and Lori. She later married Albert Kimble and had a daughter, Danielle. She later married Glen Ballard. Patricia loved to read and listen to beautiful music. Some of her favorites were classic gospel hymns and anything by Elvis...