Obituaries
Ba

BABB, Elizabeth Brech - Decatur Daily Review, submitted by James Howard
1865 - October 17, 1904
   Mrs. Frank Babb died at 10 o'clock Sunday morning at the family residence, 339 South Webster Street, of a complication of diseases. She was 39 years old, and is survived by her husband and two children.
   The funeral was held at 3 o'clock this afternoon from the residence. The body will be taken to Ashland, Ills. tomorrow morning for interment.

BAKER, Harry E. 'Shorty' - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, October 10, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Harry E. 'Shorty' Baker, 1923-2007
   Harry E. "Shorty" Baker, 84, of Beardstown, died Tuesday morning, Oct. 9, 2007, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   He was born March 16, 1923, in Indiana, the son of Bert and Rose Baker. He married Esther Alice Lloyd, and she preceded him in death.
   He is survived by one son, Thomas, of Beardstown; one daughter, Rita (husband, Jim) Crabtree of Jacksonville; three grandchildren, Danny Crabtree, Arye Crabtree and Junelle Keener, two brothers, Everett (wife, Lisa) of Rolla, Mo., and Frank (wife, Robin) of Beardstown; and one sister, Ethel Stinson of Beardstown. He was preceded in death by one brother, Brownie.
   Mr. Baker was previously employed as a lineman with Illinois Bell. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed being outdoors.
   Graveside services will he held 10 a.m. Saturday at Beardstown City Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

BAKER, Helen E. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, March 10, 2003
Helen E. Baker, 1911-2003, Beardstown
   Helen E. Baker, 91, of Beardstown and formerly of Jacksonville, died Sunday afternoon, March 9, 2003, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   She was born Dec. 29, 1911, in Waverly, the daughter of Harry and Maude Homes Morris. She married Clifford T. Baker Nov. 29, 1930, in Jacksonville, and he preceded her in death in 1963.
   She is survived by one son, Kenneth (wife, Lillie) of Springfield; three daughters, Barbara Caster of Beardstown, Rose (husband, Steve) Claggett of Peoria, and Wanda (husband, Charlie) Berry of Manchester, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sons in infancy, Clifford Jr. and James; and two brothers.
   Mrs. Baker attended school in Waverly and was a homemaker.
   Graveside funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at Waverly East Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Heritage Manor South Staff in Beardstown. Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at sagerfh@casscomm.com.

BALLANCE, Richard B. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, October 30, 2006 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
   Richard B. Ballance, 1931-2006, Beardstown
Richard B. Ballance, 74, of Beardstown, died Friday evening, Oct. 27, 2006, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
   He was born Nov. 9, 1931, in Springfield, the son of H.U. "Skinny" and Dorma Jean Hill Ballance. He married Shirley Reed on Nov. 29, 1953, in Decatur, and she survives.
   He is also survived by two sons, David L. of Bluff Springs and Andy of Frederick; two daughters, Elaine "Lany" Ballance-Wurmnest (husband, Charlie Wurmnest) and Julie A. Ballance, both of Eureka Springs, Ark.; seven grandchildren, April Ballance of Beardstown, Heather Ballance of Tinley Park, Sgt. Robert Aron Ballance of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Amy Clark of Tampico, Gary Ballance of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Josh Hoke and Derek Ballance, both of Eureka Springs, Ark.; six great-grandchildren; and one brother, Ronald L. (wife, Barbara) of Oakley.
   Mr. Ballance graduated from Decatur High School in 1949. He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1949 until 1952, serving with the Fifth Marine Regiment where he participated in the landing on Inchon, Korea, during the Korean War. He returned to Decatur and graduated from Millikin University with a degree in education. He taught industrial arts, vocational education and driver education at Sibley, Ashland and Beardstown high schools. During his teaching career he also coached track, baseball and basketball, was Student Council adviser and Vocational (V.I.C.A.) sponsor, and served as assistant principal at Beardstown High School. He spent several summers managing the local swimming pool and was involved with the Summer Park Program in Beardstown. After his retirement he was the attendance officer for the Regional Superintendent of Schools. He continued to officiate for various high school and college sporting events including football, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.
   Mr. Ballance was greatly involved in the Beardstown community where he was a member of Kiwanis Club (and formerly served as Past Lieutenant Governor of Division 29 of the I-I District), Beardstown Educational Association (where he formerly served as president), and Cass County Retired Teachers. He was a member and served on the Cass County Board for 25 years and was also a member of the Morgan-Cass-Scott Board and a charter member of Ashland Lions Club. In his spare time he was an avid R.C. (radio-controlled model airplane) hobbyist. His family, his country and his faith were his foremost priorities. His enthusiasm, honesty, dependability and his jovial sense of humor are among his many favorable traits which he will be sorely missed.
   Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church in Beardstown. The family will meet with friends at the church from 3 p.m. until the time of services Tuesday. Cremation rites will be accorded after the funeral service. Memorials are suggested to the "R.B. Scholarship Fund." Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements. condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

BARBER, Pearl A. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, July 24, 2003
Pearl A. Barber - 1908-2003 - Virginia
   Pearl A. Barber, 95, of Christmas Valley, Oregon and formerly of Virginia, died Tuesday morning, July 22, 2003 at the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon.
   She was born May 22, 1908 in Beardstown, the daughter of Ray and Bertha Webster Matthew. She married Joy O. Barber on June 4, 1925 in Virginia, and he preceded in death on August 29, 1992.
   She is survived by two daughters, Delores (husband, Charles) Raedel of Christmas Valley, Ore., and Sue (husband, John) Kotch of Castle Rock, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Kay Wright; one son, William; two grandchildren; one brother, Rodney Matthew; and three sisters, Opal Sterling, Evelyn Skiles, and Annabel Wilcox.
   Mrs. Barber was employed by the Emporium in Jacksonville for 17 years. She was a member of the Virginia United Methodist Church.
   Graveside funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003 at the Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia. There will be no visitation. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Virginia United Methodist Church. The Massie-Buchanan Funeral Home in Virginia is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of sympathy may be shared online with the family at www.buchananfuneralhomes.com.

BARKER, Josephine, Illinoian Star, Beardstown, Illinois, July 6, 1940 - Submitted by Carol Orwig
Funeral Services Will Be Held Tomorrow
   Mrs. Josephine Barker died at her home, 1201 East Ninth street, at 10 o’clock last night following a prolonged illness. The decedent suffered a stroke 12 days ago but a heart attack was given as the immediate cause of death.
   The body was taken to the Cline Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at the residence at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
   The Rev A. E. Beddoes will be in charge. Burial will be in the family lot in the City Cemetery.
Born in Brown County
   Mrs. Barker was born in Brown county August 31, 1868 and was 71 years, 10 months and five days of age at the time of her death.
   She was married to John M. Barker in 1887. To this union were born five children, four of whom survive: George Barker of Alton, Mrs Charles Dann, Mrs. Frank McCuen and Thomas Barker all of this city. Thomas Barker and family resided with his mother who had been blind for the past 10 years.
   Other survivors are: two step-sons, Harry Barker of Pekin and Albert Barker of Jerseyville, together with 13 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one brother, Thomas Hulett of Jacksonville.
   Her husband preceded her in death in 1927 and a daughter, Lizzy Belle, died in infancy.

BAST, Allen Ray - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, March 7, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Allen Ray Bast, 1932-2007, Virginia
   Allen Ray Bast, 74, of rural Virginia, died Monday evening, March 5, 2007, at Heritage Manor East in Beardstown.
   He was born Dec. 14, 1932, in Cass County, the son of Frank H. and Esther S. Houston Bast.
   He is survived by four daughters, Debbie (companion, Sam Nation) Smith of Bath, Gail (husband, Bill) Riggins of Pleasant Plains, Kathi Armstrong of Ashland, and Jackie (husband, Michael) Blakeman of Wichita Falls, Texas; one son, Terry (wife, Barb) of Atlanta, Ill.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Edwin (wife, Anita) of Hillside; one sister, Frances Haba of Marengo; and several nieces and nephews.
   Mr. Bast was a 1952 graduate of Virginia High School and served with the U.S. Army from 1954-1956. He was employed 29 years at Capitol Records (later EMI) in Jacksonville from where he retired in 1994. He assisted Melvin Ring with his farming operation in rural Virginia and provided bulldozing work in the area. He formerly attended the First Presbyterian Church in Virginia.
   Cremation rites have been accorded. The family will meet friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Massie-Buchanan Funeral Home in Virginia. Private family committal services will be held later at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Virginia. Memorials are suggested to the Cass County Health Department or the American Lung Association of Illinois. Condolences may be left at www.buchananfuneralhomes.com.

BATEMAN, Rosemary - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, June 29, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Rosemary Bateman, 1927-2007, Virginia
   Rosemary Bateman, 79, of Virginia, died Wednesday morning, June 27, 2007 at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville.
   She was born July 9, 1927 in Beardstown, the daughter of Fred C. and Ruby Edna Lyons Frank. She married Robert W. Bateman on Sept. 21, 1945 in Virginia, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 17, 1997.
   She is survived by two sons, Robert (wife, Dianne) of Literberry, and David (wife, Dawn) of Wichita, Kan.; two daughters, Connie Butler of Jacksonville and Diane Bateman of Virginia; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; one brother, Allen Frank of San Francisco; one sister, Barbara Dauphin of Savanna; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one grandson, Keith Michael Bateman.
   Mrs. Bateman formerly was a waitress for many area restaurants. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and was of the Protestant faith.
   Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Beardstown Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-10:45 a.m. Monday at Massie-Buchanan Funeral Home in Virginia. Memorials are suggested to the family. Condolences may be left at www.buchananfuneralhomes.com.

BAUMANN, Mr. and Mrs. - The Cass County Historian, March 2000, previously printed in Beardstown Illinoian, September 26, 1878
   Rev. and Mrs. Baumann died in New Orleans of Yellow Fever. A baby survives. Mrs. Baumann was the daughter of Mr. Carls of Bluff Springs.

BAYLES, Bethany Jayne - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, March 25, 2008 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Bethany Jayne Bayles, 1949-2008, Beardstown
   Bethany Jayne Bayles, 58, of Beardstown, died Saturday afternoon, March 22, 2008, at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville.
   She was born Sept. 23, 1949, in Kankakee, the daughter of James H. and Marjorie M. Miller Belden. She married Lyle C. Bayles on May 13, 1972, in Kankakee, and he survives.
   She is also survived by two sons, Kyle C. and Korey L., both of Beardstown; one daughter, Karen R. Bayles Andres of Bearstown; one grandson, Joshua M. Anders; one sister, Brenda B. Blankenstyn of Bourbonnais; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Timothy (surviving wife, Bobbi of St. Ann) Belden.
   Mrs. Bayles was a 1967 graduate of Kankakee High School. She worked as a CNA at several area nursing homes, most recently at the Beardstown Terrace. She was a member of Community Church of Christ and TOPS for several years. She loved her family, friends and was also an animal lover and member and supported [supporter] of the Humane Society.
   Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. today at Community of Christ Church in Beardstown. Private committal will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the family. Sager Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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