The Telegraph - Alton, IL. February 23, 2001

JACKSONVILLE -- Phylis Etna Lee Fisher, 80, formerly of White Hall, died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. today at Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in White Hall. Graveside services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Belltown Cemetery. Memorials to the charity of donor’s choice.

The Telegraph - Alton, IL. November 24, 2001

EDWARDSVILLE -- Royal E. Garrison, 64, formerly of Jerseyville, died at 10:59 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001, in the emergency room of Oliver Anderson Hospital in Maryville. He was born Dec. 18, 1936, in Greene County to the late Roy and Bernice (Braymen) Garrison.

After graduating in 1953 from Carrollton High School, he married the former Hazel Marie Gound April 4, 1954, at the Berdan Baptist Church. They shared 42 years of marriage until her death May 23, 1996. He married Nancy (Woll) Rolfes Nov. 28, 1998, at the LeClaire Christian Church in Edwardsville. She survives.

A very active part of his family, as well as the Jerseyville community, he began working at McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis before joining the Pirtle Theaters, now Kerasotes Theaters, in Jerseyville. He became general manager of the Jerseyville Theater before becoming district manager for the Kerasotes chain. As a result of his declining health, he stepped down from that position to become general manager of the Eastgate Cinema in East Alton, retiring a few years ago.

In addition to his widow, surviving are eight children and their spouses, John and Janice Garrison of McClusky, Scott Garrison of Jerseyville, Debbie and Simmeon Phillips of Kane, Lori and Kenneth Young, Denise and Scott Douglass, all of Jerseyville, Joan and Robert Cope of Neoga, Kathy and Douglas Dunham of Fieldon and Nicole Rolfes of Worden; his grandchildren, Julie (Derek) Ardnt of Mattoon, Dawn (Darrin) Scoggins of Jerseyville, Jamie Phillips of Kane, Paul Garrison of McClusky, Victoria Cope of Neoga, Jodi and Josh Young of Jerseyville, Cory Garrison of Alton, Nicole Wadlow and her fiancee, Josh Neal, of Jerseyville, Kaley and Alyssa Wadlow of Jerseyville, Scotty Douglas of Jerseyville, Dustin and Katelyn Dunham of Fieldon, Chelsea Kostyshock and Brice Rolfes, both of Worden; three great-grandchildren, Marissa and Cody Scoggins and Marcus Neal; a brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Nancy Garrison of Jerseyville; his mother-in-law, Blanche Woll of Edwardsville; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Garrison, and a sister, Bonna Riley.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Burial will be in Belltown Cemetery in Belltown.

Memorials may be given to his family in care of the funeral home or to the Mid America Transplant Team, in recognition for their appreciation for Royal Heart Transplant that gave his family eight extra years with him.

The Telegraph, Alton, IL., Tuesday, December 10, 2002

CARROLLTON - James Royal Hillis, 89, died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, in Carrollton. He passed from this world into eternity to be with his Savior after a long struggle with pain. The son of Stella Mae Crum Hillis and Frank Russell Hillis, he was born on Jan. 30, 1913, in Greene County.

He married the former Helen Berniece Ray of Kane in 1936, near Berdan. She preceded him in death in 1996.

He was better known as "Doc" and was well known for his love of music and the talent he possessed to make stringed instruments sing. He played many stringed instruments, as well as harmonica and piano, but his real passion was for the fiddle and mandolin. He loved to bring joy to others with his talents. He retired from Olin Matheson after 30 years of service. He began working there just before World War II in the powder mill, where he carried kegs of powder. Later he was transferred to the power plant, where he made many great friends. Before his illness, he loved to chat with people and never met a stranger.

Surviving are four sons, three daughters-in-law, six daughters and four sons-in-law: Billie and Leona Hillis of Otterville, Frances and Bill Coonrod, Mary Sue and Harold Holmes and Janet and Lyndell Ornellas, all of Carrollton, Royala Ann Ornellas of Lawrenceberg, Ind., Delbert Hillis of Roodhouse, Kathy and Lavern Crull of Taylorville, Ill., Barbara Stephens of Waverly, Terry and Pam Hillis of White Hall and Garry and Virginia Hillis of Berdan; 39 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a child, Sherrill Lynn; two brothers, Russell and Harold; and two sisters, Anna Crater and Grace Lemons.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Carrollton Assembly of God Church.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Burial will follow at Belltown Cemetery in Belltown.

Memorials may be made to the Boyd Memorial Hospital or Reisch Nursing Home.

Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Carrollton is in charge and condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.

The Telegraph, Alton, IL., January 08, 2002

JERSEYVILLE -- Eldred D. "Peaches" Nortrup, 73, of White Hall, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville. Born April 17, 1928, in Knox County, he was a son of Edwin and Eva (Henderson) Nortrup.

In 1946 he graduated from Meredosia High School, and served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the Roodhouse First Baptist Church and the Aroma Park American Legion Post #1019.

An ambulance driver in Jersey County for several years, he also worked as a supervisor for Capital Records in Jacksonville.

He married the former Mary E. Gound on May 31, 1975, in Roodhouse, and she preceded him in death June 25, 1998.

Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Mick Mann of Ottawa, Beverly and Bud Stockseth of Tallahassee, Fla., Patty and Tom Judge of LaSalle; a son, Ronald Nortrup of California; a sister and her husband, Janice and Bruce Liming of Springfield; 15 grandchildren; three sisters-in-law and their spouses, Bonnie and Russell Davis of Belltown, Esther and Andrew Klaffer of Alton, Jane Gound of Ashkum; and three brothers-in-law and their wives, Charles Gound of White Hall, Chester and Mary Gound of Patterson, and Frank and Joyce Gound of Aroma Park.

Preceding him in death was a daughter, Nancy; a stepdaughter, Donna Kay; a sister, Joyce; a brother, Delbert; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Hazel and Royal Garrison.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until time of services at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mackey Daws Funeral Home in White Hall.

Burial will be at the Belltown Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the family.

Gazette-Patriot, Carrollton, Ill., Wednesday, July 2, 2003

Vivion L. Rutledge, 91, of White Hall died Saturday, June 28, 2003, at his residence.

He was born Nov. 18, 1911, in Scott County, the son of Llewellyn O. and Rose (Day) Rutledge. He married Velma Ruth Crum May 7, 1934, in Troy, Mo., and she died Aug. 28, 1991.

He is survived by a son, Joseph L. (wife Glenda) Rutledge of White Hall; three grandchildren, Cassandra, Zefram and Onia Rutledge; a brother, Eugene Rutledge of Granite City; and five sisters, Mary Ellen Glancy of Anacoco, La., Edith Stoops of Augusta, Maine, Unila Mean of Nova Scotia, Canada, Virginia Sipes of Patterson and Irene Painter of White Hall.

Preceding him in death was a sister, Ina Bell.

Mr. Rutledge served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the White Hall American Legion Post 70. He was a former member of the White Hall Masonic Lodge 80. He worked for the State of Illinois highway department for several years, and he farmed and raised livestock on the family farm west of Barrow until his retirement. He was a member of the New Life Church in White Hall.

Visitation was Tuesday at Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in White Hall, where funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday. Burial will follow at Belltown Cemetery, south of White Hall.

Memorials are suggested to the New Life Church.

Submitted by: Allen Handling