Obituaries
Death of Mary J. Taylor (Vaughn)
Mary J. Taylor (Vaughn) was born September 30, 1932, in Brookhaven, Mississippi, to the union of John Vaughn and Mattie Lee Markham. Mary was the fifth of nine children. Her parents, four brothers (Ralph, Robert, James and Anderson) and one sister (Frances) preceded her in death.
Mary moved to St. Louis, MO, where she met and married Clarence Taylor. They moved to Shipman (Royal Lakes) in 1961, where they built a home, had fruit trees and made a garden each year. Mary canned and shared the fruits of her labor with family and friends in the community. Her husband, Clarence, preceded her in death on April 2, 1986.
She accepted Christ at an early age at First Community Baptist Church under the leadership of J. A. Hardy. Under the leadership of Rev. John W. Savage, she served faithfully as the church clerk, Sunday School teacher, Jr. Choir director and started a Sunshine Choir for the younger children. Mary learned to sew early in life, and made a living working off and on over the years at the Glove Factory in Carlinville, making football jerseys in Litchfield, and as custodian at Landreth Lumber Company in Bunker Hill.
She served as an election judge and a trustee in Macoupin County. She was also active at the Shipman picnic every year donating her time and cooking abilities. Mary departed this life on May 18, 2017, at 4:25 a.m. in Florissant, MO.
Mourning her passing are four sons and one daughter: Aaron (Margaret) of Carlinville, Ray (Elaine); David (Tammy) and Clarence, all of Shipman (Royal Lakes); and Lydia (Douglas) of Florissant, MO; three sisters, Thelma Cousins of Chicago, Annie Davis of St. Louis, MO, and Helen Matthews of Dayton, OH; two sisters-in-law, Delores Vaughn and Willie Vaughn of Detroit, MI; 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
One son, Donald Taylor and grandson, Derrance Taylor, preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 9 a.m. until noon. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery in Bunker Hill.
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Eugene A. “Gene” Bentrup, age 86 of rural Staunton, passed away at 5:15 PM on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Staunton Health & Rehab Center in Staunton. He was born on Tuesday, March 15, 1938, in Staunton, the son of the late Louis and Ella (Heigert) Bentrup.
He married Shirley Repovich on June 9, 1962, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Livingston and she survives.
Gene served our country in the United States Army. He was employed as a grain inspector for Toberman Grain & Feed Company in East St. Louis for many years. He enjoyed gardening, mowing grass, shopping with Shirley, traveling with the Goldenaires Club, bowling, and table games.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Bentrup of rural Staunton, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother in infancy, Otto Bentrup.
Friends may call from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Lesicko Funeral Home in Livingston. Funeral services for Gene Bentrup will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Lesicko Funeral Home in Livingston with Rev. Fr. Thomas Hagstrom officiating.
Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton with the Staunton Veterans Honor Guard conducting graveside military rites. Memorials are suggested to either Heartland Hospice, St. Michael Catholic Church of Staunton, or to the charity of the donor’s choice
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Wanda Kaye (Huffman) Bernot, 77 of Benld, was freed from the shackles of Alzheimer’s Disease on April 22, 2024. She passed peacefully with family by her side at Community Hospital of Staunton. A poetic end for she was a selfless person.
Wanda was born on September 7, 1946, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of the late Vernon and Gladys (Conner) Huffman. She was raised in Staunton and was a graduate of Staunton High School. She married Pete Bernot on February 20, 1965, in Benld. They lived in Benld where they raised their only child, Jeff.
Wanda dedicated her time to a career in public service by working for the State of Illinois. Much of her work for the state was spent with the Department of Public Aid as a caseworker and director in the Carlinville field office. She was also a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union.
Wanda never shied away from helping people. After retirement, she served as Benld’s City Clerk and served on the Gillespie CUSD#7 Site Selection Committee for the location of the new elementary school.
She leaves behind her son, Jeffrey A. Bernot of Benld; her grandchildren, Rylee Bernot (Cassidy) of Benld, Peyton Bernot of Benld, and Ashleigh Feldmann (Daniel) of Staunton; great-grandchildren, Elexia, Jace, Jax, and Emreigh; a sister, Rita Soens of Williamson; a niece, Sherry Warren (Mike); and great-nieces, Shelby and McKenzie.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Pete, who passed away on April 21, 2018.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 PM on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Pastor Dane Solari officiating.
Memorials are suggested to The Partnership for Educational Excellence for the Pete & Wanda Bernot Scholarship Fund.
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Rodney Lee McQuaid, 62 of Shipman, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at home. He was born on January 31, 1962, in Alton, the son of the late Roy “RD” and Ramona Kay (Moran) McQuaid.
Rodney married the love of his life Sherry Lynn Whitten on October 12, 1984, in Alton. She preceded him in death in 2020. Together they enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family, always spoiling their nieces and nephews whom they dearly loved. He was a manager at Speedway Salvage and could usually be found getting into trouble on his tractor.
Rodney is survived by his brother, Skip (Marcia) McQuaid; sister, Sherrie (Randy) Durbin; five nieces and nephews; five great nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Gloria Joyce.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sherry Lynn, and parents, RD and Kay McQuaid.
Visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of funeral service at Noon on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Brighton. Burial will follow at Shipman Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation.
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