Obituaries
Death of Richard (Russ/Rick) Allen Russell
Richard (Russ/Rick) Allen Russell, age 76, died at home in Monticello, IL on Monday, April 17, 2023. He was born in Greenfield, MA on September 3, 1946, the 7th of 8 children born to Muriel and William Russell.
His father died the year he turned age 3 leaving his mother to raise 8 children alone. He moved to Indian Rocks Beach FL at age 14 with his mother and two siblings and graduated from Largo High School in 1964. He joined the Air Force (1964-1968) and served his country in Vietnam.
He met Angie Raynor of Gillespie in Tampa, FL while attending USF. He and Angie married in 1974, had son Colin in 1975 in FL and moved to Gillespie in 1976. Russ worked as a vocational evaluator/developmental specialist for Illinois Valley Rehabilitation Center and Angie went to nursing school. He researched, designed, drew plans for and built a 2600 sq ft super-insulated, passive solar home.
Hiring only excavation and framing, he did everything else himself with family and friends assistance over a 15-month period while working full-time. In a nod to his New England roots, the home style was of a modified salt-box design. Son Andrew was welcomed into this home in 1984. Russ obtained his MBA in 1988 and taught economics part-time evenings at area community colleges while working as a small business consultant for SIUE.
He was a founding member of Gillespie’s Partnership for Educational Excellence, helped start Gillespie’s first youth soccer league, and was a soccer coach. Russ supported the Special Olympics and was a lifetime advocate for the developmentally disabled. He was named director of UIUC’s Small Business Development Center and the family moved to Monticello IL in 1994.
An avid reader from a young age, he enjoyed sharing book suggestions and reading interests. He obtained a Masters’s in Library Science at UIUC and worked for a time as a reference librarian in Coral Springs, FL. Russ continued home improvement projects until his health declined with his last project (2020) redesigning the kitchen in their Monticello, IL home.
He enjoyed genealogy and a favorite trip was to New England and Nova Scotia CA to do family research. He loved sharing his family history with all who would listen and the grandchildren were generally agreeable albeit captive audiences. It worked – grandson Ben has enthusiastically taken on the Russell family historian role and will carry on the tradition!
As a New Englander, the Boston Red Sox were his favorite baseball team but he also supported the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoyed trips to Busch Stadium. It wasn’t hard for the family diehard Cards fans to accept his Red Sox allegiance…. after all they played in different leagues. That changed during the 2013 World Series when the Red Sox — well if you’re a baseball fan you know the end of that story!
Russ kept up with local, national and international news until he couldn’t and always insisted he had to have a newspaper or more to read every day. He nearly didn’t go on a cruise in 2014 because he couldn’t have a daily newspaper during 7 days at sea. He was persuaded to go upon learning the cruise line offered a lending library….in reality only 1 bookcase of books, alas that was his first and last cruise.
As per his wishes, his body has been donated to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
He leaves behind to mourn his loss, wife, Angie; sons, Colin (Tammy) Cortland, IL, and Andrew (Danielle) Champaign; six grandchildren, Ben (18) David (16), and Abbie (12), of Cortland, and Bob (16), Madison (11) and Ainsley (2) of Champaign; parents-in-law, Leo and Eva Raynor; sister-in-law, Maleah Raynor; brothers, Dave (Terry) of Cumberland Falls, ME and Norman (Sharon) of Ashfield, MA; and sisters Ann (Dave) of Orlando, FL, and Muriel of Colraine, MA. Locally he leaves behind nephews, Christopher, Austin and Blake Raynor; and niece Lacey Raynor.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim, Bill, and Tom; and brother-in-law, Bill Raynor.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Gillespie on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 2 pm with visitation at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gillespie Partnership for Educational Excellence CUSD #7 or the Gillespie Public Library. Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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With profound sadness we announce the passing of Leonard, our loving and devoted father and friend to all whose lives he touched, on January 19, 2025. He left us while sleeping peacefully after a dignified fight with pancreatic cancer in his 83rd year.
He was born August 12, 1942, in Carlinville, a son of the late Leo and Flora Belle Lott. After graduating high school at Carlinville High School, Leonard completed his associate’s degree at University of Illinois in agriculture. Leonard was a successful and well-respected farmer. He received the centennial farm honor in 2014. He was proud to “retire” at age 55, when he chose to rent out the land to the Miller family. Their relationship developed over the years and was one of the things Leonard was most proud of and cherished.
Leonard’s other prized relationship was with his wife, Susan. They celebrated their 50-year wedding anniversary July 24, 2023. While farming and contributing to the community, Leonard generously supported his children and their education. Alandra earned a BA in Special Education, a MEd in Education, and a PhD in Educational Psychology. She was a beloved professor at Benedictine University for 22 years and now is an educational consultant. Christopher earned his associates degree and now operates a vending company in Carlinville. Hunter, granddaughter, is currently in her third year of medical school.
Leonard was always the first to volunteer to be her “patient”, even as a little girl in bibbers and braids. Harrison, grandson, made Leonard proud with his excellence in school and sports. Education was important to Leonard, and he never hesitated to invest in or to teach his children and grandchildren. He believed the “highest level of education is tolerance”. (Helen Keller) He modeled that virtue with discipline and hard work. He was strong, but kind. He will be missed.
Mr. Lott was predeceased by his father, Leo Lott and mother Flora Belle (Ballinger) Lott.
Survivors include his wife, Susan (Daggett) Lott; daughter, Alandra (Weller) Devall; son, Christopher Lott; granddaughter, Hunter Clarke; and grandson, Harrison Lott.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, 9:00 to 11:00 am at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Carlinville. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 am, Thursday, January 23, 2025 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Carlinville. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery, Carlinville, IL.
Memorials may be made to Carlinville High School Agriculture department or the Alzheimer’s Association. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
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William Clifford Heyen, 94 of Gillespie, died at Carlinville Rehab Center, Carlinville on Thursday, January 16, 2025. He was born on March 16, 1930, in Dorchester to William L. Heyen and Marie E. Kelly Heyen.
He married Marilyn M. (Lynch) Heyen on May 6, 1950 in Shipman. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2017. William was a farmer, co owner of Heyen Implement and Pastor of New Birth Fellowship. He enjoyed growing flowers, cutting grass, and going to farm sales.
He is survived by his children, William R. (LouAnn) Heyen of Gillespie, James O. Heyen of Edwardsville, Cathy (Gary) Zenner of Kiefer, OK, and Beverly (Terry) Moore of Gillespie; grandchildren, Bill Heyen, Ben Heyen, Ashley Sarver, Shanna Ocepek, Elizabeth Brandt, Amanda Weber, Jessica Voros, Tiffany Cockrell, Zachary Moore, Jeremy Moore, Brad Moore, and Kerry Bruhn; 22 great grandchildren; siblings, Kelly W. (Ruby) Heyen of Gillespie, David L. Heyen of Dorchester, and Florence Easton of Gillespie; sister in law, Roberta Heyen; and brother in law, Bill Parmentier.
William was preceded in death by his parents; spouse; grandchildren in law, Jacob Brandt and Seth Weber; brother, Wayne I Heyen; and sisters, Faye Heyen, Shirley Hausman and Phyllis Parmentier.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Gillespie Methodist Church in Gillespie from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Gillespie Methodist Church.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriners Hospitals for Children PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Steven Dwaine French, 32 of Wilsonville, died at his residence on Thursday, January 16, 2025. He was born on October 21, 1992, in Decatur to Perry D. French and Victoria L. Mays French.
He was a forklift operator for D. B. Schenker of Edwardsville. Steven loved fishing, hunting and camping with his children and family.
He is survived by his parents, Perry and Victoria French of Galatia; soul mate of 15 years, Kaylee Scroggins of Wilsonville; children, Raylynn French of Wilsonville, Kobey French of Wilsonville, and Journee French of Wilsonville; siblings, Britney (Roy) Lagesse of Harrisburg, IL, Ashley French of Harrisburg, IL, and Keegan French of Harrisburg; grandmother, Linda Mays of Harrisburg; aunt, Cathy Snyder of Vincennes, IN; Kaylee’s parents, Toni Smith and Anthony Scroggins; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Steven was preceded in death by his grandparents, Keith Mays, Gaylan and Sandra French; nephew, Kollin Lagesse; uncle, Corey French; and aunt, Edie Mays.
Visitation will be on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to the children of Steven French. Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
