Area Obituaries

Karen Lee Hale, age 83, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 24, at her home in Rural Shobonier, IL surrounded by her family. Karen was born March 5, 1942 in Hamilton, IL, the daughter of Melvin Alonzo Martin and Mary Helen (Cox) Martin. She married Silas R. Hale on August 17, 1958 in Warsaw, IL. When Silas…

Clarence Robert Alender passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, at Villas of Holly Brook in Bethalto, Illinois.  Clarence was born on Jan. 23, 1932, in Assumption, Christian County, Illinois, the son of Frank and Jessie Coburn Alender. He was raised in Shobonier, Illinois, where he attended grade school, and later graduated from Vandalia High School. …

Kylie Marie Kutz 14 of Vandalia passed away Nov. 14, 2025. Kylie was born Jan. 21, 2011 to Megan Zeller and Jason Kutz. She was later adopted as Kylie Toberman. She is survived by her  mother Megan Zeller,  sisters Kami and Korah Toberman, brothers Bryson Ryan and Jack Greenland, maternal grandmother Leann Deweese, paternal grandmother…

Gene A. Skinner, 62, of DuQuoin, Ill., passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. A Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 22, at Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia with Rev. PeeWee Denton officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Loogootee. Visitation will be held…

Linda M. Ward, 77, of Vandalia, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Christian Northeast Hospital, St. Louis, MO surrounded by family. A Funeral Service will be held at 11a.m., Friday, Dec.19, at Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia with Pastor Rodney Caswell officiating. Interment will follow in Forbis Cemetery, Brownstown. Visitation will be held…

Jo-Ellen (Stine) Frailey, 84, of Brownstown, died at 12:12 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at her son’s home in Urbana, Ill., with Scott and Anna at her side. Funeral services will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Gieseking Funeral Home, Brownstown with visitation following until 7:30 p.m. Graveside services will be at 11:00…

Dorotha M. Rhodes, 88, of Vandalia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at SBL Fayette County Hospital. A Graveside Service & Interment will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Spring Hill Cemetery, Beecher City with Rev. Dennis Warner officiating. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to Northside…

Ryder Joseph “RJ” Stock, our greatest gift, was called home in his sleep to be with Jesus early Thursday morning, Nov. 6, 2025. Anyone that knew our sweet boy saw him for his contagious laugh, smile and dimples. Ryder was born on September 14, 2023, in Breese, Ill., the son of Faith and Ross Stock.…

Brandi L. (Brown) Bolyard, 48, of Opelika, Ala., passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at her home after complications from a recent operation. Per Brandi’s wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Hohlt & File Funeral Home, Vandalia. There will be a…