All Obituaries

Robert Leonard, Jr.   CHARLESTON – Robert Lee Leonard, Jr., 73, of Charleston, passed away Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at Mattoon Health Care Center.   His memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.  Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Wednesday at the funeral home.   Robert was born August 27, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, son of Ivah Laverne (Schneider) and Robert Lee Leonard,...

Doris Emberton   CHARLESTON – Doris I. Emberton, 92, of Charleston, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.    Her funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the Caudill-King Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in Van Voorhis Cemetery, rural Hindsboro.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.    Doris was born July 12, 1926 at Oakland, daughter...

Charlotte Knighten   CHARLESTON – Charlotte Knighten, 53, of Charleston, passed away Saturday, October 13, 2018 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.   Charlotte enjoyed spending time with her husband, Herb.  They enjoyed raising their cats and pet birds.  Charlotte also had a special friend, Marcy Valach.  You could see them walking around town grocery shopping and getting coffee at Starbucks. Charlotte worked at CCAR Industries on the...

Vivian Carpenter   ASHMORE – Vivian E. Carpenter, 90, of Ashmore, crossed the rainbow bridge to rejoin her beloved husband Tom, Saturday, October 6, 2018 at SBLHC.   Her graveside funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 8, 2018 at Patsy Mitchell Cemetery, rural Ashmore.  Arrangements: Harper-Swickard.   Vivian was born November 3, 1927 in Coles County, Illinois, daughter of George and Eula (Graham) Smith.  She married Thomas Carpenter, May 27,...

Ronal Thomason   MATTOON – Ronal Lee Thomason, 74, of Mattoon, passed away Monday, October 1, 2018 at his home.   Ron was born November 14, 1943 at Charleston, son of Tommy and Shirley (Witters) Thomason.  He married Cynthia Greeson; she preceded him in death.  He is survived by three sons: Todd Thomason of Charleston, Michael Thomason of Bee Branch, AR, and Justin Thomason of Kewanee, IL; his mother: Shirley Thomason of Linton, IN; two brothers: Larry Thomason...

Opal Swart   CHARLESTON – Opal L. Swart, 86, of Charleston, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2018 at Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, with her family at her side.   Her graveside funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Janesville Cemetery, Janesville, Illinois.  Casual attire would be appreciated.  There will be no visitation.  Arrangements: Harper-Swickard.   Opal was born April 18, 1932 at Charleston,...

Herbert Norman   CHARLESTON – Herbert A. Norman, 85, of Charleston, passed away Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.   Herb was born February 4, 1933 at Doniphan, MO, the son of William and Mamie (Ball) Norman.  He married Betty A. White, February 4, 1954 at New London, CT; she preceded him in death, December 15, 2016.  Surviving are two daughters: Gail Romine and Linda Norman, both of Charleston; and two grandsons: Trey Romine III...

Cheryl Smith   CHARLESTON - Cheryl Smith, 68, of Charleston, passed away Friday, September 21, 2018 at SBLHC.   Cheryl was born May 9, 1950 at Monticello, Illinois, daughter of Lawrence and Alice (Turner) Sievers.  She married John Michael Smith, December 23, 1984; he preceded her in death, January 1, 2013.  She is survived by two daughters: Karie Wilson and Jennifer Smith; and two granddaughters: Chanel Smith and Julia Ray, all of Charleston.  She was preceded...

Joan Atwell   LERNA – Joan Atwell, 89, of Lerna, passed away Friday, September 14, 2018 at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home, Mattoon.   The funeral service honoring her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in Pleasant Prairie Indian Cemetery, rural Lerna.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army or the...

Jane Dawson   CHARLESTON - Emma Jane Peters Dawson 103 of Charleston passed away Wednesday, September 12, 2018. Born in Janesville, Illinois on April 22, 1915, she was the daughter of Joseph Merl and Henrietta Lois Endsley Peters. Jane grew up in Nokomis, Illinois the oldest of three sisters.   She worked in mining, and politics, before marrying Dr. I. Milton Dawson in December of 1945. He passed away in March 1997.  She was the office manager of his dental practice for...