The Clay County Advocate-Press Obituaries RSS

1. Bernice Talbert Bruner, 102

   Bernice Talbert Bruner, age 102, of Flora, IL died at 9:45 AM on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Flora Rehab & Health Care Center in Flora. 
   
   She had been residing at Heritage Woods of Flora for the past two years.  Mrs. Bruner, a resident of Flora since 1931, was born on October 10, 1909 in Wayne County, IL to John Talbert and Edna Johnson Talbert, one of nine children.  She married Henry Howard Bruner on April 4, 1931 in Flora, IL.  He preceded her in death on May 5, 1964.
   
   Mrs. Bruner was the eldest member of First United Methodist Church in Flora and was a member of the Criterion Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Flora Garden Club. She was an avid gardener all her life, and her garden was chosen “Yard of the Month” on two occasions. After the death of her husband, she worked for several years at Murphy’s and at Cousin Fred’s.

2. Walter L. “Walt” Jones, 73

   Walter L. “Walt” Jones, age 73, of Cisne, IL, formerly of Fairfield and Flora, died at 10:15 PM on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital in Fairfield, IL after a brief battle with cancer.
   
   Walt was born on November 13, 1938 in Lawrence County, IL to Ivan L. and Dollie Evelyn (Chaplin) Jones.  He married Glenda C. Stanford on July 26, 1957 in Flora. 
   
   Walt’s earliest career endeavor was working as a barber for 15 years after attending college in Peoria.  He went on to create and operate Walt’s Mobile Homes which grew to include a number of sales lots throughout the region.  After selling the business, he took on the position of Fairfield Mayor in 1973.  Still a dedicated entrepreneur, Walt later began Walt’s Used Cars, a business that his grandson Ryan has joined him in managing during recent years.  In addition to his businesses, he was very active traveling to harness racing locations in Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida with his standard bred horses.

3. Leah Geneva Wattles Hart, 92

   Leah Geneva Wattles Hart, age 92, of Louisville, Illinois passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 6:52 a.m. at Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois.
   
   Leah was born on January 27, 1920 to Leonard S. Devore and Rena Jencie (Kenley) Devore in Clay County, Illinois.
   
   She was married to her first husband Charles “Jake” Wattles on October 1, 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri. He passed away on April 26, 1978. She married her second husband Everett Hart in 1983 at Louisville Methodist Church. He passed away on July 20, 1990. Leah was a shoe dresser for the International Shoe Factory in Flora and Olney. She was also a member of the Louisville Baptist Church.

4. Page to serve three year sentence

   Judge Ericka Sanders sentenced a Carmi woman to serve three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in Clay County Circuit Court, according to Clay County State’s Attorney Marilyn D. Brant.

   Jody Lee Page, age 30, was ordered to serve the three-year sentence, plus a two-year period of mandatory supervised release.  A $1,000.00 mandatory drug assessment was imposed, as well as a $25.00 State Police drug trafficking fee and all costs of the court proceeding.

5. Christopher Lee Davis, 31

   Christopher Lee Davis, age 31, of Flora, IL died at 9:03 AM on Friday May 4, 2012 at Clay County Hospital in Flora.
   
   He was born November 12, 1980 in Flora to Lilith Davis and John Beck.
   
   Although Christopher’s life was affected by limitations because of Type 1 diabetes since the age of 17, he will forever be remembered as a very special person and sorely missed by those who loved him.  In the past, Christopher was involved as a local Cubmaster and enjoyed playing football.  And every year, he looked forward to traveling to the river for a week of summertime fishing with his grandfather.