Condolences to the Family of Kay Mayberry

Kay Mayberry

November 2, 2015 

72-year-old Broughton resident, Kay Mayberry died at 2:25 p.m. Sunday, November 1 at Hamilton Memorial Nursing Center in McLeansboro.

She had been a University of Illinois Home Economics Extension Advisor and Family Life Educator. She attended Herscher High School and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois.

She was a member of the Hamilton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, served as president of the Homemakers Education Association Board, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, and sang in the church choir.

Survivors include her husband, Gerald Mayberry; two sons, Troy Mayberry of McLeansboro and Todd and wife Lisa Mayberry of West Frankfort; a daughter, Tanya Thornton and husband Jeff of Evansville, IN; a brother, Gerald Williams of Bloomington, IL; a step-sister, Rita Caron of Manteno, IL and six grandchildren, Brook and Bradyn Mayberry, Cassidy Rennison, Ella, Lucy and Sadie Thornton.

Funeral services for Kay Mayberry will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 at the First Baptist Church in McLeansboro with burial in Prospect Cemetery southeast of McLeansboro.
Visitation will be 5 – 8 Wednesday evening, Nov. 4 at the First Baptist Church in McLeansboro.

Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary or Hamilton County Relay for Life and will be accepted at the Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro, which is in charge of all the arrangements.

Condolences for a Couple of Old Friends

Jean Marie Wallis Skinner, formerly of McLeansboro, passed peacefully, Oct. 25, 2015, in Hendricks County Hospital in Danville, Indiana, with her family by her side. Jean was born June 12, 1931, in Cairo. She was the daughter of St. Elmo Wallis of Mayfield, Kentucky and Marie (Moreland) Wallis of Cairo. She was preceded in death by her father, St. Elmo Wallis; her mother, Marie Wallis; her husband, Harold A. Skinner; and her sister, Ruth Hoskins. Jean graduated from Cairo High School in 1949. She received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science graduating from SIU in 1954. Jean married her longtime sweetheart, Harold A. Skinner on June 13, 1954, in Cairo. She and Harold had four children, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild including Marianne Skinner of Belleville, Margaret (Skinner) Henthorne, Michelle, Melody, Robert Jr. and Molly Henthorne of Hillsdale, Michigan, Marcia Skinner, Jennifer and Nina Skinner of Carterville, and Harold Allen Skinner Jr, Lindsey, Nathan and Linus Skinner of Columbia, South Carolina. She loved her son-in-law, Robert Henthorne and daughter-in-law, Jaqueline Skinner as she did her own children. Jean's career began teaching home economics. When she and Harold moved to McLeansboro in 1961. She served as Hamilton County Extension Adviser/Home Economics for the University of Illinois for 20 years. She loved square dancing, 4-H, Historical Society for Hamilton County and United Methodist Church. She was also a Rebekah president, in United Methodist Women, Twilight Unit HEA, Hospital Auxiliary and in Senior Citizen's Kitchen Band. She loved to do tai chi, aquatics and paint. She spent many hours as “Grandma Jean” at Hamilton County Pre-School reading to the classes. Jean moved from McLeansboro in 2007 to Indianapolis, Indiana. Private services for her family were in Indianapolis. Jean will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Harold, in IOOF Cemetery in McLeansboro. Further arrangements are still pending. Memorials may be made to the church she called home, First United Methodist Church in McLeansboro. Any correspondence may be forwarded to her daughter, Marcia Skinner, 1003 Main St., Carterville, IL 62918. Jean's passing brings great sorrow to her family and those who knew her well, but also great joy and peace as she is with her husband again.

Our condolences to all members of Jean's family.

We also learned just this afternoon (11/1/15) that Kay Mayberry passed away. More information on that will be shared when available.

Flashback to '76

Our 1976 directory did not have a photo of Wilma Brommel included. However, I'm sure several of you remember her. She was DeWitt County Extension Adviser, Home Economics. Before that she had worked for three years as Extension Adviser in Buchanan County, Iowa, three years as an instructor at North Dakota University, and two years as a Home Economics Teacher.

Wilma received her Bachelor's degree in 1950 from Iowa State University. and a Master's from Indiana State University in 1968.

Big news in the horse racing world today. American Pharaoh, the horse that several of us cheered to victory in the Kentucky Derby, won the Breeder's Cup Classic. He is the only horse ever to win the Triple Crown and the Breeder's Cup--The Grand Slam! He will now be retired from racing.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Member Update

Deb Pflasterer and her family own and manage an Ice Cream Shop and Grill in their town. As you can guess, this keeps them plenty busy!

She and her husband have three children ages 18, 10 and 8. She also still helps out at State Fair with entries, etc.

Good to see you, Deb!

Flashback to '76

Lynn Bredemeyer was working in  North Suburban Cook County as Assistant Extension Adviser, Home Economics. Her bachelor's degree was from Southern Illinois University, and she had been in Cook County since 1975.

Southern Region Retirees Meet

Southern Region IEAFCS Retirees and Friends met at the home of Curt & Priscilla Barnes for their September get together. As shown in the photo at left, Priscilla gave a tour of her beautiful home which features Geo-thermal heating and lots of handicap accessibility ideas. She even allowed us to have lunch there and take over her dining room for our short meeting.




                                                                                 

Those pictured are Priscilla Barnes, Rusti Grogan, Janet Burnett, Carol Schlitt, Donna Rumsey, Martha Speir, Lois Smith, and Patti Faughn. Others who attended were Shirley Prewitt, Kathy Harrison, Joyce Pyatt, and Joy Richey.

The weather was beautiful, and everyone agreed we had a very enjoyable day! It was great to catch up with many old friends.

Please send photos of your activities as they occur.

Medicare Premiums Could Increase

Medicare premiums could increase from $104.90 to $151.30 per month in 2016 for Federal Retirees covered by CSRS, but who do not draw Social Security.

Those who have their insurance premiums withheld from their Social Security checks are protected from a Medicare Premium increase if the cost of living adjustment does not go up enough to cover extra costs. There is a clause in the laws that does not allow Social Security benefits to decrease.

However, those who are excluded from receiving Social Security do not have this protection. It is not yet known if there will be a cost of living increase this year. If only the CSRS retirees (who make up 30% of the total number of beneficiaries)  have to bear the full cost of the Medicare increase, that means the 52% jump in the cost could occur. NARFE is working with legislators to keep this from happening.

The most recent issue of FYI was released on 9/11. It mentions the passing of Curt Eisenmeyer on Sept. 4th. Our condolences to his family and friends.

There is also news that the Department of Human and Community Development within  the College of ACES had been renamed The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS).

Here is the link to FYI 9/11/15:  http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/