Curtis "Ray" Xanders
Jul 23, 2026
Curtis Ray Xanders, 78, of Fairfield passed away at 4:40PM on Thursday July 23, 2026, at SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. Ray was born in Mt Vernon on July 9, 1948, to Roy “Pete” and Hazel (Thomason) Xanders. He married Debbie Stallings on March 22, 1980. Ray was a pilot for 60 plus years, during that time, he...
Timothy Kevin Willett
Jul 22, 2026
Timothy K. Willett, 60, of Fairfield, passed away at 1:15am on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Fairfield Senior Living and Rehabilitation.
Tim was born on October 14, 1965, in Princeton, IL, to James and Mildred (Sparks) Willett.
He had been a Certified Nursing Assistant for many years and also attended the Jesus Name Pentecostal Church in Fairfield.
Survivors include his brother Tom Willett...
Eleanor L. Venable
Jul 20, 2026
Ellie Venable of Fairfield departed peacefully from this life on July 20, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born Eleanor Louise Simpson in Fairfield on November 25, 1935, the eldest daughter of Bernard and Ruth (Corder) Simpson. She never much cared for the name Eleanor and went instead by Ellie. A proud, lifelong Mule, she graduated from Fairfield High School...
Georgianna Marie "Gigi" Ziel
Jul 16, 2026
Georgianna M. “Gigi” Ziel, 88, of Fairfield, formerly of Staten Island, NY, passed away at 1:39pm on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at her home.
Gigi was born on May 12, 1938, in Staten Island, NY, to George and Mary (Zielinski) Ziel. She had been a bookkeeper for a few Certified Public Accountants before her retirement.
After the passing of her parents, Gigi...
Jeffrey Lavine
Jul 15, 2026
Jeffrey Lavine, 69 of Olney, IL, passed away at 1:31 AM, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. Born on August 7, 1956, in Moline, IL to Bert and Wanda (Wise) Lavine, he had been a material handler in a factory. Jeffrey loved fishing on his boat and the outdoors.
Jeffrey is survived by his wife June...
Marty Cox
Jul 13, 2026
Ellen Mardell (Marty) Cox, 87 of Fairfield, passed away Monday, July 13, 2026, in the Skilled Care Unit of Fairfield Memorial Hospital. Ellen was born to Walter Earnest and Lenora (Spell) Spivey in Isola, Mississippi on January 7, 1939. She grew up on the family farm and began picking cotton at a young age. As a person growing up on...
Harold Eugene Rush
Jul 12, 2026
Harold E. Rush, 93, of Fairfield, passed away at 1:30pm on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Fairfield Senior Living and Rehabilitation.
He was born on April 21, 1933, in Raymond, IL, to Earl and Florence (Garrison) Rush. On January 13, 1954, he married the love of his life, Alice (Wood) Rush, who preceded him in death in 2013.
Harold retired after working...
Richard L. Kline
Jul 11, 2026
Fairfield native and longtime local attorney Richard L. Kline, 81 (or 29,784 days), departed this life on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 5:17 p.m. at Wabash General Hospital in Mt. Carmel, Illinois surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Wayne County, Illinois, the son of Virgil Kenneth and Geneva Faye (Cannon) Kline...
Larry Dale Haygood
Jul 8, 2026
Larry D. Haygood, formerly of Fairfield, passed away at 6:10pm on July 8, 2026, at his home in Mt. Vernon, IL.
Larry was born on November 11, 1968, in Memphis, TN, to Ford and Mary V. (Stewart) Haygood.
Survivors include his son Ace Haygood and grandson Greyson Haygood both of Fairfield, his siblings Earl (Carol) Haygood of Berrien Springs, MI, Mearl (Crystal)...
Alberta Irene Simpson
Jul 7, 2026
Alberta Irene Simpson, 77, of Barnhill passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at her home. Alberta was born in Effingham County, IL on June 18, 1949, to Russell Thoele and Lois (Blankenship) Buchholz. On October 9, 1970, she married the love of her life Robert Lynn Simpson who precedes her.
Alberta is survived by sons, Joseph (Jane) Morber of Carmi,...
James "Jim" LeRoy Boyd
Jul 6, 2026
James LeRoy Boyd, 75, of Fairfield, passed peacefully into the presence of his Savior at 4:09 p.m. on Monday July 6, 2026.
Born on March 3, 1951, to Milford and Phyllis (Black) Boyd, he lived a life marked by faith, hard work, and a deep love for his family. On July 3, 1971, he married the love of his life, Pamela...
David H. Potts
Jul 1, 2026
After a life filled with adventure, hard work, generous service, and a humorous disposition, David Potts, of Fairfield, Illinois, passed away surrounded by family on July 1, 2026, at the age of 88.
Born Dennis David Harold Potts on March 13, 1938, to Paul Potts and Lydia Belle Dixon, he was the sixth of nine children. He lived in Arkansas, California,...
Harry L. Mayfield
Jun 25, 2026
Harry L. Mayfield, 86, of Fairfield, passed away at 5:55 AM on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at his home.
Harry worked in sales and post-frame buildings. He was born November 10, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Everett and Ruby (Shaw) Mayfield. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Virgil Ross. On August 8, 1959, Harry married Karen Bayler on...
Patrick "Kelly" McCary
Jun 25, 2026
Patrick “Kelly” McCary, 66, of Fairfield, passed away at 2:04pm on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Fairfield Memorial Hospital.
Kelly was born on April 28, 1960, in Mt. Carmel, IL, to Raymond McCary and Karen (Karr) McCary Cobb. On July 26, 2005, he married the love of his life, Janet (Taylor) McCary.
Kelly was a veteran of the United States Army, serving...
Gaylord Ivan Taylor
Jun 21, 2026
Gaylord Ivan Taylor, 88, of Fairfield, Illinois, passed away on June 21, 2026.
Gaylord was born at home in Sims, Illinois on January 17, 1938, to Arthur and Jueneta (Atkinson) Taylor. He was a teacher, administrator, and coach for over 35 years at numerous schools in the area (Geff, Merriam, Center Street and New Hope), Outside of work, Gaylord was part...
Michael Withrow
Jun 19, 2026
Big Mike Withrow, 54, of Mt. Erie, passed away at 10:10 PM on Friday, June 19, 2026, at his home. He was a truck driver. Mike was born in Fairfield on May 17, 1972, to Elmore and Lucinda (Farris) Withrow.
Mike is survived by his father, Elmore Withrow; wife, Melissa Withrow; children, Kaleb (Kayla) Withrow, Bryton Withrow, Jason Nelson, and Andrea...
Walter Franklin Simpson
Jun 18, 2026
Walter F. Simpson, 87, of Fairfield, passed away at 12:45am on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Fairfield Senior Living and Rehabilitation.
Walter was born on April 2, 1939, in Wayne County, IL, to Cecil and Tressie (Elliott) Simpson. On October 2, 1965, he married the love of his life, Doris (McDuffee) Simpson.
Walter worked for Lemons Sign Service in his younger days...
Dennis Ray Cropper
Jun 13, 2026
Dennis Ray Cropper, 84, of Fairfield, went to be with the Lord at 3:57p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, where he had been a patient for six weeks and one day. Open heart surgery with 3 by-passes had been performed and had healed but, other medical problems developed and prevented his recovery.
Dennis...
Glen Russell Ellis
Jun 12, 2026
Glen Russell Ellis, 93, of Fairfield passed away at 2:25 PM on Friday, June 12, 2026, at his home surrounded by his children. He was employed at Kincaid’s for 50 years. Glen was born in Wayne County on December 4, 1932, to Norris and Esta (Simon) Ellis. He was a lifelong member of Ellen Moore Mission, a faithful follower of...
Eva Marie Lane
Jun 11, 2026
Eva Marie Lane, 99, of Fairfield passed away at 8:28 PM on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in the Skilled Care Unit at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. She retired from Airtex after 35 years, having worked in various positions, including credit manager. Eva was born in Geff on April 9, 1927, to John Stanton Jefferson and Nellie (Gray) Jelley. She joined the...
