April 2024

Michael  “Mike” McGill, 74, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Visitation will be Friday, February 23, from 5:00pm until 6:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A private service will follow. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Mike was born July 5, 1949, in Ottawa, IL, to James and Margurite (Baker) McGill. Mike attended Ottawa High School and then went on to get his Bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He worked as a car salesman and leasing manager for Ford for about 16 years. He then sold insurance for Allstate and ultimately became a claims adjuster for Crawford and Co. While raising his kids, he never missed an opportunity to attend their sporting events or activities and was always there to cheer them on.  He was an Avid New York Yankees fan.

He is survived by his children, Brad (Laura) McGill, Chris (Paula) McGill, Jamie (Jason) Payne, and Andy McGill; his daughter in law, Monica (Steve Cooke) McGill; his grandchildren, Cameron McGill, Beth (Jess Manning) Barsztaitis, Melissa (Robert) Calhan, Miranda (Jared) Dunning, Amanda Jo Payne, Ryan Payne, Michael McGill, Jacob McGill, Tommy Cooke, Petra McGill, and Luca McGill; as well as 6 great grandchildren and one on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter in law, Amy McGill; his grandson, Brandon McGill; his brother, Jib McGill; and his sister, Cheri Rogers.

Michael was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Seasons.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Bean, age 92, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, April 8, 2024 at Pleasant View Healthcare with her loving family at her side.

Funeral services will be held 12:30 PM Saturday, April 13th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with the Reverend John Walker officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Dave Wallace, R.C. Vandervort, Gary Tyndall, Benjamin Crane, Seth Tyndall and Nicholas Vandervort.

Jackie was born August 25, 1931 in Lafayette, Indiana, the daughter of Horace and Ruby (Smail) Myers. She married John Franklin Bean March 4, 1956 at the First Presbyterian Church, Danville, Illinois. She is survived by John, her devoted husband of 68 years; children, Ralph Bean of Ottawa, Nancy (Dave) Wallace of Marshall, IL and Sue (R.C.) Vandervort of Ottawa; grandchildren, Benjamin Tyler Crane, Seth Garrett Thomas Tyndall and Nicholas John Vandervort; and her son-in-law, Gary Tyndall and Sister-in-law, Janet Myers. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter Julie Crane Tyndall and brothers Mark and Ed Myers.

Jackie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. A kind hearted lady of faith, Jackie found comfort and inspiration in reading her Bible and crocheting prayer shawls. She had worked as a sales clerk at Black and Company and Price Less both in Danville and in later years, volunteered eleven years in the gift shop at Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa. Jackie was a “people person” who enjoyed talking on the phone, cheering for “Fighting Illini” basketball teams and participating in a Bunco Club. She never knew a stranger. Her most treasured time was that spent with her loving family.

Jackie was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer, at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Thyra Mae Oglesby (Ross) Beals, 86, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at the OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Rev. Alex Cross, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ottawa, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Thyra was born on November 11, 1937 in Beaufort, NC to Kenneth, Sr. and Zenobia (Barnhill) Ross. She was a graduate of Beaufort High School class of 54’. Thyra married Leonard W. Beals on May 30, 1964 in Springfield, IL. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ottawa, Martha Mary Circle, and Oledine Wood Circle. She loved her cookbooks and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her five children, Blairante (Theresa) Beals, of Marseilles, Leonard (Brenda) Beals, Jr., of Oglesby, Roger Armstrong, Jr., of Wedron, Frank (LaRae) Armstrong of Springfield, and Laura (Jean) Hunt, of Highlands, TX; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two brothers, Kenneth (Jerre) Ross and Tony Ross; and two sisters, Marla Newman and Linda (Stan) Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth, Sr. and Zenobia Ross; and her husband Leonard Beals, Sr.

Pallbearers will be Carter Beals, Ryan Brooke, Robert Timm, and William Durdan.

Thyra was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park, in the Garden of Psalms.

Gary Vezain, 78, of Ottawa, IL, passed away at Saint Anthony Medical Center on April 9th, 2024.

The visitation will be held at Ottawa Funeral Home on Monday April 15th, 2024 from 11-12PM. The funeral service will be at 12PM. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park following the service. A reception will be held at The American Legion at 1:30PM.

Gary was born June 6, 1945 in Ottawa, Illinois to Melvin and Dorothy (Benjamin) Vezain.

He worked at Caterpillar as a machine operator for over 30 years. Gary served in the US Army and was a member of The American Legion.

He is survived by his children: son, Jeff Vezain & daughter, Krista Vezain.

Gary was preceded in death by his brother Marvin, mother Dorothy, step dad Vernon Morgan, father Melvin Vezain and Melvin’s wife Lorraine.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Gary was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration at Oakwood Memorial Park, IL.

Edwin E. Bartlett, 94, of Streator, formerly of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday March 31, 2024 at OSF St. Francis in Peoria.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. John Walker, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where Full Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, at the funeral home.

Edwin was born on January 25, 1930 in Ottawa to Albert and Amelia (Hartshorn) Bartlett. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served with the Occupation Forces in Japan during the Korean Conflict. He married Theresa Ann Boyle on February 21, 1953 in Ottawa. She passed on May 8, 2005. Edwin was an auto mechanic for 20 years and later retired after 28 years of service from Illinois Bell (AT&T). He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, American Legion, VFW, Eagle Scouts, and was an Assistant Scout Master for 10 years for Boy Scout Troup 44.

He is survived by two daughters, Susan M. McMullen of Streator and Cathy A. (Craig) Denny of Homosassa, FL; two sons Edwin L. (Nancy Flecker) Bartlett of Tampa, FL and John A. Bartlett of Streator; three grandchildren, Wendy McMullen, Andrew (Anna) Worth, and Patrick Denny; three great grandchildren, Alyssa Zebley, Logan Worth, and Quinn Worth; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Theresa, two sisters, Lois Fuller and Marion Pearson, a brother, Lewis Bartlett, and a son-in-law, Michael McMullen.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Edwin was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of Hymns.

Charlene (Hiett) Baker, 90, formerly of Hutchinson, died March 21, 2019, in Overland Park. She was born November 19, 1928, in Hutchinson, to Russel Harvey and Esther (Wolf) Hiett.

Charlene graduated from Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Community College. She attended the Kansas City Art Institute. Charlene retired from the Hutchinson Public Library, where she worked in the talking books department. She was the first Miss Hutchinson, sponsored by the Navy Base. The same year, she was the second runner-up for Miss Kansas.

On July 29, 1950, she married Warren Richard Baker, in Hutchinson. He died December 14, 1975. Charlene is survived by: children, Linda Baker Nobles and husband John of Leawood, John R. Baker and wife Marlene of Hutchinson, Steven R. Baker and wife Shelley of Prairie Village; brother, William ‘Bill’ Hiett and wife Patti of Colorado; grandchildren, Jenna Nobles, Andrew Baker, Colin Baker, Abby Baker, Vanessa Baker; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2019, at Elliott Chapel, with the Reverend Dr. Kim Biery officating. Private family inurnment will be held in Laurel Cemetery, rural Haven. Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Charlene was laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL.