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Regional Spotlight
Sandra Purdy, 84, Olney
Sandra L. Purdy, 84, of Olney, IL, passed away May 25, 2026, at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL.Sandra was born August 15, 1941, in Mattoon, IL to parents, Merle H. and LaVera N. (Owens) Watson. She married Frederick E. Purdy on May 1, 1965. Fred preceded her in death on March 1, 2019.Sandy worked at Trust Bank for 41 years as a Trust Officer and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olney. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren; watching Bears football with Cole, yelling at the Clemson Tigers in support of Macy, and playing cards and board games with Bodey (the cheater). Her family, her siblings, and her grandchildren were the center of her life.Sandy was blessed to have a great group of friends, including her Tuesday coffee group and her lifelong friend, Phyllis Hamilton.Sandra is survived by her children, Scot Purdy of Olney and Krissy Rietz and husband Todd of Effingham; grandchildren, Cole Purdy, Macy Rietz, and Bodey Rietz; sisters, Linda Broussard of Cypress, TX and Susan Watson of Mattoon, IL; brother, Steve Watson of Champaign, IL; and several nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Purdy and her parents.The family would like to offer a heartfelt Thank You to Nate and Justin for their care and support.Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney has been entrusted with arrangements.Funeral Services will be held for Sandra at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 1, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church with a visitation beginning one hour before service time at the church.Interment will follow at Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon, Il.Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church.
Recent Community News
Sandra Purdy, 84, Olney
Sandra L. Purdy, 84, of Olney, IL, passed away May 25, 2026, at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL.Sandra was born August 15, 1941, in Mattoon, IL to parents, Merle H. and LaVera N. (Owens) Watson. She married Frederick E. Purdy on May 1, 1965. Fred preceded her in death on March 1, 2019.Sandy worked at Trust Bank for 41 years as a Trust Officer and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olney. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren; watching Bears football with Cole, yelling at the Clemson Tigers in support of Macy, and playing cards and board games with Bodey (the cheater). Her family, her siblings, and her grandchildren were the center of her life.Sandy was blessed to have a great group of friends, including her Tuesday coffee group and her lifelong friend, Phyllis Hamilton.Sandra is survived by her children, Scot Purdy of Olney and Krissy Rietz and husband Todd of Effingham; grandchildren, Cole Purdy, Macy Rietz, and Bodey Rietz; sisters, Linda Broussard of Cypress, TX and Susan Watson of Mattoon, IL; brother, Steve Watson of Champaign, IL; and several nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Purdy and her parents.The family would like to offer a heartfelt Thank You to Nate and Justin for their care and support.Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney has been entrusted with arrangements.Funeral Services will be held for Sandra at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 1, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church with a visitation beginning one hour before service time at the church.Interment will follow at Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon, Il.Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church.
Annabell Huber, 91, Olney
Annabell Huber, 91, of Olney, IL, passed away Monday, June 1, 2026 at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL.Annabell was born May 27, 1935 in Richland County, IL to parents, Edmond and Mary Pauline (Murray) Hunley.Annabell enjoyed doing family genealogy and watching western movies. She took pleasure in knitting, flower gardening, and traveling. Annabell loved being around family and organized the family reunion each year.Annabell is survived by her daughter, Martha Miller of Claremont, IL; grandchildren, Makala Hamilton and her husband Bobby of Gainesville, GA; Thomas P. Harmon II of Claremont; great grandchildren, Colorado Skye Bruce, Ocean Marie Ervin, Tara Renee Wayne and her husband, Quintin Wayne, all of Gainesville, GA; great great grandchildren, Mason Wayne, Weston Ervin, Salem Atkinson, and Beckett Wayne; and over 25 nieces and nephews and several friends.She is preceded in death by her daughter Paula, mother and father, and her brothers and sisters, Emogene Varner, Imogene Street, Melvin Hunley, Shyann Wright, Harvey Hunley, Helen Nadine Hunley, Quinn Hunley, Linda Pittman, and Willard Hunley.Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney has been entrusted with arrangements.Graveside Service for Annabell will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Freedom Cemetery north of Noble, IL.Interment will follow.
Fay Ault, 94, Olney
Fay E. Ault, 94, of Olney, IL, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.Fay was born July 18, 1931 in Olney, the daughter of Russell and Ida (Heap) Chaplin. She married Lloyd Ault on August 7, 1962 in Champaign, IL, and Lloyd preceded her in death on September 25, 2021.Fay was born and raised on a family farm in Richland County. She graduated high school in Olney and went on to work for Western Union in Champaign, IL. For a brief time, she worked for Western Union in New York City.Fay spent her life raising her children, being a homemaker, and tending to a large garden. She had several jobs in town including working at JC Penney's, Jupiter, and the Donut Shop on Main Street. She also worked at the snack bar at the hospital.Fay was a devoted Christian and had strong faith in the Lord. She was a lifetime member of the Olney First Methodist Church and attended the Joy class at the church and the Women's Circle.Fay was actively involved in HEA (Homemakers Education Association) and TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly).Fay is survived by her daughters, Roberta Rusk and husband David of Olney and Lisa Ault of Olney; grandchildren, Alanna, Gerald, and Pavel; and two great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, her parents, and her two brothers.Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney has been entrusted with arrangements.The funeral service will be held for Fay at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney, with a visitation beginning one hour before service time at the funeral home.Interment will follow services at Crest Haven Memorial Park in rural Claremont, IL.Memorials can be made to Olney First Methodist Church.
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