All Obituaries

Susan K. Keller, 53, died peacefully at home in Urbana on Sunday, July 25, 2021, surrounded by family. She is survived by her mother, Kathy, and father, John; her brother, Dave, and sister, Karen; her husband, Ron; their children, Zoe and Lex; and two grandchildren, Avery and Mateo. Sue grew up in Palatine, IL, and settled in Champaign-Urbana after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Sue worked in mental health and social work throughout her career, from Crisis...

Thomas A. 'Mutt' Bernett, 67, died at his home on Monday September 13.  He was born on June 16, 1954 at Larson Air Force Base, Washington to Jack and Patricia (Jacobs) Bernett.  Tom graduated from Mahomet-Seymour High School in 1972, where he was an outstanding baseball and basketball player.  Tom played softball locally for 25 years with both Lu & Denny’s and English Brothers teams.  Tom and his English Brothers teammates will be inducted into the ASA...

Judith Ann Olson, 78, of Champaign passed away Saturday (September 4) at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana.    Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 12, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St, Champaign. The Catholic wake service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 13, at the funeral home.  She will be laid to rest at Mount Hope Mausoleum, Champaign.   Judy was born on July 11, 1943, in Burnham City Hospital, to Clarence and Etta...

Justin A. Priestley, 32, of Tolono, died at 7:10pm on August 29, 2021 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.  There will be a Memorial Service at 1:00 on September 11 at Blair-Owens Funeral Home (102 E. Dunbar) in Mahomet, with the visitation one hour prior to the service.  In accordance with family wishes, Justin will be cremated and his cremated remains will be joined with the ocean in a private ceremony. Survivors include: his father, Alan (Carol) Priestley of Mahomet; his...

Corey A. Birlet, 28, of Champaign died at 8:27 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. There will be a visitation from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign, with a funeral service at 1 p.m. In accordance with family wishes, Corey will be cremated after the funeral, and burial will be private.   Survivors include his grandmother Elizabeth Birlet; his mother, Stephanie Cardenas; two brothers, Mickey and...

Ludie Mae Brayman went home to be with Jesus on Friday, July 2, 2021 at the age of 89. She was born to Annie Mae Parker (Wilson) and Euell Clifton Parker on July 25, 1931 in DeKalb, Mississippi. Ludie was very proud to have lived in Mississippi, Michigan and Illinois, although the first two were her “first loves”.  Mahomet, Illinois was her place of residence, where she gained many new friends. She attended Mahomet Christian Church, loved her Bible studies, and enjoyed the...

James Edward VanDeventer, 78, passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at Carle Hospital, Urbana, IL surrounded by his loving children.  A visitation will be held at Owens Funeral Home on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  The memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Owens Funeral Home on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 11:00 am. James Edward VanDeventer was born on May 28, 1943 to W. Max VanDeventer and Grace Harriet (Newman) VanDeventer who both preceded...

Mary Elizabeth “Lizzy” Warner, 29, of Champaign passed away on Friday (August 20, 2021) with family and friends by her side. As a Uni High School and Knox College alumna, and a current PhD candidate at Northeastern University, Lizzy dedicated her life to science, traveling, and politics, while also having had a love for the simpler things in life, including sitting outside for coffee with friends on weekends, watching standup comedy, and...

Pastor Ethan Earl Durst, 47, of Urbana, Illinois, went to his Heavenly Reward on August 16, 2021.   Pastor Durst was born on June 14, 1974 in Rockford, Illinois.  He was the beloved son of Ronald and Mary Anne (Fryslie) Durst and has a twin brother, Jared Durst.  Pastor Ethan met the love of his life, Jennifer Morgan, while conducting nursing home church services in Champaign; she was a CNA.  He asked her for her phone number on April 1, 2007, but their relationship was...

Karen Clapp, 80, of Champaign died at 5:12 AM Saturday (August 14, 2021) at University Rehabilitation Center of Champaign-Urbana. She was born February 5, 1941 in Champaign, the daughter of Ivan Morfey and Helen (Everman) Morfey.  She married Robert Clapp in 1964.  She assisted her husband in their lawn business until his death in 2001. She enjoyed gardening, bowling and baking.  She also baked and decorated beautiful wedding cakes for her 3 children, for her niece and for...