Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Beverly loved her family. She is survived by daughters: Cynthia (Isidro) Rivera of Law- rence, Kan.; Ann (Peter) Erickson of Champaign and Jennifer Tallent of Decatur; son, Ted (Melanie) Barnett of Melbourne, Fla.; grandchildren: Eleanor Rivera (Ben Post) of Murray, Ky., Aurora Erickson (Chris Hayes) of Lowell, Mass., Austin Rivera (Diana Abernethy) of Winston-Salem, N.C, Andrew Barnett (Valerie Wanamaker) of Asheville, N.C., Benja- min (Rachal) Erickson of Mahomet, Nathaniel (Jessica) Tallent of Decatur, Katharine (Ian) McArthur of Madison, Wis., Angela (Ulysses) Harris of Decatur, William Erickson (Maureen Wietecha) of Champaign and Melissa Tallent of Decatur; great-grandchildren: Aaron, Jocelyn, Aura, Juliette, River, Quinton, Arya, Violet, Elias, Eden, Fiona, Amelia, Declan, Lila; and sister-in-law Jane Raphael of Granite City. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law James Tallent, and a daughter, Angela. As was her wish, cremation rites will be accorded. There will be a private family service at a later date.
LaVon E. Bayler 1932-2024 LaVon E. Bayler, 91, of Shumway, an IGRC retired clergy member, died Oct. 23, 2024. Rev. Bayler was born Nov. 26, 1932 in Olney, the son of Cecil and Leona (Arnold) Bayler. He married Mary Lou Schneider on Aug. 21, 1953, in Worden, IL. She preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 2004. He later married Denise Morris.
LaVon became a probationary member of the former Southern Illinois Conference in 1954 and was ordained elder in 1957. He served the following pastorates: Cairo: First, Centralia: Faith, Litchfield, Wood River: First, Herrin: First and Decatur: Central, from where he retired in 1993. LaVon enjoyed boating and riding his motorcycle and was a member of Christian Motor- cyclists Association. Survivors include his wife, Denise of Shumway; children: LaNell Bayler of Loami, Mark (Kathy) Bayler of Springfield and Angela Bayler of Seattle, Wash.; grandchildren Jennifer Whit- comb and Brad Whitcomb; and great-grandchildren Spencer Thaxton and Hudson Whitcomb. LaVon was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Mary Lou; and son, David Bayler. The funeral for LaVon E. Bayler was Oct. 29, 2024 at Beecher City UMC. Burial followed in Graceland Cemetery, Decatur.
Lois Bodeen 1931-2024 Lois Ann Winger Bodeen, 92, of Paxton, widow of the Rev. Harold Bodeen, died Aug. 6, 2024 in Danforth. Born Aug. 17, 1931, Danville, the daughter of Vincent Garbero and Lois R. (Smith) Garber Weaver. Lois first married Richard S. Winger on Oct. 13, 1949, and he preceded her in death on June 1, 1994. She married Rev. Harold Bodeen on April 19, 2009, and he preceded her
in death on Feb. 11, 2014.
244 Memoirs
Powered by FlippingBook